Reviews
Thoughtful ‘Life of Chuck’ is hopeful but limited
The Life of Chuck (3 stars out of 4) Sometimes when I watch a movie I feel like the filmmaker is trying to solve a puzzle with only half the pieces. This is how I felt watching “Life of Chuck.” Mike Flanagan’s film is thoughtful and aspirational, and worthy of praise....
The 5 Best Films from Wes Anderson
Known for his quirky characters and photocard-esque filmmaking style, Wes Anderson returns to cinemas with his latest film, “The Phoenician Scheme”. Since his first film, “Bottle Rocket”, nearly 30 years ago, Wes Anderson has become a staple of the modern American...
Wick spinoff ‘Ballerina’ marked by high moments and missed opportunities
Ballerina (2 1/2 stars out of 4) “Ballerina” is pretty much the movie you expect it to be, which in this case is a strength and a weakness. It’s better than it might have been, but not as good as it could have been. Len Wiseman’s film is a spin-off from Keanu Reeves’...
Anderson’s ‘Phoenician Scheme’ has plenty of laughs, but needs more heart
The Phoenician Scheme (2 ½ out of 4 stars) “Help yourself to a hand grenade.” Oddly polite, deadpan lines like these are signature touches of a Wes Anderson movie, along with symmetrical framing, dramatic camera moves and broken protagonists. “The Phoenician Scheme”...
Intense ‘Final Reckoning’ marks a bittersweet ending to the Mission: Impossible franchise
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (3 ½ stars out of 4) There’s an interesting way to note the passage of time between the first “Mission: Impossible” film from 1996 and the eighth and final installment in 2025. At one point in the first film, Tom Cruise’s...
All MCU Phase 5 Films Ranked From Worst to Best
The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase V has come to a close with the recent release of “Thunderbolts”. This most recent slate of Marvel first started in early 2023 and has brought to the table a variety of sequels. Phase V is the first MCU Phase to feature only...
“Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith” 20 years later
20 years ago, George Lucas’s prequel trilogy of his beloved “Star Wars” franchise came to a close with “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith”. While the prequel trilogy has always been divisive in its quality, the third instalment has largely been reclaimed by...
Familiarity is a strength and a weakness for ‘Thunderbolts*’
Thunderbolts* (2 ½ stars out of 4) “Thunderbolts*” is Marvel’s version of “Suicide Squad,” which was DC’s version (versions?) of “The Dirty Dozen.” So if this story about a rag-tag bunch of outlaws banding together against a common foe sounds familiar, now you know...
The Best Movies of 2025 So Far…
January to March is often considered the dumping ground for mediocre to bad new releases at the movies. The box office is low and audiences are recovering from the wave of movies that came out during November and December. 2025’s first quarter has been interesting,...
Garland’s ‘Warfare’ offers an unflinching look at the Iraq War
Warfare (4 stars out of 4) The best movies often feel like experiences, and Alex Garland’s “Warfare” is such a film. The only question is whether you feel you can handle the ordeal. Set in the Battle of Ramadi in 2006 during the Iraq War, “Warfare” was co-written and...
‘The Amateur’ mixes elements of your favorite spy flicks
The Amateur (3 stars out of 4) Directed by James Hawes, “The Amateur” is a solid spy thriller that crosses elements of the “Bourne” franchise with this year’s “Black Bag” and echoes of Liam Neeson’s “Taken” films. The story follows a CIA cryptography analyst named...
Quirky ‘Death of a Unicorn’ could use just a bit more weird
Death of a Unicorn (2 ½ stars out of 4) A movie like “The Room” becomes infamous because it took itself seriously, with disastrous results. It was bad because it couldn’t help itself, and that turned it into a cult classic. A movie like “Sharknado” is a very different...