Now In Theaters
Vivarium
While Contagion, Outbreak, and World War Z enjoy a mini-renaissance due to the world’s current viral fears, Vivarium may be the ultimate cabin fever horror as it preys on the audience’s tedium of social distancing.
Mystery/Sci-Fi - 97 Minutes
While Contagion, Outbreak, and World War Z enjoy a mini-renaissance due to the world’s current viral fears, Vivarium may be the ultimate cabin fever horror as it preys on the audience’s tedium of social distancing.
Mystery/Sci-Fi - 97 Minutes
Blow the Man Down
This Maine seaport set crime noir is far too linear and no-nonsense to spur much mystery. The biggest twist is there isn't one.
Comedy/Drama/Mystery - 90 Minutes
This Maine seaport set crime noir is far too linear and no-nonsense to spur much mystery. The biggest twist is there isn't one.
Comedy/Drama/Mystery - 90 Minutes
The Hunt
If experiencing a film where political opponents finally step out from behind their keyboards and start killing each other is what America needs to return to a more civilized tone, then The Hunt is a uniter, not a divider.
Action/Horror/Thriller - 89 min
If experiencing a film where political opponents finally step out from behind their keyboards and start killing each other is what America needs to return to a more civilized tone, then The Hunt is a uniter, not a divider.
Action/Horror/Thriller - 89 min
First Cow
Kelly Reichardt is an idol in the world of independent film and First Cow will earn her even more acolytes who relish her more sedate and contemplative filmmaking style. These are not codewords for still and slow. Even though the cast is small, is dominated by the landscape, and the plot revolves around what must be one confused bovine, First Cow weaves a compelling tale and will make you wonder at mankind’s transformation of nature in a more somber manner.
Drama - 121 Minutes
Kelly Reichardt is an idol in the world of independent film and First Cow will earn her even more acolytes who relish her more sedate and contemplative filmmaking style. These are not codewords for still and slow. Even though the cast is small, is dominated by the landscape, and the plot revolves around what must be one confused bovine, First Cow weaves a compelling tale and will make you wonder at mankind’s transformation of nature in a more somber manner.
Drama - 121 Minutes
Extra Ordinary
Here’s hoping Extra Ordinary finds itself the niche audience it so richly deserves and achieves a sort of cult classic status. The jokes are quotable and I can see audience members pleading with their friend groups to take a chance on such an oddball experiment. What better way to help a sort of “keep it weird” culture fight back against yet another Ghostbusters remake.
Comedy/Fantasy/Horror - 94 min
Here’s hoping Extra Ordinary finds itself the niche audience it so richly deserves and achieves a sort of cult classic status. The jokes are quotable and I can see audience members pleading with their friend groups to take a chance on such an oddball experiment. What better way to help a sort of “keep it weird” culture fight back against yet another Ghostbusters remake.
Comedy/Fantasy/Horror - 94 min
Greed
Presented as comedy, satire, and farce, Greed isn’t the first film to make fun of fashion, plenty of Derek Zoolander quotes continue to entertain, but gurgling beneath the one-liners is a social message. Michael Winterbottom aims for awareness, perhaps even shock. However, his intentions lay buried under so many obfuscating levels of plot, characters, and mockery, only those already concerned about the industry’s sins will receive the message – Winterbottom is choir preaching.
Comedy/Drama - 104 min
Presented as comedy, satire, and farce, Greed isn’t the first film to make fun of fashion, plenty of Derek Zoolander quotes continue to entertain, but gurgling beneath the one-liners is a social message. Michael Winterbottom aims for awareness, perhaps even shock. However, his intentions lay buried under so many obfuscating levels of plot, characters, and mockery, only those already concerned about the industry’s sins will receive the message – Winterbottom is choir preaching.
Comedy/Drama - 104 min
EMMA.
Director Autumn de Wilde reminds us Emma is the original Mean Girl; the ur-Regina George, queen bee of The Plastics. Yet, listening to the approving murmurs of the ladies in attendance at the screening, Emma can do no wrong.
Comedy/Drama - 125 Minutes
Director Autumn de Wilde reminds us Emma is the original Mean Girl; the ur-Regina George, queen bee of The Plastics. Yet, listening to the approving murmurs of the ladies in attendance at the screening, Emma can do no wrong.
Comedy/Drama - 125 Minutes
Premature
Zora Howard is hypnotic to watch in Rashaad Ernesto Green's exploration of a first deep-dive relationship. The Harlem setting and real-world atmosphere spark Premature's earnest tone and establishes an authenticity not usually felt in the romantic drama genre.
Drama/Music/Romance - 90 Minutes
Zora Howard is hypnotic to watch in Rashaad Ernesto Green's exploration of a first deep-dive relationship. The Harlem setting and real-world atmosphere spark Premature's earnest tone and establishes an authenticity not usually felt in the romantic drama genre.
Drama/Music/Romance - 90 Minutes
Olympic Dreams
This Olympic setting does not require machine guns, hostages, and explosions – far from it – but Olympic Dreams is a case of background eclipsing plot and characters.
Comedy/Romance/Sport - 85 Minutes
This Olympic setting does not require machine guns, hostages, and explosions – far from it – but Olympic Dreams is a case of background eclipsing plot and characters.
Comedy/Romance/Sport - 85 Minutes
The Assistant
Writer/director Kitty Green creates a day in the life expose of the substance behind #metoo. Why rock the boat? Why call attention to the protected system of verbal and psychological abuse which defines the office atmosphere? The Assistant stares at a recent college grad’s first real-world moral dilemma - what will you do when your black and white ethics lessons confront the gray areas of innuendo, the behavior of powerful men, and the inevitability of personal consequences should you challenge the system.
Drama - 85 Minutes
Writer/director Kitty Green creates a day in the life expose of the substance behind #metoo. Why rock the boat? Why call attention to the protected system of verbal and psychological abuse which defines the office atmosphere? The Assistant stares at a recent college grad’s first real-world moral dilemma - what will you do when your black and white ethics lessons confront the gray areas of innuendo, the behavior of powerful men, and the inevitability of personal consequences should you challenge the system.
Drama - 85 Minutes
The Traitor (Il Traditore)
Was the man who brought down the Sicilian mob a rat or a defender of the true mafia? Director Marco Bellocchio has a strong opinion, but The Traitor may be too nebulous for an audience uninitiated in the subject matter.
Biography/Crime/Drama - 145 Minutes
Was the man who brought down the Sicilian mob a rat or a defender of the true mafia? Director Marco Bellocchio has a strong opinion, but The Traitor may be too nebulous for an audience uninitiated in the subject matter.
Biography/Crime/Drama - 145 Minutes
2020 Oscar Nominated Documentary Short Films
This year's Doc Short nominees share common themes even though they range from skateboarding girls in Afghanistan to the South Korean ferry disaster and even a Ferguson, Missouri state legislator. Brush up for your Oscar pools as I rank order the five nominees.
This year's Doc Short nominees share common themes even though they range from skateboarding girls in Afghanistan to the South Korean ferry disaster and even a Ferguson, Missouri state legislator. Brush up for your Oscar pools as I rank order the five nominees.
The Rhythm Section
Director Reed Morano adeptly conveys grime and confronting a soul full of garbage, but the needlessly complicated plot does nothing to separate her film from any other ‘revenge is tricky’ story.
Action/Drama/Mystery - 109 Minutes
Director Reed Morano adeptly conveys grime and confronting a soul full of garbage, but the needlessly complicated plot does nothing to separate her film from any other ‘revenge is tricky’ story.
Action/Drama/Mystery - 109 Minutes
The Gentlemen
A playful Guy Ritchie slips back into his talky, gritty, gangster roots to show off a juicy screenplay, a sublime acting ensemble and enough profanity to murder the entire Downton Abbey cast.
Action/Comedy - 113 Minutes
A playful Guy Ritchie slips back into his talky, gritty, gangster roots to show off a juicy screenplay, a sublime acting ensemble and enough profanity to murder the entire Downton Abbey cast.
Action/Comedy - 113 Minutes
Bad Boys for Life
I have no idea if Bad Boys for Life is either the best or worst of all of them; they blend together. The characters never evolve and even though the scripts can switch up bad guys and introduce new action sequences you believe you’ve never seen before, you have.
Action/Comedy/Crime - 123 Minutes
I have no idea if Bad Boys for Life is either the best or worst of all of them; they blend together. The characters never evolve and even though the scripts can switch up bad guys and introduce new action sequences you believe you’ve never seen before, you have.
Action/Comedy/Crime - 123 Minutes
Now On DVD
Knives Out
Rian Johnson returns to his genre experiments with a juicy whodunnit. Even though he plays around in a genre not quite lost to history, but one certainly out of fashion with the times, none of it is pretentious; the project comes with a genuine atmosphere of conspiracy and even lunacy.
Comedy/Crime/Drama - 130 Minutes
Rian Johnson returns to his genre experiments with a juicy whodunnit. Even though he plays around in a genre not quite lost to history, but one certainly out of fashion with the times, none of it is pretentious; the project comes with a genuine atmosphere of conspiracy and even lunacy.
Comedy/Crime/Drama - 130 Minutes
