Movie Reviews: Recent Episodes
Dan Webster, Nathan Weinbender
Spokane critics Dan Webster and Nathan Weinbender give short movie reviews for nationally released films as well as those appearing at local film festivals.
“Cuckoo” is the latest in the recent string of artsy horror films, the story of a family experiencing odd goings-on at a German resort. Nathan Weinbender says that it’s made with terrific style and atmosphere, but the story doesn’t sustain itself to the end.
The horror franchise that began with X and Pearl is now a trilogy. Director Ti West and star Mia Goth return to that sleazy world with MaXXXine but Nathan Weinbender says it’s too unfocused and overburdened with film references to stack up to its predecessors.
Nathan Weinbender says Maggie Gyllenhaal's first film as director is strange and haunting, and Olivia Colman gives one of the best performances of the year.
The Netflix offering “Don’t Look Up” is an allegory about life in today’s United States, Dan Webster says in his review.
Writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson returns to the 1970s with "Licorice Pizza," which has been getting some of the best reviews of the year. Nathan Weinbender says it's not quite a PTA masterpiece, but it still contains some magical moments.
"The Humans" won the Tony Award for best play in 2016, and now it's a feature film streaming on Showtime. But Nathan Weinbender says this is no ordinary stage adaptation -- in fact, it almost plays out like psychological horror.
Aaron Sorkin's "Being the Ricardos" follows an intense week in the life of Lucille Ball and husband Desi Arnaz, Dan Webster says in his review.
Peter Jackson's documentary "Get Back" will test the patience of anyone who isn't a die-hard Beatles fan, Dan Webster says in his review.
There have been countless Beatles documentaries over the years, but none quite like Peter Jackson's "Get Back." Now streaming on Disney Plus, it's an epic miniseries reconsidering the band's most turbulent year, and Nathan Weinbender says it's an unearthed treasure for any fan.
Based on his stage play, writer-director Stephen Karam's "The Humans" explores a dysfunctional family's Thanksgiving dinner, Dan Webster says in his review. Besides being a film critic for Spokane Public Radio, "Movies 101" host Dan Webster writes the Movies & More blog for Spokane7.com
Jeymes Samuel's "The Harder They Fall" does its best to reinvent traditional Western mythology, Dan
Now streaming on Netflix, Lin-Manuel Miranda's directorial debut "Tick, Tick . . . Boom!" breathes new life into Jonathan Larson's one-man show. Nathan Weinbender says it's an Easter egg hunt for theater fans, as well as a showcase for star Andrew Garfield.
"Hive" focuses on the clash between male-dominated tradition and one woman's quest for survival in post-war Kosovo, Dan Webster says in his review.
Another week, another Netflix release. The action comedy "Red Notice" is apparently breaking records on the streaming service, but Nathan Weinbender says it'll be forgotten before you can refresh your queue.
From "Shaun of the Dead" to "Hot Fuzz" to "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," Edgar Wright has been a sharp comic and visual storyteller. He descends into horror with "Last Night in Soho," and while it hasn't found an audience yet, Nathan Weinbender says it's a worthwhile aesthetic experience.
It's big news whenever Wes Anderson releases a new film, and he's back with his 10th feature, the whimsical comedy "The French Dispatch." The reviews have been a bit divisive, but Nathan Weinbender thinks it's one of the director's best works.
Ignored at their peak, revered after their dissolution, the Velvet Underground followed a wild rock 'n' roll arc. Nathan Weinbender takes a look at director Todd Haynes' new documentary about the band, streaming on Apple+, a portrait of some of the most adventurous rock music ever made.
"The Card Counter," the new film from writer-director Paul Schrader, is a meditation on guilt and redemption, told through the eyes of a poker-playing war veteran. It's a challenging movie, but Nathan Weinbender says it's worth the gamble.
The Netflix series "The Squid Game" is a blend of social commentary and Agatha Christie-like mystery, Dan Webster says in his movie review.
In a career of exploring the stories of tortured characters, writer-director Paul Schrader directed his attention toward redemption in "The Card Counter."
In the documentary "The Lost Leonardo," what value a work of art might have, even if its origin is disputed, is examined by a range of experts, Dan Webster says in his review.