The Family Plan is Apple TV+’s latest example of an old trope… a happy family discovers the mom or dad (or both) had (or has) a secret life as a super spy action hero. This time it’s Mark Wahlberg which … Continue reading
Wonka is a curious entry into the Willy Wonka disconnected universe. We had the books, then the original Gene Wilder film that everyone loves, a freak-on-leash Johnny Depp remake, but never a continuation based on the book’s sequel (Charlie and … Continue reading
When Animal gives you a runtime of 3 hours 10 minutes, it means 3 hours 10 ten minutes. Don’t even bother getting up when the credits roll… the flick doesn’t have mid-credits scenes, it has mid-credit storylines. And then it … Continue reading
When I saw the art style of this DC animated film, I hated it. And that didn’t change with the watching… but the villain character models in the second half at least suited the look. And while I hated the … Continue reading
Eileen is a slow, ponderous film that can’t seem to nail down what it is… until it takes a sudden left turn and becomes very much a different thing. Whether it earns that head-scratcher of a turn, I’m not sure… … Continue reading
Leave the World Behind borrows heavily from dozens of other paranoia thrillers that had much lower budgets. But you add Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, and Ethan Hawke plus get the Obamas to executive produce, and you suddenly have a big … Continue reading
I’m still unconvinced the move to CGI animated cartoon was a good one for this franchise… but I get the instinct (human kids have the annoying habit of aging out of their roles). And yet I find the animated versions … Continue reading
Giving a low score to Miyazaki’s latest film feels like an anathema… a rudeness to the anime master who came out of retirement to make it. But I sat in the theater analyzing the movie more than feeling moved, intrigued, … Continue reading
Frybread Face and Me is a quiet, gentle, thoughtful film about a Native American kid living in San Diego who is sent to live with his extended family on a reserveation in Arizona for the Summer. It’s not a melodramatic … Continue reading
As far as holiday movies go, Christmas As Usual is one of the most singularly unpleasant ones I’ve watched. It’s ostensibly a culture clash rom-com where a Norwegian girl and Indian guy living in Los Angeles get engaged and head … Continue reading