Take Two: Recent Episodes
KKFI 90.1 FM
Take Two is KKFI 90.1 FM’s exclusive movie review program! Hosted by film critic Russ Simmons and our own Susan Sanders, get the buzz on the latest flicks coming to Kansas City theaters.
Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro's dream project "Frankenstein" is now on Netflix. Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi star in the latest adaptation of Mary Shelley's horror classic.
The Netflix documentary "The Perfect Neighbor" was one of the big winners at this year's Sundance Film Festival.
The Netflix thriller "A House of Dynamite" is a speculative drama about nuclear disaster from Oscar-winning filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow.
Channing Tatum ("Magic Mike") and Kirsten Dunst ("Civil War") star in a bizarre true story about a kind-hearted criminal.
Mariska Hargitay, star of TV's "Law & Order: SVU" steps behind the camera for the documentary, "My Mom Jayne," a personal look at her famous mother, 50s sex symbol, Jayne Mansfield.
The Netflix documentary “The Remarkable Life of Ibelin” is about a young man whose expansive life was only discovered after his death.
The post Take Two: “The Remarkable Life of Ibelin” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Andra Day (“The United States vs. Billie Holliday”), Glenn Close (“The Wife”) and Mo’Nique (“Phat Girlz”) star a new Netflix horror entry from director Lee Daniels (“Precious”).
The post Take Two: “The Deliverance” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Anna Kendrick (“Up in the Air”) stars in and makes her directorial debut with a Netflix suspense thriller, “Woman of the Hour.”
The post Take Two: “Woman of the Hour” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Writer/director Tyler Perry (“A Madea Homecoming”) has added an adult Netflix erotic thriller to his eclectic resume. Kelly Rowland (“The Curse of Bridge Hollow”) plays a lawyer who makes a […]
The post Take Two: “Tyler Perry’s Mea Culpa” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Oscar-winner Kate Winslet (“The Reader”) stars as famed WWII combat photographer Lee Miller in the biopic, “Lee.”
The post Take Two: “Lee” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
The Netflix documentary "Will & Harper" is about a road trip with a twist, featuring comedian Will Ferrell ("Elf") and longtime "Saturday Night Live" writer, Harper Steele. The post Take Two: "Will & Harper" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Natasha Leone (“Poker Face”), Elizabeth Olsen (“WandaVision”) and Carrie Coon (“The Gilded Age”) play bickering sisters in this new Netflix drama.
The post Take Two: “His Three Daughters” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Crooner Harry Connick, Jr. (“Dolphin Tale”) stars in a Netflix romantic comedy set on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus.
The post Take Two: “Find Me Falling” (TV-MA) appeared first on KKFI.
The Netflix documentary “Daughters” and the theatrical release “Sing Sing” are two films about unique prison programs that make good companion pieces.
The post Take Two: “Daughters” (PG-13), “Sing Sing” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Mark Wahlberg (“Arthur the King”) and Halle Berry (“Monster’s Ball”) star in the Netflix spy comedy, “The Union.”
The post Take Two: “The Union” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Jean Reno (“The Professional”) stars in “My Penguin Friend,” a family film inspired by the unlikely true story about a poor fisherman who saves the life of a wild penguin […]
The post Take Two: “My Penguin Friend” (PG) appeared first on KKFI.
Blake Lively (“A Simple Favor”) leads the cast in a big-screen adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel.
The post Take Two: “It Ends with Us” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Bette Midler, Susan Sarandon, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Megan Mullally star in the latest in a string of comedies featuring actresses of a certain age.
The post Take Two: “The Fabulous Four” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
The Netflix action thriller “Trigger Warning” marks the acting comeback of Jessica Alba after years on the sidelines. Is it worth your time?
The post Take Two: “Trigger Warning” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Russell Crowe (“The Pope’s Exorcist”) and Liam Hemsworth (“Poker Face”) star in the Netflix war thriller, “Land of Bad.”
The post Take Two: “Land of Bad” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Sean Penn (“Milk”) and Dakota Johnson (“Fifty Shades of Gray”) star in the cab ride confessional, “Daddio.”
The post Take Two: “Daddio” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Dev Patel wrote, produced, directed and stars in the wild and violent thriller, “Monkey Man,” now available on DVD.
The post Take Two: “Monkey Man” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Netflix offers Eddie Murphy as he returns for the forth time as a wisecracking Detroit cop fighting crime in sunny California.
The post Take Two: “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Brooke Shields and Benjamin Bratt star in the Netflix romantic comedy, “Mother of the Bride.”
The post Take Two: “Mother of the Bride” (TV-PG) appeared first on KKFI.
"The Zone of Interest" is a German language film that won this year's Oscar for Best International Feature. This story about the commandant of the Auschwitz death camp is now […] The post Take Two: "The Zone of Interest" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
The sports drama "The Iron Claw" tells the tale of pro wrestling's famous Von Erich family. Zac Efron ("The Greatest Showman") and Jeremy Allen White (TV's "The Bear") lead the […] The post Take Two: "The Iron Claw" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Jerry Seinfeld makes his directorial debut with the wacky Netflix comedy, "Unfrosted," about the rise of the Pop Tart. The post Take Two: "Unfrosted" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Jennifer Lopez plays an analyst who tries to save the world from a rouge AI robot in the Netflix sci-fi action epic, "Atlas." The post Take Two: "Atlas" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
“The Last Stop in Yuma County” is a neo-noir suspense flick that plays like an old school drive-in thriller.
The post Take Two: “The Last Stop in Yuma County” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
"Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" is the fourth entry in the rebooted "Planet of the Apes" franchise which serves as a prequel to the original story. It takes […] The post Take Two: "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Tom Wolf's controversial 1998 novel gets the Netflix mini-series treatment from writer David E. Kelly ("Ally McBeal") and directors Regina King ("One Night in Miami") and Thomas Schlamme ("The West […] The post Take Two: "A Man in Full" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
The folks at Aardman Studios took 23 years before they released a sequel to their popular animated comedy, "Chicken Run," now on Netflix. The post Take Two: "Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget" (PG) appeared first on KKFI.
Director Ava DuVernay's drama "Origin" is a drama about the personal challenges that journalist Isabel Wilkerson endured as she researched her non-fiction book "Caste: The Origins of our Discontent." Aunjanue […] The post Take Two: "Origin" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Does Alex Garland's controversial drama "Civil War" live up to the hype? Kirsten Dunst stars in a speculative thriller showing what a split in our Union might look like. The post Take Two: "Civil War" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
The lead-up to Prince Andrew's notorious 2019 BBC Newsnight interview is the subject of the Netflix drama, "Scoop." Billie Piper, Gillian Anderson and Rufus Sewell lead the cast. The post Take Two: ""Scoop" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Civil Rights activist Bayard Rustin receives the biopic treatment in the Netflix drama, "Rustin." Coleman Domingo received an Oscar nomination for his performance. The post Take Two: "Rustin" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Oscar winner Regina King ("If Beale Street Could Talk") stars as congresswoman Shirley Chisholm in the Netflix biopic, "Shirley." The post Take Two: "Shirley" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Jeffrey Wright ("Westworld") plays an African American writer forced to compromise in the observant comedy, "American Fiction." The post Take Two: "American Fiction" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
The big winner at the Cannes Film Festival is an involving French courtroom drama that also received an Oscar for it's screenplay. The post Take Two: "Anatomy of a Fall" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Adam Sandler ("Hustle," "Uncut Gems") plays a cosmonaut facing an existential crisis in the Netflix sci-fi offering, "Spaceman." The post Take Two: "Spaceman" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Will Ferrell ("Barbie") and Jamie Foxx ("The Burial") lend their voices to the R-rated farce, "Strays." It's a talking dog movie where the pooches use language that would make a […] The post Take Two: "Strays" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Ben Kinglsey ("Shindler's List"), Jane Curtain ("SNL") and Harriet Samson Harris ("Licorice Pizza") star in the quirky sci-fi comic drama, "Jules." The post Tale Two: "Jules" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
The chilling Netflix drama "Society of the Snow" is a survival drama based on a true story. This Spanish language feature is a nominee for this year's Best International Feature […] The post Take Two: "Society of the Snow" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Jennifer Garner ("13 Going on 30") and Ed Helms ("The Hangover") star in the supernatural Netflix comedy, "Family Switch." The post Take Two: "Family Switch" (PG) appeared first on KKFI.
Nominated for thirteen Academy Awards, "Oppenheimer" is an epic biopic about the father of the atomic bomb, written and directed by Christopher Nolan ("Inception.") The post Take Two: "Oppenheimer" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
The bawdy comedy "Joy Ride" was released in theaters last summer and is now available to stream at home. It's about four Asian-American women who take a road trip to […] The post Take Two: "Joy Ride" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Kevin Hart ("Me Time") plays the head of an international group of sophisticated art thieves in the Netflix action comedy, "Lift." The post Take Two: "Lift" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Filmmaker Martin Scorsese's long-awaited adaptation of the non-fiction book is now available to screen at home. The post Take Two: "Killers of the Flower Moon" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Filmmaker Zack Snyder ("300") gives his take on the sci-fi space opera genre. It's currently streaming on Netflix. The post Take Two: "Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Bradley Cooper ("A Star is Born") wrote, produced, directed and stars in the story of famed conductor/director Leonard Bernstein. The post Take Two: "Maestro" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Filmmaker Ridley Scott ("Gladiator") tries his hand at yet another epic, "Napoleon." Joaquin Phoenix ("Joker") stars as the French emperor and military genius. The post Take Two: "Napoleon" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Helen Mirren (“The Queen”) stars as Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir in “Golda,” a drama about the tense days of the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
The post Take Two: “Golda” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
John Boyega (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”), Teyonah Parris (“WandaVision”) and Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx (“Django Unchained”) star in the Netflix sci-fi satire “They Cloned Tyrone,” a pointed social commentary and […]
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The Netflix documentary “The Deepest Breath” focuses on the extreme sport of free diving.
The post Take Two: “The Deepest Breath” (PG) appeared first on KKFI.
Gal Gadot (“Wonder Woman”) stars as an uber talented double-agent in the new Netflix spy thriller, “Heart of Stone.”
The post Take Two: “Heart of Stone” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Tom Cruise (“Top Gun: Maverick”) returns for the seventh time as super spy Ethan Hunt in the thriller “Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part One.”
The post Take Two: “Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part One” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Ellie Kemper (“Unbreakable Kimmie Shmidt”) and Luke Grimes (“Yellowstone”) star in the Netflix romcom, “Happiness for Beginners,” about two people who backpack their way to romance.
The post Take Two: “Happiness for Beginners” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
The blockbuster toy becomes the blockbuster movie. Find out what our critics thought about Great Gerwig’s “Barbie,” starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling
The post Take Two: “Barbie” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Adam DeVine (“Pitch Perfect”), Pierce Brosnan (“The King’s Daughter”) and Ellen Barkin (“Ocean’s Thirteen”) star in the wacky farce, “The Out-Laws.”
The post Take Two: “The Out-Laws” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Toni Colette (“Hereditary”) takes on a comic role in the gangster spoof, “Mafia Mamma.”
The post Take Two: “Mafia Mamma” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Shailene Woodley (“Divergent”) stars in the dark crime thriller, “To Catch a Killer,” the tale of a troubled police officer on the trail of a serial killer.
The post Take Two: “To Catch a Killer” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Chris Hemsworth (“Thor”) returns as black ops mercenary Tyler Rake in “Extraction 2,” the sequel to the hit Netflix action thriller from 2020.
The post Take Two: “Extraction 2” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Take three Oscar-winning actresses (Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno and Sally Field) as well as an Emmy winner (Lily Tomlin), add a Super Bowl-winning quarterback (Tom Brady), and you’ve got a […]
The post Take Two: “80 for Brady” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
“How to Blow Up a Pipeline” is a fictional thriller inspired by the non-fiction book of the same name by noted ecology professor, Andreas Malm.
The post Take Two: “How to Blow Up a Pipeline” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Jane Fonda (“The Book Club”) and Lily Tomlin (“80 for Brady) reunite for a dark revenged comedy, “Moving On.”
The post Take Two: “Moving On” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Katie Holmes directed and stars in the drama “Rare Objects,” which she adapted from the 2016 novel by Kathleen Tessaro.
The post Take Two: “Rare Objects” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
The Netflix action thriller “The Mother” stars Jennifer Lopez as a retired assassin. When bad guys threaten the safety of her daughter, J Lo gets back into backside kicking mode.
The post Take Two: “The Mother” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Judy Bloom’s 1970 coming of age novel finally gets the big screen treatment. Abby Ryder Fortson (“Ant-Man and the Wasp”) takes the title role, supported by Kathy Bates (“Richard Jewell”) […]
The post Take Two: “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Gerard Butler (“Olympus Has Fallen”) stars in the thriller “Plane,” a disaster movie/action hybrid.
The post Take Two: “Plane” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
An Oscar nominee for Best International Feature, the Irish language drama “The Quiet Girl” is now available on many streaming platforms.
The post Take Two: “The Quiet Girl” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Rachel Leigh Cook (“Josie and the Pussycats) and Scott Ly star in the Netflix offering “A Tourist’s Guide to Love,” a rom-com set in Viet Nam.
The post Take Two: “A Tourist’s Guide to Love” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Ben Affleck directs old pal Matt Damon in “Air,” the dramatic true story about Nike’s efforts to land Michael Jordan’s basketball shoe endorsement contract.
The post Take Two: “Air” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
The Netflix documentary “Money Shot: The Pornhub Story” examines the controversial website and its questionable practices.
The post Take Two: “Money Shot: The Pornhub Story” (TV-MA) appeared first on KKFI.
Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler return in “Murder Mystery 2,” a sequel to their 2019 Netflix whodunit farce.
The post Take Two: “Murder Mystery 2” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Michael B. Jordan (“Fruitvale Station”) returns as boxer Adonis Creed in the third installment in the “Rocky” spinoff series. Jonathan Majors (“Devotion”) plays his nemesis in and out of the […]
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The Netflix family movie “True Spirit” is a dramatic feature about Australian teenager Jessica Watson who in 2009 attempted to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe.
The post Take Two: “True Spirit” (TV-PG) appeared first on KKFI.
“Emily” is a highly fictionalized biopic about the short life of Emily Bronte, the author of the Victorian Era classic, “Wuthering Heights.” Emma Mackey takes the title role.
The post Take Two: “Emily: (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Julianne Moore (“Still Alice”) and Sebastian Stan (“Pam & Tommy”) lead a sharp cast in a twisty Apple TV+ con artist drama, “Sharper.”
The post Take Two: “Sharper” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Erich Maria Remarque’s acclaimed 1929 WWI novel “All Quiet on the Western Front” gets its fourth movie adaptation. Edward Berger’s German-language version won the 2023 British Academy of Film and […]
The post Take Two: “All Quiet on the Western Front” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Reese Witherspoon (“Wild”) and Ashton Kutcher (TV’s “That 70s Show”) are bi-coastal friends in the Netflix rom-com, “Your Place or Mine.”
The post Take Two: “Your Place or Mine” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
The infamous “Baywatch Babe” Pamela Anderson tries to set the record straight with a new Netflix documentary, providing her with an outlet to tell her own story.
The post Take Two: “Pamela: A Love Story” (TV-MA) appeared first on KKFI.
The Netflix children’s movie “My Father’s Dragon” employs traditional, hand-drawn animation to tell the fantastical story of a boy and a dragon who try to save a sinking island.
The post Take Two: “My Father’s Dragon” (PG) appeared first on KKFI.
Susan and Russ have completely different takes on the new Netflix romantic comedy called “You People.” A commentary on contemporary race relations, it stars Jonah Hill, Lauren London, Eddie Murphy, […]
The post Take Two: “You People” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Rob Lowe (TV’s “9-1-1: Lone Star”) stars in the Netflix family movie, “Dog Gone,” based on a true story about a Virginia family’s efforts to locate their lost dog.
The post Take Two: “Dog Gone” (TV-PG) appeared first on KKFI.
Christian Bale (“Batman Begins”) and Harry Melling (“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone) star in the gothic murder mystery “The Pale Blue Eye,” based on the novel by Louis Bayard.
The post Take Two: “The Pale Blue Eye” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Tom Hanks (“Elvis”) stars as a cantankerous curmudgeon in the comic drama “A Man Called Otto,” an Americanized version of the award-winning 2015 Swedish film, “A Man Called Ove.”
The post Take Two: “A Man Called Otto” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Filmmaker Noah Baumbach (“Marriage Story”) has adapted Don DeLillo’s acclaimed 1985 novel “White Noise” for Netflix. It stars Adam Driver (“BlacKKKlansman”), Greta Gerwig (“Frances Ha”) and Don Cheadle (“Ocean’s Eleven”).
The post Take Two: “White Noise” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
In a sequel to the popular 2019 whodunit “Knives Out,” filmmaker Rian Johnson (“Star Wars: The Last Jedi”) once again offers a decadent mystery featuring wily sleuth Beniot Blanc, played […]
The post Take Two: “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
In the journalistic procedural “She Said,” Carrie Mulligan (“Promising Young Woman”) and Zoe Kazan (“The Big Sick”) play two NY Times reporters who doggedly pursued the story of Harvey Weinstein’s […]
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“Slumberland” is a live action Netflix adaptation of the old “Little Nemo in Slumberland” comic strip. Jason Mamoa (“Aquaman”) leads the cast in this fantasy about a young girl who […]
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Cate Blanchett (“Blue Jasmine”) makes yet another Oscar bid with “Tár,” a drama about a conflicted symphonic conductor. Todd Field (“In the Bedroom”) handled the writing and directing chores.
The post Take Two” “Tár” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Florence Pugh (“Don’t Worry Darling”) stars in the Irish period drama “The Wonder,” from acclaimed director Sebastian Lelio (“A Fantastic Woman”).
The post Take Two: “The Wonder” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Millie Bobby Brown (“Stranger Things”) stars in the Netflix mystery sequel “Enola Holmes 2.” It’s yet another adaptation of the popular novels by Nancy Springer.
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Charlize Theron and Kerry Washington play professors at a fairytale academy in the Netflix fantasy, “The School for Good and Evil.”
The post Take Two: “The School for Good and Evil” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Oscar winners Jessica Chastain (“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”) and Eddie Redmayne (“The Theory of Everything”) star in the Netflix drama “The Good Nurse,” a true story about America’s most prolific serial killer.
The post Take Two: “The Good Nurse” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Movie icons George Clooney (“Ocean’s 11”) and Julia Roberts (“Pretty Woman”) star in the old school rom-com, “Ticket to Paradise.”
The post Take Two: “Ticket to Paradise” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
The life of Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe gets the arthouse biopic treatment with “Blonde.” Ana de Armas (“Knives Out”) plays the star whose tragic life inspired a novel by Joyce Carol Oates that director Andrew Dominik adapted to film.
The post Take Two: “Blonde” (NC-17) appeared first on KKFI.
Jaeden Martell (“It”) and Donald Sutherland (“The Hunger Games”) star in “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone,” a Netflix film adapted from a Stephen King novella. John Lee Hancock (“The Blind Side”) provides the screenplay and direction for this supernatural coming-of-age movie.
The post Take Two: “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Filmmaker Tyler Perry (“Madea”) offers an old school melodrama, “A Jazzman’s Blues.” It’s a murder mystery romance set against the backdrop of the Jim Crow South. It’s now on Netflix.
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Oscar-winner Allison Janney (“I, Tonya”) stars in the Netflix action thriller, “Lou.”
The post Take Two: “Lou” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Viola Davis (“The Help”) stars in the historical epic “The Woman King,” the tale of female warriors who defend their African kingdom in the 1800s.
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Queen Latifah and Ludacris star in a Netflix action thriller called “End of the Road.”
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Ryan Gosling (“La La Land”) and Chris Evans (“Captain America”) star in the Netflix action thriller “The Gray Man.”
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Lili Reinhart (TV’s “Riverdale”) stars in “Look Both Ways,” a comic drama about a woman whose life diverges into two parallel realities, one in which she’s pregnant and one in which she is not.
The post Take Two: “Look Both Ways” (TV-14) appeared first on KKFI.
In the social drama “Emily the Criminal,” Aubrey Plaza (“Black Bear”) stars as a desperate young woman drowning in credit card debt who turns to credit card fraud.
The post Take Two: “Emily the Criminal” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Jamie Foxx (“Ray”), Dave Franco (“Neighbors”) and Snoop Dogg (“The House Next Door”) star in “Day Shift,” a new horror comedy on Netflix.
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Brad Pitt (“Once Upon a Time in Hollwyood”) stars in the over-the-top action comedy, “Bullet Train.”
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“Jurassic World: Dominion,” the sixth film in the “Jurassic Park” franchise, sees familiar faces and familiar dinosaurs returning for yet another eye-popping action adventure.
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“Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” is a whimsical stop-motion animated mockumentary that is based on three award-winning short subjects. Jenny Slate (“Gifted”) provides the voice of the titular character.
The post Take Two: “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” (PG) appeared first on KKFI.
The seventh dramatic adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic 1817 novel “Persuasion” is new on Netflix. Dakota Johnson stars.
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Ralph Finnes (“The King’s Man”) and Jessica Chastain (“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”) star in the dark social drama, “The Forgiven,” written and directed by John Michael McDonagh (“Calvary”).
The post Take Two: “The Forgiven” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Kevin Hart (“Ride Along”) and Woody Harrelson (“War for the Planet of the Apes”) star in the Netflix action comedy, “The Man from Toronto.”
The post Take Two: “The Man from Toronto” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Filmmaker Baz Luhrmann (“Moulin Rouge”) puts his flashy imprint on the life of the King of Rock ‘n Roll. “Elvis” stars Austin Butler (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”) in the title role and Tom Hanks (“News of the World”) portrays his manager, Col. Tom Parker.
The post Take Two: “Elvis” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
The new Netflix sci-fi thriller “Spiderhead” stars Chris Hemsworth (“The Avengers”) and Miles Teller (“Whiplash”) and was directed by Joseph Kosinski (“Top Gun: Maverick”).
The post Take Two: “Spiderhead” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
The Netflix offering “Hustle” is a sports drama starring Adam Sandler (“Uncut Gems”) as a scout for the Philadelphia 76ers who discovers and promotes a promising player he discovers playing street ball in Spain.
The post Take Two: “Hustle” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Rebel Wilson (“Pitch Perfect”) stars in the Netflix comedy “Senior Year” about a woman who wakes up from a 20-year coma and believes she’s still in high school.
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After 36 years, Tom Cruise (“Mission Impossible”) returns to the role that made him famous, Maverick the hotshot Navy pilot in “Top Gun: Maverick.”
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Jim Broadbent (“Moulin Rouge”) and Helen Mirren (“The Queen”) star in the low key British comedy, “The Duke.” It’s the true story of an eccentric who stole an art masterpiece in 1961.
The post Take Two: “The Duke” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Colin Firth (“The King’s Speech”) leads the cast in the WWII spy thriller, “Operation Mincemeat,” based on a bizarre true story.
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Nicholas Cage (“Pig”) plays Nicholas Cage (“Face/Off”) in this wacky and very meta comedy.
The post Take Two: “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
The animated comedy “The Bad Guys” is a sendup of heist movies featuring anthropomorphic animals who have to decide whether or not to go straight.
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Writer/director Judd Apatow (“Knocked Up”) takes aim at Hollywood pomposity in the Netflix satirical comedy “The Bubble.” Cast members include Leslie Mann (“Blithe Spirit”), Keegan Michael Key (“The Prom”) and Kate McKinnon (“Joe vs. Carol”).
Sandra Bullock (“Unforgivable”) and Channing Tatum (“Dog”) star in the wacky rom-com fantasy, “The Lost City.”
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Jesse Plemons (“The Power of the Dog”), Lily Collins (“Emily in Paris”) and Jason Segel (“How I Met Your Mother”) star in the new Netflix suspense thriller, “Windfall.”
The post Take Two: “Windfall” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Actor Ryan Reynolds and director Shawn Levy, who recently collaborated on the hit “Free Guy,” re-team for the sci-fi time travel movie, “The Adam Project.”
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Peter Dinklage (“Game of Thrones”) stars in a musical adaptation of the classic French romantic play, “Cyrano.”
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The Netflix offering “tick…tick…BOOM!” is an adaptation of the Broadway musical autobiography of composer Jonathan Larson (“Rent”). Andrew Garfield (“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”) stars.
The post Take Two: “tick…tick…BOOM!” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
“The Worst Person in the World” is a comic drama from Norway that’s been nominated for two Academy Awards, Best International Feature and Best Original Screenplay.
The post Take Two: “The Worst Person in the World” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Does Steven Spielberg’s remake of the classic musical “West Side Story” live up to the original? Susan and Russ have very different opinions.
The post Take Two: “West Side Story” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Local filmmaker Trevor Hawkins makes his feature film debut with the drama “Lotawana,” shot at Lake Lotawana, Missouri.
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Writer/director Kenneth Branagh (:Murder on the Orient Express”) offers “Belfast,” a semi-autobiographical tale of his youth in his native Norther Ireland.
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Actress Halle Berry stars in the Netflix MMA drama, “Bruised.” The film also marks her directorial debut.
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Filmmaker Joel Coen (“No Country for Old Men”) takes a shot at adapting one of the thornier Shakespeare works, with Denzel Washington (“Fences”) and Frances McDormand in the major roles.
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“The Hand of God,” the latest opus from Italian filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino (“The Great Beauty”), is a wistful semi-autobiographical tale of his youth in Naples.
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Oscar-winner Olivia Coleman (“The Favourite”) stars in the psychological drama “The Lost Daughter,” the directing debut of actress Maggie Gyllenhaal (“The Kindergarten Teacher”).
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Sandra Bullock (“Birdbox”) goes for a total makeover in “The Unforgivable,” a Netflix drama about an ex-con looking for redemption. The cast also includes Vincent D’Onofrio, Viola Davis, Rob Morgan, Richard Thomas and Jon Bernthal.
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Susan and Russ take a look at the new behind-the-scenes drama “Being the Ricardos.” It stars Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem as Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, the stars of the classic sitcom “I Love Lucy.” Oscar-winner Aaron Sorkin (“The Social Network”) wrote the screenplay and directed.
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Director Ridley Scott (“The Last Duel”) has assembled an impressive cast (Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Al Pacino, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, Salma Hayek) to tell the true story of intrigue and murder within the famed fashion house.
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Benedict Cumberbatch (“Doctor Strange”) goes against type in the gothic western, “The Power of the Dog” from filmmaker Jane Campion (“The Piano”).
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Can Dwayne Johnson (“Jungle Cruise”), Ryan Reynolds (“Free Guy”) and Gal Gadot (“Wonder Woman”) save the big budget Netflix comic thriller “Red Notice.” Susan and Russ weigh in.
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Ruth Negga (“Loving”) and Tessa Thompson (“Silvie’s Love”) star in “Passing,” based on the 1929 novel by Nella Larsen. It’s the story of two African-American friends, one who is passing as white. The film marks the directorial debut of actress Rebecca Hall (“Vicky Christina Barcelona”).
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“The Harder They Fall” is a Western with an Afro-centric approach. Idris Elba, Jonathan Majors and Regina King star in the feature film directorial debut of British hip-hop star Jeymes Samuel (The Bullitts).
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Filmmaker Edgar Wright (“Baby Driver”) offers a unique, genre-blending opus, “Last Night in Soho.” Thomasin McKenzie (“Jojo Rabbit”) and Anya Taylor-Joy (“Emma”) star in an unusual thriller about a fashion student whose muse appears to her in dreams.
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Jake Gyllenhaal (“Brokeback Mountain”) stars in an English language remake of the acclaimed Danish film, “The Guilty.” In this thriller, he plays a 911 dispatch officer desperately trying to save a kidnap victim. Antoine Fuqua (“The Magnificent Seven”) directs.
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Melissa McCarthy (“Can You Ever Forgive Me?”) stars alongside Chris O’Dowd (“Molly’s Game”) and Kevin Kline (“Here Today”) in the Netflix film “The Starling.” It’s a comic drama about grief and reconciliation directed by Theodore Melfi (“Hidden Figures”).
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Jessica Chastain (“Zero Dark Thirty”) stars as televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker in the biopic “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.” Andrew Garfield (“Hacksaw Ridge”) portrays her husband, Jim.
Ryan Reynolds (“Deadpool”) stars as a character in a video game in the over the top action fantasy, “Free Guy.” The film also stars Jodi Comer (TV’s “Killing Eve”) and was directed by Shawn Levy (“Night at the Museum”).
Michael Keaton (“The Protege”) portrays lawyer Kenneth Feinberg in “Worth,” a Netflix original drama. Feinberg was the head of the 9/11 Victims’ Compensation Fund, assigned with the unenviable task of deciding what a human life was worth.
Matt Damon (“The Bourne Identity”) and Abigail Breslin (“August: Osage County”) play father and daughter in “Stillwater,” a drama from Oscar-winning filmmaker Tom McCarthy (“Spotlight”).
Jason Momoa (“Aquaman”) and Isabela Merced (“Dora the Explorer) star in the Netflix action thriller, “Sweet Girl.”
John David Washington (“Tenet”) stars in the Hitchcock-like thriller “Beckett,” now streaming on Netflix.
Actor Winston Duke (“Us,” “Black Panther”) stars in the supernatural arthouse drama, “Nine Days.” It marks the feature film debut for writer/director Edson Oda.
Dwayne Johnson (“Jumanji: The Next Level”) and Emily Blunt (“A Quiet Place”) star in the comic adventure “Jungle Cruise,” based on the Disneyland theme park ride.
“I Carry You With Me” won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. This Spanish language entry is based on the true story of the trials and tribulations of a Mexican who flees to the US to pursue his dream as a chef.
The long-awaited sequel is now in theaters. Writer/director John Krasinski (“Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan”) teams up once again with Emily Blunt (“Jungle Cruise”) for another sci-fi horror entry.
The latest adventure from the Marvel Cinematic Universe approaches an Avenger from a different angle. Scarlett Johansson (“Marriage Story”) takes the title role, joined by Florence Pugh (“Little Women”), Rachel Weisz (“The Favourite”) and David Harbour (“Stranger Things”). Director Cate Shortland (“Berlin Syndrome”) tackles her first action flick.
Known as “The Black Woodstock,” the Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969 was captured on film for a proposed TV special. It never happened. That ‘lost’ footage has been complied into a documentary by the noted musician, Questlove. The resulting film is now in theaters and on Hulu.
Comedian Kevin Hart (“Ride Along”) takes a dramatic turn in “Fatherhood.” Writer/director Paul Weitz (“About a Boy”) has adapted the book by Matt Logelin into a Netflix original comic dr
Actress Rita Moreno (“West Side Story”) has had a colorful life and career. The highs and lows of her life and career are examined in the documentary “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It.”
Gina Rodriguez (“Jane the Virgin”) stars in the Netflix sci-fi apocalyptic thriller, “Awake.” She plays a woman who tries to save her children after a solar flare causes nearly all of humanity to lose the ability to sleep.
Disney offers yet another live action origin story for one of its animated villains. Emma Stone (“La La Land”) and Emma Thompson (“Saving Mr. Banks”) lead the cast in a PG-13 rated comedy set in London’s Mod 70s.
The inspirational Netflix movie “Blue Miracle” is based on a true story. A group of Mexican orphans takes on a big task. They team up with a washed-up former fishing champ (Dennis Quaid, “The Right Stuff”) in an attempt to win a lucrative fishing contest in a last-ditch attempt to save their orphanage.
Melanie Laurent (“Inglorious Basterds”) stars in the French sci-fi thriller “Oxygen,” about a woman who wakes up in a cryogenic pod with no idea how she got there. It’s the latest effort from director Alexendre Aja (“Crawl”). -fi
A teen is accused of being an accomplice to a botched robbery that left a man dead. Was he involved, or just an innocent bystander? The drama “Monster” stars Kelvin Harrison, Jr. (“Waves”), Jennifer Hudson (“Cats”), Jennifer Ehle (“The King’s Speech”) and Jeffrey Wright (“Westworld”).
Amanda Seyfried (“Mank”) stars in the ghost story “Things Heard & Seen,” a Netflix adaptation of the novel All Things Cease to Appear by Elizabeth Brundage. The supporting cast includes James Norton (“Little Women”), Natalia Dyer (“Stranger Things”), Rhea Seehorn (“Better Call Saul”), F. Murray Abraham (“Amadeus”) and Karen Allen (“Raiders of the Lost Ark”). […]
A Korean-American family starts a small farm in Arkansas in the 1980s. Yuh-Jung Youn won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for this sweet, subtle family film.
Melissa McCarthy (“Spy”) and Octavia Spencer (“The Help”) co-star in a Netflix superhero spoof, “Thunder Force.” It co-stars Jason Bateman (TV’s “Ozark”) and was written and directed by McCarthy’s husband, Ben Falcone (“Superintelligence”).
Benedict Cumberbatch (“Doctor Strange”) stars in a ’60s era spy thriller based on a true story. “The Courier” deals with a friendship that develops between a businessman, recruited to spy for the British secret service, and a Russian mole. They worked together during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Comedians Eric André (“Rough Night”, Lil Rel Howery (“Get Out”) and Tiffany Haddish (“Girls Trip”) star in the hybrid movie, “Bad Trip.” It combines elements of a buddy comedy and a ‘Punked’-stye hidden-camera show.
Oscar winners Anthony Hopkins (“Silence of the Lambs”) and Olivia Coleman (“The Favourite”) star in “The Father,” a drama about a profound struggle with dementia. It marks the directorial debut of French playwright, Florian Zeller.
Oscar-winning actress Frances McDormand (“Fargo”) stars in the drama “Nomadland.” It’s an adaptation of a non-fiction book about indigent senior citizens who travel around the U.S. in trailers in search of employment. The director is Chloé Zhao (“The Rider”).
Amy Poehler (“Wine Country”) directs an adaptation of “Moxie,” a 2015 YA novel of the same name by Jennifer Mathieu.
Rosamund Pike (“Gone Girl”) won a Golden Globe for her performance in the dark comic film, “I Care a Lot.” It concerns a corrupt, court-appointed guardian who drains the elderly of their life savings. Other notable cast members include Peter Dinklage (“Game of Thrones”) and Dianne Weist (“Let Them All Talk”).
Can a movie about an amateur British archeological dig in 1939 be compelling? Susan and Russ fill us in on this period piece that stars Carey Mulligan (“Promising Young Woman”) and Ralph Fiennes (“The Hurt Locker”).
The new documentary film “Bobbi Jo: Under the Influence,” was shot here in Kansas City. It tells the remarkable true story of a woman who was once a drug addict living on the streets of KC. She turned her life around and opened Healing House, a charity that has provided housing and services for more […]
John David Washington (“Tenet”) and Zendaya (“The Greatest Showman”) star in the dark interpersonal drama “Malcolm & Marie.” It was written and directed by Sam Levinson, creator of the TV series, “Euphoria.”
Naomi Watts (“Birdman”) stars in “Penguin Bloom,” an Australian family drama based on the book by Cameron Bloom. Watts plays a woman, paralyzed in a freak accident, whose emotional trauma is affected by her son’s wild pet.
“The White Tiger” is a Netflix adaptation of the Man Booker Prize-winning novel by Arivind Adiga. It’s a Dickensian tale about a poor Indian lad who uses his wits to rise above his lower caste station.
Director David Fincher (“The Social Network”) focuses on Old Hollywood with his new feature “Mank.” Gary Oldman plays acclaimed screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz in this ‘warts-and-all” biopic, now showing on Netflix.
Vanessa Kirby (“The Crown”), Shia LaBeouf (“Honeyboy”) and Ellen Burstyn (“Requiem for a Dream”) star in the harrowing drama, “Pieces of a Woman.”
Seventies pop music star Helen Reddy gets the biopic treatment in “I Am Woman.” Australian actress Tilda Cobham-Hervey plays the singer who went through many personal struggles before hitting it big and writing the number one hit “I Am Woman” that became the anthem for the women’s movement.
Emma Roberts (“The Hunt”) and Luke Bracey (“Hacksaw Ridge”) star in the Netflix rom-com, “Holidate.”
The late Chadwick Boseman (“Black Panther”) stars in the Netflix adaptation of August Wilson’s acclaimed play, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” The cast also includes Viola Davis (“The Help”), Glynn Turman (“The Way Back”) and Coleman Domingo (“Lucy in the Sky”). The director is George C. Wolfe (“Nights in Rodanthe”).
Acclaimed Danish filmmaker Thomas Vinterberg (“The Celebration”) and actor Mads Mikkelsen re-team for the first time since their noted 2012 film, “The Hunt.” “Another Round” is a comic drama about an experiment that four high school teachers embark upon. They toy with their blood alcohol content to see how it impacts their daily performance.
Rachel Brosnahan (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) stars in the 70s era neo-noir crime thriller, “I’m Your Woman.” Brosnahan plays Jean, a twenty-something whose gangster husband crosses his associates and then goes missing. Jean then is forced into hiding. The film was written and directed by Julia Hart (“Stargirl”).
Riz Ahmed (“Venom”) and Olivia Cooke (“Ready Player One”) star in “Sound of Metal.” Written and directed by Dariius Marder (“Loot”), it’s a drama that deals with a rock musician suffering from hearing loss.
Guy Pearce (“Prometheus”) portrays the world’s most renowned art forger, Dutch artist Han van Meegeren, in the post WWII drama, “The Last Vermeer.” This drama explores the time when van Meegeren was on trial for collaborating with the Nazis. Was he a traitor or was he outfoxing the enemy? This historical drama also stars Claes […]
Kate Winslet (“Blackbird”) and Saoirse Ronan (“Little Women”) star in “Ammonite,” a tale of forbidden romance set in 1800s England. Winslet portrays palaeontologist Mary Anning and Ronan is geologist Charlotte Murchinson in this speculative bit of historical fiction from director Francis Lee (“God’s Own Country”).
Kevin Costner (“Yellowstone”) and Diane Lane (“Paris Can Wait”) reunite for a big screen revenge thriller, “Let Him Go.” It’s based on the Neo-Western novel by Larry Watson and has been adapted to film by Thomas Bezucha (“The Family Stone”).
Filmmaker Alexendra Pelosi takes a snapshot of a divided America in the unnerving Showtime documentary “American Selfie.”
“Radium Girls” is a very well meaning period drama, but it takes a rather bland approach to a topic that should have been riveting. Actress Joey King (“The Kissing Booth”) leads a likable cast in this tale about the young women who brought suit against their employer in the 1920s when they were exposed to […]
Oscar winning filmmaker Aaron Sorkin (“The Social Network”) turns his attention to a notorious legal case. The cast of “The Trial of the Chicago 7” includes Sacha Baron Cohen (“Borat”) as Abby Hoffman, Eddie Redmayne (“The Theory of Everything”) as Tom Hayden, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (“Watchmen”) as Bobby Seale and Mark Rylance (“Bridge of Spies”) […]
A young Philippine-American girl evades Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents while trying to break into the Austin, Texas country music scene. Broadway star Eva Nobelzada makes her movie debut in this coming of age comic drama.
British actress Sally Hawkins (“The Shape of Water”) plays a woman suffering from schizophrenia in the offbeat comic drama, “Eternal Beauty.” The cast also includes David Thewlis (“I’m Thinking of Ending Things”) and Penelope Wilton (“Downton Abbey”). It was written and directed by actor Craig Roberts (“The Current War”).
“Kajillionaire” is comic drama from filmmaker Miranda July (“Me, You and Everyone We Know”). Evan Rachel Wood (“Westworld”) leads the cast in the story of a young woman who works with her parents as petty scam artists. The ensemble also includes Richard Jenkins (“The Shape of Water”), Debra Winger (“The Lovers”) and Gina Rodriguez (“Miss […]
“All In: The Fight for Democracy” is a new documentary about voter suppression, both in the past and in the present. Susan and Russ review this new film that focuses on Stacey Abrams and the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial race.
Susan and Russ cover “The Broken Hearts Gallery.” Does this romantic comedy for millennials speak to all generations? Geraldine Viswanathan (“Bad Education”) and Dacre Montgomery star in the first feature film from writer/director Natalie Krinsky.
“Words on Bathroom Walls” is a comic drama about teen schizophrenia, adapted from a popular YA novel by Julia Walton. Charlie Plummer (“All the Money in the World”), Taylor Russell (“Waves”) and Andy Garcia (“Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again”) lead the cast. Thor Freudenthal (“Diary of a Wimpy Kid”) directs.
Susan and Russ share very different opinions about the latest big screen adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic novel, “David Copperfield.” Dev Patel (“Slumdog Millionaire”), Hugh Laurie (TV’s “House”) and Tilda Swinton (“Suspiria”) star in this new version from writer/director Armando Iannucci, the man behind HBO’s “Veep.”
A new documentary from KC-based director Dan Wayne focuses on World Champion taxidermist Ken Walker and his efforts to ‘re-create’ a creature he’s convinced actually exists…a Sasquatch. This movie works because it’s as likably quirky as its subject.
Alexandra Shipp (“Love, Simon”) and Nicholas Hamilton (“It”) star in a romantic paranormal fantasy called “Endless.” It’s the latest film for young audiences from filmmaker Scott Speer (“Midnight Sun”). Susan and Russ are of one mind on this one.
Susan and Russ review what is at least the seventh movie or TV adaptation of the beloved children’s novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett (“The Little Princess”). The cast features Colin Firth (“The King’s Speech”) and Julie Walters (“Mamma Mia!”) and newcomer Dixie Egerickx (“Watcher in the Woods”). Marc Munden (“Mirand”) handles the directing chores.
The well known novel by Austrian writer Robert Seethaler provides the basis for the pre-WWII drama, “The Tobacconist” (Der Trafikant ). The film version is directed by Nikolaus Leytner and features one of the final performances from the late Swiss actor Bruno Ganz (“The Manchurian Candidate.”)
A family drama starring Sterling K. Brown, Taylor Russell and Kelvin Harrison, Jr. merits a big agreement between Russ and Susan. “Waves” is the third feature film written and directed by Trey Edward Shults.
“Never Too Late” is a comic import from down under starring James Cromwell and Jacki Weaver. Russ and Susan are on the same page on this one.
The documentary “Denise Ho: Becoming the Song” focuses on a famous pop star from Hong Kong who used her fame to take a stand on the democracy movement. This comes as the prevailing compromise known as “One country, two systems” was approaching its end.
Natalie Portman (“Black Swan”), Jon Hamm (“Richard Jewell”) and Ellen Burstyn (“Interstellar”) star in “Lucy in the Sky,” a drama about an astronaut’s emotional difficulties. Directed by Noah Hawley (TV’s “Fargo”), it is loosely based on an infamous incident that involved astronaut Lisa Nowak who attempted to kidnap a romantic rival. Susan and Russ don’t […]
Matt Damon (“Jason Bourne”) and Christian Bale (“Vice”) star in the action biopic, “Ford v Ferrari,” directed by James Mangold (“Walk the Line”). Damon plays legendary race car designer Carroll Shelby and Bale plays driver Ken Miles. The story involves the efforts of the Ford team to upset perennial champion Ferrari in the 1966 Le […]
The sci-fi epic “Ad Astra” involves an astronaut sent on a mission to find his long lost father on a space station in a remote part of the solar system. Brad Pitt (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”) stars along with Tommy Lee Jones (“Jason Bourne”). Writer/director James Gray is best known for his crime […]
Keira Knightly (“The Aftermath) and Ralph Fiennes (“The Grand Budapest Hotel”) start in the true life whistleblower drama, “Official Secrets.” It’s the story of Katherine Gun, a British intelligence specialist who had to decide whether or not to risk her life by exposing incriminating evidence leading up to the invasion of Iraq. Fiennes plays noted […]
Kristen Scott Thomas (“Tomb Raider”) stars in “Military Wives,” a gentle comedy based on a true story about the spouses of British soldiers who try to cope with their husbands’ absence by forming a choir. It’s directed by Peter Cattaneo, best known for “The Full Monty.”
“Paradise Hills” marks the filmmaking debut of celebrated Spanish photographer and designer Alice Waddington. Emma Robers (“The Hunt”) stars in this sci-fi thriller about a remote island where uncontrollable young women are sent to be reprogrammed into the perfect bride.
“Sorry We Missed You” is a working class kitchen sink drama from British filmmaker Ken Loach (“I, Daniel Blake”). The plot involves the modern gig economy in Britain and the difficulties faced by one debt-ridden family.
“Sword of Trust” stars Marc Maron (TV’s “GLOW”), Jillian Bell (“Brittany Runs a Marathon”) and Michaela Watkins (“The Way Back”). This broad ensemble comedy is about the efforts of several people to sell a sword that may prove that the South won the Civil War. It’s the latest from director Lynn Shelton (“Outside In”).
Since our local theaters are still temporarily closed, this week’s “Take Two” focuses on a new film now playing on HBO. Hugh Jackman (“The Greatest Showman”) and Allison Janney (“I, Tonya”) star in “Bad Education,” a bizarre true story about school district corruption.
Brian Cranston (“Breaking Bad”) and Kevin Hart (“Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle”) star in “The Upside,” and Americanized remake of the French film, “The Intouchables.” The cast also includes Nicole Kidman (“Bombshell”) and was directed by Neil Burger (“Divergent”).
“Big Time Adolescence” is a new Hulu comedy. Pete Davidson of “Saturday Night Live” fame stars as an irresponsible and immature man in his twenties whose best friend is an impressionable teen.
Jacob Tremblay (“Room”) leads a cast of youngsters in the raunchy, R-rated comedy, “Good Boys,” now available to screen on HBO. The supporting cast includes Lil Rel Howery (“Get Out”), Will Forte (“Booksmart”) and Retta (TV’s “Good Girls”).
Since our local cinemas are temporarily closed, this week’s episode focuses on a movie new to HBO. “The Kitchen” is a drama set in the 1970s about three women who take over mob in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen when their husbands wind up in jail. It has been adapted from the DC/Vertigo comic book series. […]
Due to the fact that our local cinemas are temporarily closed, Russ and Susan give their reviews of a new action thriller now screening on HBO. “Anna” is the latest from filmmaker Luc Besson (“Lucy”) about a supermodel/female assassin played by newcomer Sasha Luss. The supporting cast includes Helen Mirren (“The Queen”). Luke Evans (“Beauty […]
An Oscar nominee for Best International Film this year, “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” is a French period drama about forbidden love. Noémie Merlant (“Return of the Hero”) and Adèle Haenel (“BPM”) star in this costume opus set in 1760.
“The Call of the Wild” is at least the eighth screen adaptation of Jack London’s famous adventure novel. Harrison Ford (“Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens”) stars in this new version directed by Chris Sanders (“How to Train Your Dragon”).
Issa Rae (HBO’s “Insecure”) and LaKeith Stanfield (“Uncut Gems”) star in the romantic drama, “The Photograph,” written and directed by Stella Meghie (“The Weekend”). The story focuses on the relationship between a museum curator and a journalist that develops when the curator finds a mysterious photo of her late mother that sends her on a […]
The Jury Prize winner at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, “Les Miserables” is NOT based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel. It’s set in contemporary France in the same place where the action of Hugo’s novel unfolded 150 years earlier.
Will Smith (“Aladdin”) and Martin Lawrence (“Big Momma’s House”) reunite for the first time in 17 years in the third entry in the “Bad Boys” franchise, “Bad Boys for Life.”
In the decadent gangster comedy “The Gentlemen,” Matthew McConaughey (“Dallas Buyers Club”) stars as an American expat in London running a lucrative marijuana business. Things get tricky when he tries to cash out. The latest R-rated action flick from Guy Ritchie (“Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels”) also stars Charlie Hunnam (“Papillon”), Michele Dockery (“Downton […]
Oscar-winning filmmaker Sam Mendes (“American Beauty,” “Skyfall”) obtained the story for his WWI epic “1917” from stories told to him by his grandfather. Opting to employ a single “point of view” shot for the entire film, Mendes and cinematographer Roger Deakins (“Bladerunner 2049”) create an immersive atmosphere.
Comedian Adam Sandler (“Murder Mystery”) takes a dramatic turn in “Uncut Gems,” a violent character study about a New York jeweler with a gambling addiction. This arthouse thriller was written and directed by the Safdie Brothers (“Good Time”).
Oscar winners Charlize Theron (“Atomic Blonde”) and Nicole Kidman (“Boy Erased”) play Fox News anchors Megan Kelly and Gretchen Carlson in “Bombshell,” a drama about sexual harassment at the cable giant. Margot Robbie (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”) plays a fictional role as a naive reporter and John Lithgow (“Late Night”) portrays the late […]
Director Clint Eastwood (“The Mule”) focuses on a controversial true story about a sad sack hero of Atlanta’s 1996 Olympics. Paul Walter Hauser (“I, Tonya”) plays Richard Jewell, a security guard and wannabe cop who became a suspect in the deadly Centennial Park bombing. Sam Rockwell (“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”), Kathy Bates (“Misery”), Jon […]
In the social drama “Dark Waters,” Mark Ruffalo (“Avengers: Endgame”) stars as real-life corporate lawyer Robert Bilott who waged a 20-year war with chemical giant DuPont. The company was accused of knowingly poisoning the people of a small West Virginia town with chemicals that leaked from its plant that manufactured Teflon. The cast also includes […]
First-time filmmaker Melina Matsoukas has taken an original script by Lena Waith (“Dear White People”) and turned it into a harrowing road movie that deals with contemporary racism. Daniel Kaluuya (“Get Out”) and newcomer Jodi Turner-Smith star as a couple who go on the run after a horrible incident occurs while they’re on their first […]
“Knives Out” is a whodunit written and directed by Rian Johnson (“Looper”), that features an all-star cast that includes Daniel Craig, Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Evans and Christopher Plummer.
Although it’s being marketed as a biopic about legendary children’s TV icon Fred Rogers, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” is really about a single incident in the life of a journalist and his encounters with the genial PBS host. Tom Hanks (“The Post”) portrays Rogers and Matthew Rhys (TV’s “The Americans”) plays a writer […]
Director Martin Scorsese (“The Departed”) brings his considerable talents to his latest project, a Netflix release also seen in theaters. “The Irishman” stars Robert De Niro (“Raging Bull”), Al Pacino (“The Godfather”) and Joe Pesci (“Goodfellas”) in the tale of a truck driver (and hitman) who serves as a go-between linking the mob and the […]
A dark social satire from South Korea, “Parasite” was the winner of this year’s top prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Director Bong Joon-ho (“Okja”) is a leader of the Korean New Wave. Susan and Russ let us know if the film lives up to the hype.
Joaquin Phoenix portrays Batman’s mad nemesis in “Joker,” undoubtedly one of the more controversial and provocative movies of the year. This character study serves as an ultra-violent origin story. Writer/director Todd Phillips, who is best known for his broad comedies like “Old School” and the “Hangover” trilogy, makes an unorthodox approach in this drastic change […]
Fans of the PBS TV series “Downton Abbey” finally have a big screen to get their fix. In this episode that picks up where the series ended, the King of England travels to Downton to pay a visit. Most of the cast members have returned, including Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern and Maggie Smith. […]
Jennifer Lopez (TV’s “World of Dance”) and Constance Woo (“Crazy Rich Asians”) play strippers who rip off their Wall Street clients during the financial crisis of 2008 in the drama, “Hustlers.” Based on a true story, “Hustlers” was written and directed by Lorene Scafaria (“The Meddler”).
Renée Zellweger gets the role of a lifetime in “Judy,” the story of the last sad months in the life of entertainment legend, Judy Garland. The movie is an adaptation of the Broadway play End of the Rainbowby Peter Quilter. The film also features Jessie Buckley, Finn Wittrock, Rufus Sewell and Michael Gambon in supporting roles and is directed by Rupert Goold (“True Story”).
Susan and Russ take a look at a documentary focusing on one of the most popular recording artists of all time. “Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice” is a musical overview of the singer whom Bonnie Raitt described as “the Beyonce of her day.” Talking heads include Raitt, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Peter Asher, […]
Comedian Jillian Bell (“Sword of Trust”) gives an impressive performance as an overweight Manhattan party girl who makes some dramatic lifestyle changes in the comic drama “Bittany Runs a Marathon.” The cast also includes Michaela Watkins (TV’s “Transparent”) and Lil Rel Howery (“Get Out”).
Two of America’s finest actresses offer an English language remake of an acclaimed 2006 Danish film, “After the Wedding. Michelle Williams (“Fosse/Verdon”) and Julianne Moore (“Gloria Bell”) star in the gender-flipped adaptation directed by Moore’s husband, Bart Freundlich (“The Myth of Fingerprints”).
Shia LaBeouf (“Transformers”), Dakota Johnson (“Fifty Shades of Grey”), Bruce Dern (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”), John Hawkes (“Winter’s Bone”) and Thomas Hayden-Church (“Sideways”) are the ‘name’ cast members of “The Peanut Butter Falcon,” an indie drama from newcomers Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz. But the title role belongs to Zack Gottsagen, a newcomer […]
“Maiden” is a documentary about Tracy Edwards and the first all-female crew to enter the harrowing and dangerous Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race in 1989. Many thought they wouldn’t survive, let alone finish the grueling race.
Trouble among some snake-handling Pentecostals in Appalachia is the subject of the unsettling drama “Them that Follows.” Walton Goggins (“Tomb Raider”) plays a strict pastor of a small mountain flock. His daughter is portrayed by Alice Englert (“Beautiful Creatures”) and other members of the flock include Olivia Coleman (“The Favourite”), Jim Gaffigan (“Super Troopers 2”) […]
Awkwafina (“Crazy Rich Asians”) stars in the comic drama, “The Farewell,” inspired by the true story of the filmmaker Lulu Wang and her ailing grandmother. A young woman travels to China when she learns her beloved grandmother is terminally ill. Problem is, the family has decided to hide the truth from the elderly lady and […]
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” the latest effort from writer/director Quentin Tarantino (“Django Unchained”), is an homage to the city and art form he loves. Leonardo DiCaprio (“The Revenant”) plays the former star of a TV Western who tries to navigate the changes going on in Tinsletown in 1969. His best friend is a […]
Andrew Garfleld (“The Amazing Spider-Man”) stars in a neo-noir mystery, “Under the Silver Lake.” Garfield plays a paranoid man whose beautiful neighbor goes missing. As he tries to solve the puzzle of her disappearance, things get weirder and weirder. The film was written and directed by David Robert Mitchell (“It Follows”). The cast also includes […]
The drama “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 26, 2019, where it won awards for Best Directing and a Special Jury Prize for Creative Collaboration. It marks the debut of writer/director/producer Joel Talbot, based on the true story of his childhood friend, Jimmie […]
In “Yesterday,” Himesh Patel from the BBC TV series “Eastenders” plays an unsuccessful musician who, through a cosmic fluke, becomes the only living person to know the songs of The Beatles. This high-concept romantic fantasy also features Lily James (“Mama Mia: Here We Go Again”), and Kate McKinnon (TV’s “Saturday Night Live”). The film was […]
That bad ‘you-know-what’ Shaft has returned to the big screen. Samuel L. Jackson (“Captain Marvel”) is the titular private dick hero, John Shaft…or does the title also refer to his son JJ Shaft (“Jessie T. Usher from “Ride”) and John Shaft, Sr. (Richard Roundtree from “Seven”)? This action comedy was directed by Tim Story (“Barbershop”).
The new film “Ophelia” is a fan fiction-style bit of conjecture based on Lisa Klein’s novel that reworks Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” but from Ophelia’s point of view. Daisy Ridley (“Star Wars: The Last Jedi”) takes on the title role with George MacKay (“Captain Fantastic”) as Hamlet, Naomi Watts (“Insurgent”) as Gertrude and Clive Owen (“Children of […]
“Late Night” is a social comedy from writer Mindy Kaling (“The Office”) about an aging talk show host played by Emma Thompson (“Howard’s End”) who faces forced retirement while her young protégé (Kaling) battles sexism and racism in the writers’ room.
Kenneth Branagh (“Murder on the Orient Express”) takes on the role of the aging Bard of Avon in “All is True.” Judi Dench (“Red Joan”) plays his long-suffering wife and Ian McKellan (“The Lord of the Rings”) portrays his benefactor, the Earl of Southampton.
Actor Taron Egerton (“Kingsman”) portrays pop superstar Elton John in this full-blown musical about the singer’s personal and professional ups and downs. Jamie Bell (“The Fantastic Four”) plays lyricist Bernie Taupin and Bryce Dallas Howard (“The Help”) is John’s unsympathetic mother.
Actress Olivia Wilde (“Her”) makes her directorial debut with “Booksmart,” a raunchy comedy starring Beanie Feldstein (“Lady Bird”) and Kaitlyn Dever (“Detroit”). They play well-behaved, high-achieving high school seniors who decide to cut loose on the night before graduation. Susan and Russ are on the same page on this whip-smart farce.
Actor Dennis Quaid (“A Dog’s Journey”) takes a turn to the dark side in the throwback thriller, “The Intruder.” Michael Ealy (“Think Like a Man”) and Megan Goode (“Shazam!”) play a young couple who buy Quaid’s home and get more than they bargained for. “The Intruder” was written and directed by Deon Taylor (“Traffik”).
Dame Judy Dench takes a supporting role in “Red Joan,” an adaptation of a novel loosely based on the true story of a woman who gave British nuclear secrets to the Soviet Union. Sophie Cookson plays the character in flashbacks. Russ and Susan disagree about the effectiveness of this drama.
Aretha Franklin’s classic 1972 gospel album “Amazing Grace” is the subject of this documentary by Oscar-winning filmmaker Sidney Pollack (“Out of Africa”). Russ and Susan disagree about this chronicle that captures footage as the songs were recorded live at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles. The Reverend James Cleveland and the church choir […]
Critics’ Choice Award-winner Taraji P. Henson (TV’s “Empire”) and Oscar-winner Sam Rockwell (“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”) star in the true story of Civiil Rights worker Ann Atwater and her unlikely friendship with KKK leader Claiborne Paul Ellis. They confronted one another over the issue of school desegregation in North Carolina in 1971.
“Hotel Mumbai” is a harrowing true story of the bloody terrorist takeover of the Taj Palace Hotel in 2008. This violent reenactment stars Dev Patel (“Slumdog Millionaire”), Armie Hammer (“Call Me by Your Name”), Nazanin Boniadi (“Ben-Hur”) and Jason Isaacs (“The Death of Stalin”). This Indian/Australian production is the feature film directorial debut of Anthony Maras.
“The Mustang” is a Belgian-American drama about a Nevada prison rehab program where convicts tame wild horses for sale to the public. The film project was developed through the Sundance Institute, so founder Robert Redford is given producer credit. Matthias Schoenaerts (“Far from the Madding Crowd”) plays Roman, a convict who blooms when given the chance […]
The strange true story about an attempt to rob $30 million from Richard Nixon’s secret illegal campaign fund becomes a strange comic movie. Aussie actor Travis Fimmel (“Lean on Pete”) plays Harry Barber, a fan of actor Steve McQueen, who tries to look and act like the famous actor. He joins in a plot with […]
Acclaimed French actress Isabel Huppert (“Elle”) and Chloë Grace Moretz (“Kick Ass”) star in the new Hitchcock-like suspense thriller “Greta.” It was written and directed by Neil Jordan (“The Crying Game”).
Based on a true story, “Fighting With My Family” is about the life of WWE Superstar, Paige. This comedy focuses on the struggles of a British teenager as she rises to pro wresting fame. The film was written and directed by Stephen Merchant, co-creator of TV’s “The Office.” Francis Pugh (“Lady Macbeth”) portrays Paige, and the film […]
The Lebanese film “Capernaum” is a social drama about a poor boy who does the best he can to survive on the streets of Beirut. Written and directed by Nadine Labaki, the film is a nominee for this year’s Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.
Director Peter Jackson (“The Lord of the Rings”) has taken old WWI film footage and given it a high-tech restoration for the documentary, “They Shall Not Grow Old.” The resulting movie is an immersive, involving history lesson.
Acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Koreeda offers a gentle glimpse into the lives of a ragtag group of petty thieves who form something of a family in “Shoplifters.” It is a nominee for Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Oscar ceremony.
Director Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight”) has adapted James Baldwin’s acclaimed novel “If Beale Street Could Talk” for the big screen. Young actors Kiki Layne (“Native Son”) and Stephen James (“Semna”) lead the cast in this love story that’s also a potent social commentary. Regina King (“This Christmas”) won a Golden Globe and a Critics’ Choice Award […]
Writer/director Adam McKay (“The Big Short”) offers a tongue-in-cheek portrait of former Vice President, Dick Cheney. “Vice” starts Christian Bale (“The Dark Knight”) as Cheney, Amy Adams (“Sharp Objects”) as his wife, Lynn Cheney, Steve Carell (“Welcome to Marwen”) as …
Filmmaker Peter Hedges (“Pieces of April”) has fashioned a drama about how drug addiction affects a family. “Ben is Back” stars Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges in the story of a teenager who leaves rehab and shows up on his …
Director Steve McQueen (“12 Years a Slave”) and screenwriter Gillian Flynn (“Gone Girl”) join forces for a gritty, realistic heist film, “Widows.” Viola Davis plays a woman whose husband (Liam Neeson) leads a successful crime ring. Things get complicated when …
Duel memoirs by father and son writers David and Nicholas Sheff provide the basis for this drama that marks the first English-language film by Belgian director Felix Van Groeningen. Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet star in this story of drug addiction and …
If understatement is a virtue, then “Wildlife,” a film adaptation of Richard Ford’s 1990 novel, has virtue to spare. This drama about the dissolution of a marriage marks the directorial debut of actor Paul Dano (“There Will be Blood”), who wrote …
Comedienne Melissa McCarthy makes a rare dramatic turn as famed author Lee Israel in the intriguing story, “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” The screenplay is based on Israel’s book that details her time as a forger. Although she’d had success …
“First Man” is the first collaboration between writer/director Damien Chazelle and actor Ryan Gosling since their acclaimed work on “La La Land.” This biopic is about Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, and the buildup to the launch …
Infamous French writer Colette (1873 – 1954) is the focus of this well-produced biopic starring Kiera Knightly (“Atonement”) and Dominic West (TV’s “The Wire). It was written and directed by Wash Westmoreland (“Still Alice”).
The fourth big screen adaptation of the old Hollywood backstage story is both a critical and box office hit. Bradley Cooper (“The Hangover”) and pop music’s Lady Gaga play romantically linked musicians in “A Star is Born.” Cooper produced, directed …
Two-time Oscar winner Emma Thompson stars in “The Children Act,” based on the novel by Ian McEwan. Thompson plays an English judge whose marriage to her professor husband (Stanley Tucci) is on the rocks. This complicates her work presiding over the …
The surprise box office hit “Crazy Rich Asians” features an international cast of actors, all of Chinese ancestry. This familiar but fun romantic comedy treads new ground only in one way: It’s the first US production that features an all …
A new film noir thriller has a comic touch. “A Simple Favor” stars Anna Kendrick (“Pitch Perfect”) as a widowed housewife and Blake Lively (“The Shallows”) as a femme fatal with a dark secret. Director Paul Feig (“Bridesmaids,” “Spy”) departs …
The new thriller “Searching” stars John Cho (“Star Trek”) and Debra Messing (TV’s “Will and Grace”). Cho plays a father whose teenage daughter goes missing. He breaks into her computer and uses the internet and online tools in a desperate …
“Operation Finale” is a historical drama from filmmaker Chris Weitz (“About a Boy”). It tells the true story of Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad and their efforts to capture the Nazi SS officer Adolph Eichmann, the architect of the Holocaust, who was …
Chloë Grace Moretz (“The Equalizer”) stars in a coming of age drama adapted from Emily M. Danforth’s novel,”The Miseducation of Cameron Post,” that received acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival. Moretz plays a lesbian teen sent by her family to …
Scotty Bowers published a book in 2012 called “Full Service” that claimed to have chronicled his life as a pimp during Hollywood’s golden age and how he operated a brothel out of a gas station that catered to gay men. He …
The remarkable true story of Ron Stallworth has been brought to the big screen by director Spike Lee and co-writer Kevin Willmott, who is professor of film at KU. John David Washington (“Ballers”) plays Stallworth, a black Colorado police officer …
Writer/director Bo Burnham who achieved celebrity through is internet postings, offers his first feature-length dramatic film, “Eighth Grade,” the story of an angst-ridden teen in the age of social media. Elsie Fisher (“McFarland, USA”) plays a 15-year-old who posts helpful …
A remarkable true story is at the core of “Three Identical Strangers,” a documentary about Robert Shafran, Edward Galland and David Kellman, identical triplets separated at birth. They were part of a scientific experiment in the “nature vs. nurture” debate …
Weird, comic and sometimes off-putting, the social satire “Sorry to Bother You” features LaKeith Stanfield as an African-American telemarketer who uses a “white” voice to get ahead. Then, Boots Riley’s bizarre film turns into a sci-fi melodrama! Susan and Russ have …
Is it a documentary or a drama? In the case of “American Animals,” the answer to both is, “Yes.” This unique hybrid from filmmaker Bart Layton (“The Imposter”) is a true crime drama about a group of college students who decide …
Susan and Russ cover the acclaimed documentary about Fred Rogers, host of the longtime PBS children’s show, “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.” This overview includes clips featuring Yo Yo Ma, Bill Clinton, Al Gore and Koko the Gorilla and was directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker …
The fifth entry in the “Jurassic Park” franchise reprises a lot of what’s come before. Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard and an army of special effects magicians return to wreak more dinosaur havoc. Directed by J. A. Bayona (“A Monster …
Faith has played a major role in a number of movies from filmmaker Paul Schrader. He’s responsible for the screenplays of “The Last Temptation of Christ,” “Taxi Driver” and “Raging Bull.” He’s also both writer and director of “Hardcore,” “Dominion,” …
A true-life survival story is at the core of the new film, “Adrift.” Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin star as a couple who contract to sail a private boat from Tahiti to San Diego, only to hit a monster storm, …
Susan and Russ have two very different takes on “Disobedience,” starring Oscar-winner Rachel Weisz, Rachel McAdams and Alessandro Nivola. The director is Sebastian Lielio, whose Chilean film “A Fantastic Woman” won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film this year. Weisz …
The liberal lion of the US Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, is the subject of a loving documentary “RBG.” The film focuses on her rise to prominence and her feminist perspective. While it can be a bit fawning, Russ and …
Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody is reunited with Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron in “Tully,” an offbeat comic drama about, of all things, postpartum depression. Theron plays a woman who delivers her third child. Because of exhaustion, she agrees to let her …
The topic of body image takes center stage in the new Amy Schumer comedy, “I Feel Pretty.” The story involves an insecure woman who falls, bumps her head, and imagines that she’s a raging beauty, giving her newfound confidence. While …
An elderly couple take a final Winnebago trip in the road movie, “The Leisure Seeker.” Two of our best actors, Donald Sutherland and Helen Mirren, give a big boost to this story involves dementia, family squabbles and other issues that …
Armando Iannucci, the satirist behind TV’s “Veep,” focuses his cynical eye on 1953 Russia in the nasty, pitch black comedy, “The Death of Stalin.” When the dictator dies in 1953, his underlings begin their back-stabbing manipulations to replace him. Steve Buscemi, Jeffrey …
Hedy Lamarr was a glamorous Hollywood star of the 1940s and 50s. Often cited as the most beautiful woman in the world, she’s probably best known for the Cecil B. DeMille classic, “Samson and Delilah.” She had a unusual secret. She …
The Marvel superhero juggernaut “Black Panther” has been setting box office records around the world. Chadwick Boseman (“Marshall”) plays the king of a secretive, technologically advanced African nation. He’s called upon to defend his country and thw world from internal …
The last days of Oscar-winning actress Gloria Grahame are the focus of “Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool.” Graham won fame in the 1940s and 50s for her femme fatale roles in film noir thrillers like “The Big Heat” and “Sudden …
“Molly’s Game” tells the true story of an Olympic hopeful who, after an injury, hosted big money poker games that featured Hollywood stars, business tycoons and Russian mobsters. Jessica Chastain stars as Molly Bloom in this film written by Aaron Sorkin …
“Hostiles” is a revisionist Western that hews more closely to the truth than most. Christian Bale stars as an Army captain who is ordered to escort a group of Cheyenne prisoners on a torturous journey from New Mexico to Wyoming. Wes …
“Call Me by Your Name” is a coming of age drama based on the novel by André Aciman. The film has garnered an Oscar nomination for the screenplay adaptation by James Ivory (“Remains of the Day”) and was directed by Luca …
The true story of the Pentagon Papers gets the Steven Spielberg treatment in the involving drama, “The Post.” Tom Hanks stars as The Washington Post’s gritty editor Ben Bradlee and Meryl Streep portrays the newspaper’s troubled owner, Katharine Graham.
The latest film from Ridley Scott is based on a true story. In 1973, the grandson of billionaire J. Paul Getty was kidnapped in Rome. The notoriously greedy oil baron refused to pay ransom. Christopher Plummer stars as the miserly …
Gary Oldman applies a ton of latex for his performance as Winston Churchill in the new historical drama “Darkest Hour.” Directed by Joe Wright (“Atonement”), the film also features Kristen Scott Thomas, Lily James and Ben Mendelsohn in a story …
It was shot in North Carolina, but Martin McDonagh’s searing comic drama “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri” has a show-me attitude. Susan and Russ agree that Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell give award-worthy performances in this dark tale …
Sonia Warshawski is a 92-year-old Holocaust survivor who ran a tailor shop in the now-demolished Metcalf South Shopping Center for over 30 years. Her story, and that of her quest to inform people about the Holocaust is chronicled in “Big …
Famed simian expert Jane Goodall is the subject of the documentary, “Jane” that features footage shot by her former husband, acclaimed wildlife photographer Hugo van Lawick. Susan and Russ take a peek.
Does George Clooney + the Coen Brothers + Matt Damon = a hit? Not so fast. Susan and Russ take a look at a very edgy, pitch black comedy that that dares to shake up our conception of the idyllic …
A sequel released 35 years after the original has struggled at the box office. But, the 1982 original struggled in theaters, too. “Blade Runner” became a classic thanks to home video. Susan and Russ take a look at “Blade Runner …
“American Made” tells the remarkable true story of Barry Seal, a TWA pilot who was recruited by the CIA to do aerial reconnaissance over Central America in the 1980s. Tom Cruise plays Seal, who became a drugs and arms smuggler and eventually established …
Four Oscar-winners (Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Jeff Bridges, Halle Berry) join Taron Edgerton, Channing Tatum and Sir Elton John(!) in Matthew Vaughn’s wacky comic book sequel to the 2015 hit about a secret British society of super agents that make James Bond …
Morgan Dameron, a KC native who worked as assistant to director J. J. Abrams (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”), shot her first film as writer/director, a gentle comedy called “Different Flowers.” The film stars Emma Bell (“The Walking Dead”) and Hope …
The infamous 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs was viewed on TV by 90 million people. The new film “Battle of the Sexes” is a comic drama that places it in the context of the social …
Filmmaker Darren Aronofsky’s new horror allegory “mother!” provides meaty roles for Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris and Michelle Pfeiffer. But how good is this controversial thriller? Susan and Russ give us the lowdown.
Susan and Russ focus on a “Crown Heights,” a true story about a miscarriage of justice that gained attention through an episode of the NPR show, “This American Life.” LaKeith Stanfield plays a man wrongly convicted of murder. His friends …
The big screen adaptation of Janette Walls’ bestselling memoir gets the once-over from Susan and Russ. Oscar-winner Brie Larson stars alongside Woody Harrelson and Naomi Watts in the story of an exceptionally dysfunctional family. Writer/director Destin Daniel Cretton re-teams with …
Perhaps the most controversial film of the year, “Detroit” recounts story of the infamous Algiers Motel incident during the 1967 riots in Motor City. Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow (“The Hurt Locker”) re-teams with screenwriter (“Zero Dark Thirty”) to tell the tale …
Susan and Russ take on an adaptation of a Russian novel whose setting has been relocated to Victorian England in 1865. Newcomer Florence Pugh plays Katherine, a young woman stuck in a loveless marriage to a nasty landowner. Things get …
Oscar-winner Casey Affleck (“Manchester by the Sea”) and Oscar-nominee Rooney Mara (“Carol”) star in a new art house entry from writer/director David Lowery (“Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”). Susan and Russ cover this melancholy effort that, in spite of its title, …
Based on a popular graphic novel, “Atomic Blonde” is a decadent and violent spy thriller. Oscar-winner Charlize Theron portrays a highly skilled British spy sent on a dangerous mission in Germany just prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall. …
Susan and Russ take on the latest film from writer/director Edgar Wright (“Shaun of the Dead”), a violent and profane action comedy. Ansel Elgort (“The Fault in our Stars,” “Divergent”) plays the title role, a getaway driver who uses music …
Susan and Russ have a slight disagreement about the third installment of the franchise reboot that began in 2011. The tentpole summer blockbuster has more depth than one might expect from a Hollywood entry, but Susan had a few qualms …
Director Sophia Coppola won the Best Director prize at the Cannes Film Festival for “The Beguiled,” a remake of Clint Eastwood’s 1971 Civil War drama. Colin Farrell stars as a wounded Union deserter who takes shelter in a small Virginia girl’s …
At the age of 81, filmmaker Eleanor Coppola (wife of Francis Ford Coppola and mother of Sophia) wrote and directed her first dramatic film “Paris Can Wait.” Diane Lane plays the wife of a successful Hollywood producer (Alec Baldwin). While …
Susan and Russ check out “Megan Leavey,” the true story of a Marine and her bomb-sniffing dog who served with distinction in Iraq. Kate Mara (“The Fantastic Four”) takes the title role, supported by Edie Falco, Common, Bradley Whitford and …
Susan and Russ review a new adaptation of Daphne Du Maurier’s classic gothic mystery, “My Cousin Rachel.” Oscar-winning actress Rachel Weisz (“The Constant Gardener”) takes on the title role of a widow who may or may not have murdered her …
Is the new feminist take on superhero movies really super? Susan and Russ take on the DC Comics adaptation that stars Gal Gadot and Chris Pine and was directed by Lawrence, Kansas native Patty Jenkins.
Susan and Russ take a break from reviewing current movies to discuss the difference between today’s cinematic fare and that of the depression era. Fantasy is still the focus, but it plays out in different ways.
Susan and Russ have different takes on “Norman,” a character study starring Richard Gere, Michael Sheen, Steve Buscemi. Gere plays a wheeler dealer who uses his relationship with an Israeli government official to ingratiate himself with the Jewish business elite …
Susan and Russ check out “The Circle,” a high tech thriller adapted by screenwriter Dave Eggers from his own novel. Emma Watson and Tom Hanks star in the story of a powerful Silicon Valley company (think Google) that may have …
Susan and Russ review the raunchy comedy, “Snatched,” a farce about a mother-daughter trip to Equador that goes terribly awry. The cast includes Amy Schumer, Goldie Hawn, Wanda Sykes and Joan Cusack.
“The Promise” is the second war drama to open in the last few weeks that’s set in Turkey during the run up to WWI. The earlier film, “The Ottoman Lieutenant,” gives the Turkish point of view, minimizing the cost of …
Susan and Russ check out the new comedy from director Zach Braff. “Going in Style” is a loose remake of the 1979 comic drama that starred George Burns. This new version is much lighter, starring Oscar winners Michael Caine, Morgan …
A Danish Oscar nominee is the focus of this week’s segment. Susan and Russ share their thoughts on this bleak post WWII drama based on actual events. The story is about German soldiers captured by the Danish military, forced to …
Susan and Russ take on a comic drama based upon a popular graphic novel. “Wilson” stars Woody Harrelson as a misanthrope whose ex-wife informs him that he has a teenage daughter. Director Craig Johnson (“The Skeleton Twins”) and the story’s …
Can a youthful mistake be amended in one’s old age? What if the memory of it is unreliable? These are the central questions behind the British art house entry, “The Sense of an Ending.” Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent plays a man …
In an unusual turn, Susan and Russ take a look at a Hollywood blockbuster, “Kong: Skull Island.” This is the second in a series of ‘reboots’ that started with the remake of “Godzilla” in 2014. (Look for “Kong vs Godzilla” …
Famed Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi received his second Best Foreign Language Film Oscar for the insightful and involving drama, “The Salesman.” Susan and Russ take a look at this story about two actors, a man and wife, who are appearing …
Raoul Peck’s Oscar-nominated documentary “I Am Not Your Negro” is a compelling work about the late African-American writer James Baldwin and his relationship with three Civil Rights workers who were all assassinated: Medgar Evers, Malcom X and Martin Luther King. …
Russ and Susan take a look at the latest melodrama from acclaimed Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar. “Julieta” has all of the splashy color and over-the-top flourishes that are the hallmark of Almodovar’s films. It’s the story of a mother-daughter relationship. …
Susan and Russ take on “The Founder,” a biopic about Ray Kroc, the man who turned the fast food pioneer McDonald’s into an American behemoth. Michael Keaton plays Kroc, a struggling salesman who achieved success by stabbing people in the …
Susan and Russ explore the latest film from writer/director Mike Mills, the man behind the award-winning 2011 movie, “Beginners.” This semi-autobiographical tale is a coming-of-age story about a 15-year-old boy being brought up in bohemian fashion by his liberal mom, …
Susan and Russ cover a controversial film that won the Best Foreign Language Film prize as well as Best Actress at this year’s Golden Globes. Isabelle Huppert (“Amour”) plays a successful businesswoman who is brutally raped, and then begins a …
The great cast includes Will Smith, Edward Norton, Kiera Knightly, Helen Mirren, Kate Winslet and Naomi Harris. The director is David Frankel (“The Devil Wears Prada”) and the writer is Allan Loeb (“Things We Lost in the Fire”). So, what …
Fashion designer Tom Ford’s second effort as a filmmaker is “Nocturnal Animals.” Susan and Russ examine this difficult film, which is rated “R” even though it might have deserved an “NC-17” rating. A very dark and violent tale of revenge, …
Manchester by the Sea is an American drama film directed and written by Kenneth Lonergan and starring Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, Gretchen Mol and Lucas Hedges. The plot follows an uncle who has to look after his teenage …
Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard star in a “Casablanca” wannabe called “Allied.” This romantic WWII drama features Pitt as a Canadian intelligence officer who falls in love with a French Resistance fighter (Cotillard) who may -or may not- be a …
Susan and Russ celebrate the arrival of an intelligent, thought-provoking sci-fi movie. “Arrival” stars Amy Adams as a linguist who is recruited by the US military to help them communicate with aliens who have come to Earth in a dozen …
Oscar-winner Mel Gibson returns to the director’s chair for “Hacksaw Ridge,” the true story of Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector during WWII who wound up winning the Congressional Medal of Honor for saving 75 men on a battlefield in Okinawa. …
Susan and Russ agree that the subtle charms of the austere drama “Certain Women” won’t appeal to everyone. Laura Dern, Michelle Williams, Kristen Stewart and Lily Gladstone star in this slice-of-life film that features three intertwining stories about small town …
An important British legal case is at the heart of “Denial,” a true story that pits an American historian against a British Holocaust denier. Deborah Lipstadt (Oscar-winner Rachel Weisz) is sued by writer David Irving for libel when she calls …
The realistic Shia LaBeouf drama “American Honey” was largely shot in the Kansas City area. It won the Jury Prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Susan and Russ give their reactions to this story about a wandering band of …
The story of Nat Turner’s slave revolt of 1831 hasn’t been dramatized on film…until now. Susan and Russ discuss the merits and flaws of this intriguing historical drama. Nate Parker wrote, directed, produced and takes the lead role in this …
Susan and Russ check out a Hitchcock wannabe, a thriller based on the bestselling novel by Paula Hopkins. The terrific cast includes Emily Blunt, Haley Bennett, Rebecca Ferguson, Justin Theroux, Luke Evans, Allison Janney, Edgar Ramirez, Lisa Kudrow and Laura …
Susan and Russ have different takes on the remake of the western classic from 1960. The location, motives and back stories have changed, but the David vs. Goliath elements remain the same. This is the first time that Denzel Washington, …
With Clint Eastwood behind the camera and Tom Hanks in front, “Sully” was deemed a surefire box office hit. Indeed, the true story of the airline captain who steered a jet to a successful emergency landing in the Hudson River …
Luke Scott, the son of director Ridley Scott, makes his directorial debut with “Morgan,” a creepy sci-fi entry about a clandestine corporate effort to create a superior artificial human. The cast includes Kate Mara, Toby Jones, Jennifer Jason Leigh and …
A biopic about one of the greatest boxers of all time, “Hands of Stone” highlights the ups and downs in the life of Roberto Duran. Edgar Ramirez portrays the Panamanian brawler, Robert De Niro is his trainer, Ray Arcel, and …
The powerhouse production duo of Mark Burnett and Roma Downey have taken on the daunting task of remaking a movie classic, “Ben-Hur.” Jack Huston plays the title role in this epic based on the novel by General Lew Wallace. So, …
Oscar bait? Susan and Russ chat about a new contemporary Western thriller starring Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine, Ben Foster and Gil Birmingham. The screenwriter is responsible for last year’s hit thriller, “Sicario.” Pine and Foster play bank robbers who are …
Is Woody Allen’s latest movie among his best? The story involves a young New Yorker (Jesse Eisenberg) who goes to Hollywood in the 1930s to work with his uncle (Steve Carell), a top Tinseltown agent. Complications arise when they start …
Susan and Russ cover a drama that, in spite of its title, is not the latest superhero movie, Viggo Mortensen (“The Lord of the Rings” trilogy) stars as a father who attempts to raise his children completely ‘off the grid.’ …
The BBC sitcom ran, off and on, for 21 years. Susan and Russ check out the big screen version starring Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders as aging, clueless fashionistas. As Susan puts it, they’re like female versions of Donald Trump, …
It’s taken 13 years, but Pixar has finally delivered a sequel to their wildly popular animated entry, “Finding Nemo.” Susan and Russ give their thoughts on “Finding Dory,” and compare its quality with that of the original aquatic hit.
He was one of the first to say, “Follow the money” when trying to break up a drug cartel. Robert Mazur was an undercover federal agent who helped bring down Pablo Escobar’s cocaine empire in the 1980s. Bryan Cranston plays …
Susan and Russ are on the same page about this Civil War drama. Matthew McConaughey plays Newton Knight, a Confederate deserter who forms a rag-tag army of deserters and escaped slaves that rebel against the Rebels. Based on a true …
Susan Sanders and Russ Simmons take a look at a ‘warts-and-all’ documentary about former New York congressman Anthony Weiner whose career was undone by a sexting scandal. The filmmakers follow Weiner as he attempts a comeback by running for mayor …
Susan Sanders and Russ Simmons are of one mind about “Maggie’s Plan,” a new comedy from writer/director Rebecca Miller (“Personal Velocity)” and starring Greta Gerwig (“Frances Ha”), Ethan Hawke (“Boyhood”) and Julianne Moore (“Still Alice”). Gerwig plays a college professor …
Susan and Russ give an overview of a unique adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Lady Susan.” Kate Beckinsale stars in this comic period piece about a manipulative woman in 1790s England. It was written and directed by American filmmaker Whit Stillman, …
Susan and Russ have slightly different takes on the romantic drama based on the bestselling novel. Emilia Clark and Sam Claflin star in this tearjerker that marks the film directing debut of noted theater auteur Thea Sharrock. Jo Jo Moyes …
Susan and Russ take on the story of self-taught Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, a pioneer who made major contributions to the field. “The Man Who Knew Infinity” is an earnest and well-meaning biopic starring Dev Patel as the mathematical genius …
Three Oscar winners (George Clooney, Julia Roberts & Jodi Foster) join forces to bring a financial thriller to the big screen. Clooney plays a cable TV financial ‘expert’ who is taken hostage on the air by a disgruntled viewer who …
Susan and Russ take on a biopic about famed author Ernest Hemingway (stage actor Adrian Sparks) and his mentorship of novice writer Denne Bart Peticlerc, played by Giovanni Ribisi. The script was written by Peticlerc, based on his experiences with …
Gabriel Byrne, Jesse Eisenberg and Isabelle Huppert star in “Louder Than Bombs,” a thoughtful, well acted and profoundly sad look at how one family deals with grief after a tragic event. Russ says, “It’s smart, observant and involving, but never …
Kansas City’s own Don Cheadle wrote, produced, directed and stars in this experimental “biopic” about legendary jazz trumpeter, Miles Davis. Susan and Russ have very different perspectives on this movie, which is fictional and not a conventional biography in any …
Ice Cube and Common lead the cast in the third (or fourth, if you count “Beauty Shop”) in the comedy franchise. This time out, the barbers and hairdressers are concerned about rising gang violence in their Chicago neighborhood. Susan and …
British actor Tom Hiddleston (Loki in “Thor” and “The Avengers”) takes on the role of country music legend Hank Williams. Elizabeth Olsen plays his talentless wife who also wanted to be a star. Famed producer Mark Abraham took on the …
Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan offers a dark drama about a Holocaust survivor who is suffering from dementia. He plots with another survivor, confined to a wheelchair, to assassinate a Nazi guard who was responsible for the death of members of …
Two-time Oscar winner Sally Field stars in a comic drama that serves as an offbeat character study. Field plays an emotionally-stunted older woman who falls in love with a much younger man she meets at work. The solid supporting cast …
Russ and Susan take us into another dimension, “a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land of imagination.” But the next stop isn’t “The Twilight Zone,” it’s “10 Cloverfield Lane,” an …
Susan and Russ take a look at Tina Fey’s comic drama about a journalist and the experiences she had that were chronicled in her memoir, “The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan.”The film also stars Margot Robbie, Martin …
Susan and Russ take on “Mustang,” a film from Turkey that was nominated for this year’s Best Foreign Language Oscar. “Mustang” tells the tale of five sisters who are virtually imprisoned in a family member’s home to protect their virtue. …
Susan and Russ check out Michael Moore’s latest documentary. This travelogue has Moore traveling the world to see how other countries are handling some of the problems we’re trying to cope with here in the USA.
Dame Maggie Smith leaves “Downton Abby” behind long enough to portray a homeless woman suffering from mental illness who occupies a parked van in the driveway of acclaimed British writer, Alan Bennett. Smith played this role to much acclaim on …
Russ and Susan take a look at “45 Years,” a haunting drama about marriage. It features an Oscar-nominated performance from Charlotte Rampling as a woman who makes a discover that brings her to believe that her 45 year marriage may …
Susan and Russ fill us in on a poke in the eye to old Hollywood that features an all-star cast.
“Anomalisa,” the Oscar-nominated animated offering from Charlie Kaufman, gets very different reactions from Susan and Russ.
Susan and Russ share their takes on the latest collaboration between Jennifer Lawrence and David O. Russell.
Susan and Russ have different perspectives on a romantic drama starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara.
Susan Sanders and Russ Simmons weigh in on “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” a minor little indie release.
Spike Lee’s modern update of the ancient Greek comedy “Lysistrata” gets the once-over from Susan and Russ.
Susan and Russ discuss “The Assassin,” the winner of the Best Director award at this year’s Cannes Film Fest.
Susan and Russ examine a heartbreaking Chinese drama about how ‘rehabilitation’ in a labor camp during the Cultural Revolution affected one couple.
Julianne Moore stars in “Freeheld,” a drama about a dying policewoman who tries to leave her pension benefits to her same sex partner.
Susan and Russ discuss a social drama set against the background of the 2010 real estate collapse.
Susan and Russ visit “The Visit,” the latest title from quirky filmmaker, M. Night Shyamalan.
Susan and Russ share their views on “No Escape,” an action thriller starring Owen Wilson and Lake Bell.
Susan and Russ discuss “Diary of a Teenage Girl,” an unsettling drama about underage sex, based on an autobiographical graphic novel.
Susan and Russ share their takes on “Listen to Me, Marlon,” a “autobiographical” documentary about one of the cinema’s greatest actors.
Susan and Russ consider “The Stanford Prison Experiment,” an unsettling true story about an ill-fated 1970s psychological study.
The tragic life of singer Amy Winehouse is profiled in “Amy,” a heartbreaking documentary.
Is a sequel to the “Magic Mike” hit about male strippers worth a ladies’ night out? Susan and Russ give us the lowdown.
Susan and Russ tackle “Me, Earl & the Dying Girl,” a comic drama about the friendship between teens when one has leukemia.
Russ and Susan (a critic and a psychotherapist) give us the lowdown on how a child’s emotions are depicted in “Inside Out,” the latest Pixar outing.
Susan Sanders gives us a look at “Four Way Stop,” a drama from the Free State Film Festival.
Susan and Russ give us their perspective on “An Honest Liar,” a documentary about magician and professional debunker, The Amazing Randi.
“Kumiko: The Treasure Hunter,” a character study about a disturbed Japanese woman gets the once-over from Susan Sanders and Russ Simmons.
Susan and Russ cover “Far from the Madding Crowd,” a lushly produced romance adapted from Thomas Hardy’s classic 1874 novel.
Susan and Russ share the reasons why “The Clouds of Sils Maria” is a smart but off-putting movie is a mixed bag.
Susan and Russ agree that “Ex Machina,” the new science fiction thriller about artificial intelligence is the best movie of the year, so far.
Susan and Russ check out “Woman in Gold,” the latest Helen Mirren vehicle, about a woman who attempts to reclaim art stolen by the Nazis.
Susan and Russ weigh in on “Merchants of Doubt,” an insightful documentary about climate change spin doctors.
In the aftermath of a racial stereotyping controversy surrounding the film “Get Hard,” Susan and Russ take a look back at the recent civil rights flick, “Selma.”
Susan and Russ have very different takes on “Get Hard,” the goofball comedy starring Kevin Hart and Will Ferrell.
Susan and Russ take on “Run All Night,” Susan and Russ take on Liam Neeson’s latest action thriller.
Should they have made a sequel to “The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” the popular film about British seniors in India? Susan and Russ weigh in.
Susan and Russ take on “Black or White,” Kevin Costner’s drama about contemporary race relations.
“Cake,” Jennifer Aniston’s dark drama about a woman addicted to pain killers, is the focus of Russ and Susan’s review this week.
Susan and Russ check out the bizarre true story of 60s era artists, Margaret and Walter Keane.
Susan and Russ have very different opinions about the most controversial movie of the year.
Russ and Susan share their views of the big-screen adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s bestselling memoir about her harrowing 1100 mile trek on the Pacific Crest Trail.
Russ and Susan examine the raunchy big-screen comedy, “Top Five,” written, directed by and starring Chris Rock.
Russ and Susan seek common ground on “The Homesman,” a bleak Western entry starring Hilary Swank and Tommy Lee Jones.
Russ and Susan share their views on the directorial debut of Jon Stewart from “The Daily Show.”
Russ and Susan give us a sneak peak at the Film Noir offerings at the Alamo Drafthouse.
Russ and Susan have slightly different perspectives on the sentimental Bill Murray comedy, “St. Vincent.”
Kansas City native Gillian Flynn’s novel “Gone Girl” is the top movie at the box office and Russ and Susan agree that it’s an early Oscar contender.
This review covers “Gone Girl,” a movie getting a lot of well-deserved attention, based on the book of the same title by Kansas City native Gillian Flynn.
Russ and Susan check out “The Good Lie,” a film about Sudanese refugees that takes place in Kansas City.
The Drop is a 2014 American crime drama film directed by Michaël R. Roskam and written by Dennis Lehane. The film is based on Dennis Lehane’s 2009 short story “Animal Rescue”. Lehane also adapted the script into a 2014 novel …
Fox 4’s Russ Simmons and KKFI’s Susan Sanders give their takes on the offbeat new comedy Life Of Crime, starring Jennifer Aniston, Tim Robbins, and Mos Def.
Susan Sanders and Russ Simmons review Rob Reiner‘s new film, And So It Goes, starring Diane Keaton and Michael Douglas.
Russ Simmons and Susan Sanders review the provocative, academic documentary Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia, directed by Nicholas D. Wrathall.
Russ and Susan give their picks at the halfway point of the year for their top two favorite films of the year: Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes, Locke, and Gravity.
(AND TUESDAY AT 12:02 PM) Susan and Russ chat about the pros and cons of Melissa McCarthy’s road comedy, “Tammy.”
Susan and Russ review the new Robert Pattinson and Guy Pearce film, the Mad Max-esque Australian film The Rover.
Fox 4’s Russ Simmons and KKFI’s Susan Sanders review the raunchy new Zac Efron and Seth Rogen comedy, Neighbors.
Susan Sanders and Russ Simmons give their opinions on Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman‘s British WWII drama, The Railway Man.
The new erotic-sci fi thriller Under The Skin with Scarlett Johansson is analyzed by Susan and Russ.
Errol Morris‘ documentary on the controversial former Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, The Unknown Known, is given the once-over by Fox 4’s Russ Simmons and KKFI’s Susan Sanders.
KKFI’s Susan Sanders and Russ Simmons review Kevin Costner‘s new movie, Draft Day, a manipulative, soap-y story about the front office of an NFL team.
Mad Max meets Titanic meets the Bible as FOX 4’s Russ Simmons and KKFI’s Susan Sanders review Darren Aronofsky‘s Noah, starring Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly.
Russ Simmons and Susan Sanders review Penn & Teller’s documentary, Tim’s Vermeer, about inventor Tim Jenison‘s efforts to duplicate the painting techniques of Johannes Vermeer.
Russ Simmons and Susan Sanders review the Impressionistic Japanese animated film by Hayao Miyazaki, The Wind Rises, a look at the life of Jiro Horikoshi, the man who designed Japanese fighter planes during World War II.
Russ Simmons and Susan Sanders review the adaptation of Émile Zola‘s novel Thérèse Raquin, the film In Secret, starring Elizabeth Olsen and Jessica Lange. From IMDb: “Set in the lower echelons of 1860s Paris, Therese Raquin, a sexually repressed beautiful …
Russ Simmons and Susan Sanders give their takes on Asghar Farhadi‘s Iran-via-Paris drama The Past (Le Passé), starring Bérénice Bejo and Tahar Rahim.
Russ and Susan review The Monuments Men, directed and acted in by George Clooney, about the men who risked their lives to protect international treasures and works of art from the Nazis in WWII.
Susan Sanders and Russ Simmons take on “romantic home invasion drama” Labor Day with Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin.
On this week’s Take Two, Susan Sanders and Russ Simmons discuss the Oscar-nominated science-fiction romance Her, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson.
On this installment of Take Two, Russ and Susan discuss Italian film A Great Beauty by Jep Cambardella. From Google: Journalist Jep Gambardella has charmed and seduced his way through the lavish nightlife of Rome for decades. Since the legendary …
On this edition of Take Two, Russ Simmons and Susan Sanders chat about Martin Scorcese‘s raunchy, Oscar-nominated film The Wolf Of Wall Street, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, about a New York stock broker who refuses to cooperate in a large securities fraud case …
Not for the faint of heart, Russ and Susan chat about Scott Cooper‘s Out Of The Furnace, starring Christian Bale and Casey Affleck. From Wikipedia: Russell Baze has a rough life: he works a dead-end blue collar job at the …
Russ Simmons and Susan Sanders tackle Bruce Dern‘s latest movie, the melancholy Nebraska, directed by Alexander Payne, and also starring Will Forte.
This week on Take Two, hosts Russ Simmons and Susan Sanders take on Blue Is The Warmest Color, the controversial art-house film starring Lea Seydoux which swept the Cannes Film Festival this year.
Russ and Susan chat about Robert Redford‘s solo turn in the movie All Is Lost, an American survival film written and directed by J. C. Chandor. The film stars Redford as a man lost at sea. Redford is the only cast …
Russ Simmons and Susan Sanders discuss their takes on 12 Years A Slave, a British-American epic historical drama film, an adaptation of the 1853 autobiography Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup, a free black man who was kidnapped in Washington, …
Russ Simmons and Susan Sanders chat about Captain Phillips, an American action thriller based on real events surrounding the Somalian pirate takeover of a cargo ship, directed by Paul Greengrass and starring Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi.
Russ and Susan analyze Prisoners, an American thriller film directed by Denis Villeneuve. The film has an ensemble cast including Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Maria Bello, Terrence Howard, Melissa Leo, and Paul Dano.
This week’s review is of the biopic Hannah Arendt, a German-Luxembourgian-French drama film about German-Jewish philosopher and political theorist Hannah Arendt directed by Margarethe von Trotta and starring Barbara Sukowa.
This week on Take Two, Russ Simmons and Susan Sanders review In A World, directed by and starring Lake Bell in her feature-length writing, directing, and producing debut. The film follows a young woman doing voice-over work for film trailers.
Today on Take Two, Russ Simmons and Susan Sanders review The Family, also known as Malavita, an English-language French action crime comedy film based on a novel by Tonino Benacquista and directed by Luc Besson, starring Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, …
On Take Two today, Russ Simmons and Susan Sanders review Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, an American romantic crime drama film written and directed by David Lowery, starring Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara.