3 out of 5 stars (average) The Saw franchise is one of Hollywood’s strangest phenmena. From 2004-2011, audiences went in droves to see what devious devices the Jigsaw Killer would drop upon morally dubious degenerates. Ignoring an attempted revamp/continuation with 2017’s Jigsaw, Chris Rock has entered the kill ring with Spiral: From the Book of… Continue Reading
Run To Hulu’s Suspenseful New Thriller
3 out of 5 stars (average) Thank you to Brooke Levenstein and Hulu for sending me a screening link for Run. It is available on Hulu in the US now. I have a soft spot for movies like Run. Premiering on Hulu in the US, the new suspense-thriller packs plenty of shocks into its briskly-paced… Continue Reading
Charlie’s Angels: Well-Cast Comedy is Clever, Fun And Empowering
3 out of 5 stars (average) The trailers for Charlie’s Angels are misrepresenting it. Watching the trailer, you get the impression that it will be yet another self-congratulatory continuation (not a reboot) with a minimal plot that revels in its perceived greatness. Thankfully, the movie itself is none of those things, updating its source material… Continue Reading
Us: Jordan Peele’s Bizarre Horror Story is Unique, Terrifying
5 out of 5 stars (Classic) Jordan Peele’s Us is the first standout horror film of 2019. The follow-up to his 2017 debut Get Out, Peele comes into his own here as a director, with hypnotizing camerawork and a white-knuckle script that sees star Lupita Nyong’o (Black Panther) deliver her best performance to date. Us… Continue Reading
Widows: Overstuffed Heist Film Has Decent Action, Not Much Else
2.5 out of 5 stars (decent) Widows has all the ingredients for a fun and thought-provoking heist movie. A solid cast, talented writer (Gillian Flynn, of Gone Girl) and director (Steve McQueen, of 12 Years a Slave), and some decent action. However, Widows fails as both fun heist film and thoughtful commentary due to bad… Continue Reading
The Crimes of Grindelwald: Potter Prequel Only Steals Time, Disrespects Legacy
2 out of 5 stars (Has Some Good Moments, But Is Overall Bad) The Harry Potter series is one of the most successful and respected fantasy epics of our time. J.K. Rowling captivated both readers and audiences with her story of a young boy who discovers the existence of magic and ultimately must fight to… Continue Reading