Freeze Frame: Recent Episodes
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Freeze Frame is a weekly show reviewing the latest movies from Hollywood’s best to independent and arthouse movies.
The high concept rom com "One Night Only" has an original premise, but sketchy execution. In a future where premarital sex is outlawed, one night a year is left open for singles to hook up. Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner play singles looking for a brief encounter, but circumstances keep throwing them together and pulling them apart. There are a few clever moments but "One Night Only" can never overcome its inherent phoniness. The twisted and blood-soaked horror comedy "Ice Cream Man" is morally repugnant. But for Spat Pack filmmaker Eli Roth, the king of ‘torture porn,’ that's kinda the point. The treats served up by a mysterious vendor in a small town turns the kids into homicidal zombies. The crazed and foul-mouthed kids DO hideous things they're not nearly old enough to SEE on the big screen and an army of makeup artists create the grisly mayhem. “Ice Cream Man” lands a few twisted laughs, but you may feel like taking a shower afterward. The Apple TV sports comedy series "Ted Lasso" starring KC favorite son Jason Sudeikis is back for season four. The first episode which was shot here in town highlights several local landmarks. Ted's former British employers come to town to try to persuade him to return to England and coach a women's soccer team. Fans of the series know exactly what kind of cheeky humor to expect, and season four serves it up in welcome fashion. Just seeing award-winning British actress Hannah Waddingham become obsessed with Gates BBQ sauce is reason enough to tune in. The documentary "Cookie Queens" focuses on four girls undergoing the joys and pressures of Girl Scout cookie sales season. It's sweet but lighter than a thin mint.
Is it possible to find something fresh in a superhero series as long in the tooth as Spider-Man's? Well, thanks to solid acting, thoughtful pacing and some terrific action set pieces, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" is an involving and peppy popcorn flick. In an attempt to save his friends and loved ones from harm, Peter Parker had Dr. Strange cast a spell so that no one would know him. But the arrival of a mysterious nemesis with telekinetic powers complicates matters, getting the Hulk and Punisher involved. Sadie Sink is excellent as a troubled character, but to identify her would be a major spoiler. Let's just say the Avengers Universe is expanding. "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" shows that Marvel still has gas in the tank thanks to sharp direction and thoughtful production. Despite its title, the Amazon Prime thriller "The Devil's Mouth" is not a supernatural horror flick. It's a survival drama where a group of dimwitted college friends decide to swim in a notoriously dangerous cave in Thailand. Naturally, they choose the most difficult route and encounter...you guessed it...a ravenous shark. Kathryn Newton leads the cast in this predictable drama that is so cliched and annoying that you might just find yourself rooting for the shark. Thank heaven for Snoopy. His adventures in the Apple TV animated offering "There's No Place Like Home, Snoopy," are more believable than those of the kids in "The Devil's Mouth." During a yard sale, Charlie Brown's sister Sally inadvertently sells Snoopy's doghouse. As the Peanuts gang tries to figure out how to return it, they all learn a lesson about what home really means. It's a short, sweet and funny family outing.
For audiences that love action and hate dialogue, "Motor City" might be the movie for you. Alan Ritchson stars in this over-the-top crime thriller set in 1970s Detroit. There are only about four lines of dialogue in this entire story of a man who escapes from prison to seek revenge on a drug dealer who framed him. Ben Foster and Shailene Woodley co-star in a plot propelled by classic music of the era. The whole affair gets increasingly ridiculous as it progresses and that finale is unintentionally funny. Still, "Motor City" has just enough absurd thrills to rev the engines of undemanding action fans. Maybe all you need to say about the Netflix action comedy "72 Hours" is that it stars Kevin Hart. Fans take note. Others beware. Hart plays a forty-year-old promotional exec who goes on a bachelor party weekend in Miami with some 20-somethings to see how young people behave. Teyana Taylor and some SNL stars are wasted in support. The humor is raunchy, and the script is devoid of even a moment of realism. Still, it generates a few low-brow laughs, but not enough to justify its length.... that just seems like 72 hours. The script for the Apple TV comedy "The Dink" plays like one that Will Ferrell would have rejected 20 years ago. In this coarse sports comedy, Jake Johnson plays a former tennis bad boy who is reduced to coaching pickleball at his father's struggling tennis club. Mary Steenburgen co-stars as an older pickleball player Jake takes a shine to. Its farcical approach occasionally serves up a laugh, but it never manages to make it to 11.
Oscar-winning filmmaker Christopher Nolan's larger-than-life cinematic style is well suited for Homer's "The Odyssey," and his adaptation of the epic tale sails impressively onto the silver screen. Big ideas and big themes dominate the big screen in this ancient horror story. Matt Damon leads a strong ensemble as Odysseus, the morally conflicted king of Ithaca who must face down demons of all sorts as he questions his bloody role in the Trojan Wars, embarks on an ill-advised adventure, angers the gods...and just wants to go home. A notable cast aids Nolan's vision that puts an emphasis on violent conflict, symbolizing Odysseus' inner turmoil. The acting honors go to Robert Pattinson as the duplicitous, scheming Antonius and Smantha Morton as the wily witch Circe. While it's guilty of some clunky dialogue and a few minor missteps, "The Odyssey" is an impressive old school Hollywood spectacle that demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible. The Hulu sports drama "They Fight" is the kind of movie that you root for. It's a true story, its inspirational themes resonate, and the cast is fine. Problem is, the execution is so bland and conventional, that the story never ignites as it should. Based on a 2017 documentary of the same name, "They Fight" is about a boxing coach recently released from prison, played by Andre Holland, who works with a group of Washington DC adolescents. Wendell Pierce runs a gym that gives Andre a chance to see if he can redeem himself and inspire the kids toward a championship. It's well intentioned, but the sluggish story fails to score a knockout.
So, what does the term "live-action version" really mean? In the case of Disney's remake of their 2016 animated musical hit "Moana," it means there are some real actors on screen along with a whole lot of computer-generated animation tweaked to look realistic. Same songs save for one. Dwayne Johnson is back as demigod Maui, and we have a new Moana nicely played by Cathrine Laga'Aia. Otherwise, it closely resembles the original. Somehow, that's not enough. What worked as a cartoon just seems too labored in 'live action.' “Moana” fans, stick with the original. The edgy sex comedy "The Invite" is the polar opposite of Disney. It’s an English language adaptation of the 2020 Spanish hit, that was sarcastically titled, “Sentimental.” Seth Rogan and Olivia Wilde play a bickering couple whose marriage is ready to derail. To spice things up, Olivia invites the swingers from upstairs, played by Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton, to come down for dinner. Naturally, things quickly get awkward. It's essentially a razor-sharp stage play, ably directed by Wilde, that provides a great cast with a decadently funny vehicle. But the constant quarreling is a bit hard to stomach. Warning: “The Invite” is not for the easily offended. Amy Goodman, host of the daily news program “Democracy, Now” that airs here on KKFI, is the subject of the film documentary “Steal This Story, Please!” Goodman and the filmmakers will be in town for screenings and Q&A sessions on July 17th and 18th at the Glenwood Arts Theater in Overland Park. Info is available at KKFI.org or fineartsgroup.com.
Looking for a holiday weekend flick to get the kids out of the blazing heat? You could do a lot worse than "Minions & Monsters," the third installment in the "Minions" prequel series and the seventh installment overall in the "Despicable Me" franchise. This time out, circumstances find the Minions in 1920s Hollywood, and they decide to make a monster movie. The pacing and animation are solid in this episode that has a lot of inside jokes for parents who are movie buffs. "Minions & Monsters" delivers exactly the kind of goofy family fun you'd expect. Just in time for the July 4th celebrations, Angel Studios offers the historical drama "Young Washington." Relative newcomer William Franklyn-Miller portrays the founding father in a respectful but underwhelming look at his life before the American Revolution. Washington's ambitions and his strategic blunders in a skirmish with the French are the focus of this well-mounted but superficial biopic. The supporting cast includes familiar faces who bring a gravitas that Franklyn-Miller's performance is missing. Best thing you can say is that "Young Washington" is an easily digestible history lesson. Is the third time the charm for Millie Bobby Brown in the Netflix comic mystery, "Enola Holmes 3?" Light, bright, and easy to digest, “Enola Holmes 3” is a tongue-in-cheek sequel that presents yet another mystery for the sister of Sherlock Holmes, appealingly played by Brown. This time out, Sherlock, played by Henry Cavill, is kidnapped while attending Enola's wedding in Malta. A sprightly feminist YA offering “Enola Holmes 3” floats along nicely thanks to a solid production and an appealing cast.
While newcomer Millie Alcock soars as the new punk "Supergirl," her movie never quite flies. Giving her a personality that contrasts with her strait-laced cousin Superman was a smart choice, but the filmmakers aren't quite able to pull all the elements together. Still, the eye candy is first-rate, and the action sequences are well-staged. Maybe the best thing you can say is that "Supergirl" is a serviceable intro to a welcome new character in the DC Universe. Scott Eastwood plays a soldier caught behind enemy lines during the Battle of the Bulge in director Rod Lurie's solid WWII flick, "Lucky Strike." While it covers familiar territory, “Lucky Strike” is a mostly effective tale of survival, heroism and the hellish nature of war. Whenever she's on screen, Angelina Jolie's strong performance propels the drama "Couture." Problem is, she's not on screen enough. Jolie plays a filmmaker working in Paris for Fashion Week when she discovers she's got breast cancer. The other stories involving peripheral characters fall flat. For a movie about fashion, "Couture" is surprisingly lacking in style. A strong cast and an interesting premise are swamped in director Julian Schnabel's colossally pretentious Netflix drama, "In the Hand of Dante." Oscar Isaac plays a writer recruited by mobsters to authenticate and then steal a manuscript of Dante's "Divine Comedy.” In an intersecting parallel story, Isaac also plays Dante himself as he struggles to write his masterpiece. While intriguing, the movie is profane, ugly, violent and saddled with laughable dialogue. Gerard Butler's performance as a murderous thug is a creepy standout in “In the Hand of Dante,” a head-scratching misfire.
Can the folks at Pixar continue to extract gold from the "Toy Story" mine after over thirty years? As "Toy Story 5" deftly demonstrates, the answer is definitely, "Yes." This time out, the focus is on cowgirl Jessie and how she and the other old school toys are threatened by high tech devices. As we've come to expect the folks at Pixar spend most of their efforts on creating a compelling and heartfelt story. Take some tissues because "Toy Story 5" has the smarts and the feels. You won't find any Merry Men in the excessively dark, violent and dour revisionary drama, "The Death of Robin Hood." Hugh Jackman stars as an aging and tired Robin Hood who, as it turns out, was a selfish bandit who robbed from the rich…and kept it. After numerous injuries, all he wants to do is die, but a nun at a rural sanctuary played by Jodie Comer insists on nursing him back to health. Despite a great cast and atmospheric production, “The Death of Robin Hood” is brooding, bloody and boring. “Peter Asher: Everywhere Man” is an involving documentary about the life of the pop star who arrived in the U.S. as part of the 60s British Invasion duo Peter and Gordon and stayed to become a phenomenally successful record producer steering the careers of superstars like Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Carol King and many others. Asher tells his own story through a unique live concert mixed with extensive film clips as well as observations from his many famous pals, including mentor Paul McCartney. “Peter Asher: Everywhere Man” is a snappy pop music time capsule.
Kansas City's channel 4 news gets invaded by aliens in the wild new Stephen Spielberg sci-fi opus "Disclosure Day." Emily Blunt plays a KC meteorologist, and Josh O'Connor is a cybersecurity expert who each experience a psychic connection to an alien intelligence, putting them at odds with a shady non-government agency. The actors are fine, the suspense is palpable, and the camerawork and action sequences are masterfully executed. It all gets too literal when it could have benefitted from being more ambiguous. Still, "Disclosure Day" is very entertaining and shows that Kansas City is out of this world. It's very telling when the best thing you can think of to say about a movie is, "Well, it could have been worse." Such is the case with the Netflix rom com, "Office Romance." Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein of "Ted Lasso" fame star as a testy airline CEO and her awkward legal counsel. As the title suggests, they embark on an ill-advised affair. There's not a believable moment in Goldstein's vulgar script. “Office Romance” is an old-fashioned movie that relies on raunchy elements to make it seem contemporary. Bad idea. The Norwegian language monster flick “Kraken” is now available on digital platforms like Apple TV and Amazon Video. It’s not to be confused with the 2025 Russian monster flick of the same name. In this surprisingly effective little sci-fi opus, a marine biologist tries to figure out if the experimental techniques used by a salmon farm in a Norwegian fjord are responsible for some mysterious deaths. It’s derivative and takes a while to get going, but “Kraken” is a slickly produced Scandinavian take on the Kaiju genre.
With movies like “Once,” “Begin Again” and “Sing Street,” Irish filmmaker John Carney has found a way to make movie musicals relevant for contemporary audiences. His latest effort is "Power Ballad." Kansas City's Paul Rudd stars alongside Nick Jonas in the story of a struggling wedding singer who bonds with a pop star. When the former boy band member steals a song from his friend, things get dicey. Rudd is as good as he's been in years, and Jonas is solid in a role tailor made for him. “Power Ballad” is a rousing crowd-pleaser that's filled with catchy music. If you are familiar with the phrase, "By the power of Grayskull," then the clunky action fantasy "Masters of the Universe" might be nostalgic for you...but that's really all it's got going for it. In this update of the 80s adventure cartoons based on the line of Mattel toys, Nicholas Galitzine plays an annoyingly uncertain He-Man, Jered Leto provides the petulant voice of Skeletor and Idris Elba is wasted as a washed-up warrior. The movie’s tongue-in-cheek approach never works. “Masters of the Universe” lacks the power. The Wayans Brothers are back with yet another ultra raunchy horror movie parody. Despite its title, "Scary Movie" is actually “Scary Movie 6,” the latest installment in the franchise that started 26 years ago. It reunites many of the movies' familiar cast members including Marlon and Shawn Wayans and a few dozen other Wayans, Regina Hall and Anna Faris. Sadly, the Wayans have officially run out of ideas for “Scary Movie” and try to fill the gap with repetitive and aggressively offensive material. Now that's scary.
When JFK asked Dwight Eisenhower why the Normandy invasion was a success, Eisenhower replied, "Because we had better meteorologists than the Germans." That's the crux of the new WWII historical drama, "Pressure." In this taut movie, Andrew Scott plays a brilliant British meteorologist who butted heads with Eisenhower, played by Brendan Fraser, over the timing of the D-Day invasion. “Pressure” is an involving look at the herculean behind-the-scenes efforts of unsung heroes. Can the popularity of standup comic Nate Bargatze translate to the big screen? If the juvenile family comedy "The Breadwinner" is any indication, the answer is...we'll see. Bargatze takes on a Mr. Mom-type role as an inept dad left temporarily in care of the household. There are more laughs in five minutes of Bargatze's standup routines than in this entire movie. The new thriller "Tuner" is gimmicky, but the gimmicks work. Leo Woodall plays Niki, a piano tuner with super-sensitive hearing. Criminals figure out how to manipulate Niki into using his talents to crack safes. Well-acted, smart and involving, "Tuner" is a surprisingly gripping sleeper. The Apple TV movie "Propeller One-Way Night Coach" marks the directorial debut of actor and aviation enthusiast John Travolta. The story is based on a children’s book Travolta wrote in 1997 about a young boy on his first airplane trip from New York to Hollywood on a TWA Constellation in the 1960s. The film was partially shot in KC as the actual Connie is, of course, housed in KC alongside the TWA museum. The lightweight story tends to drift off into the ether, but it's a harmless bit of travel nostalgia.
If you're a fan of the Disney+ TV series, "The Mandalorian," then you'll probably find enough to like in the big screen edition, "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu." The story plays like a few TV episodes folded into one and ballooned onto the big screen. That’s because the movie version was apparently an afterthought. Still, there's plenty of action, visual razzle dazzle and cute aliens to spare in “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” but if you're looking for involving human drama, that’s in a galaxy far, far away. Eccentric filmmaker Boots Riley has so many creative ideas that his latest film "I Love Boosters" can barely hold them all. That's both a good thing and a bad one. Keke Palmer and Demi Moore lead a terrific cast in a wacky, surreal and profane comic sci-fi social critique about a gang of shoplifters who confront an unethical billionaire fashion designer. The movie's design elements are fantastic, but the plot elements and themes are way too scattershot. Still, the game cast gives "I Love Boosters" a boost. You don't have to be a fan of the Amazon Prime "Jack Ryan" series to enjoy the new movie "Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War." In fact, you don't really need to know anything about the show or the novels. John Krasinzki, who also produced and co-wrote the screenplay, is back as Ryan, a now former CIA agent. who gets pulled into a caper involving a rogue operative group in London that threatens to undermine both the US and British spy operations. “Jack Ryan: Ghost War” has the action elements genre fans love and manages to create a bit of tension despite the overly familiar plot elements.
The new horror entry "Obsession" falls into the 'be careful what you ask for, you may get it' genre. This effective little chiller is about a man who buys a supernatural toy that grants him a wish. He wishes that a girl he has a crush on would fall madly in love with him. Emphasis on the "madly." Her obsession with him quickly escalates into violence. Well-acted by relative newcomers Michael Johnston and Inde Navarette, “Obsession” is a creepy tongue-in-cheek bit of midnight movie exploitation. The political drama "The Wizard of the Kremlin" is an interesting bit of historical fiction. It involves the rise of Vladimir Putin from KGB insider to Russian tsar. Paul Dano plays a theatrical artist who uses his skills as a spin doctor to rise from obscurity and become Putin's morally conflicted deputy chief of staff. Jude Law is appropriately chilling as Putin. Based on a novel by political essayist Giuliano da Empoli and directed by Olivier Assayas, “The Wizard of the Kremlin is thoughtful and well produced but never manages to build any dramatic momentum. Even if you're not a fan of comic actor Martin Short, you'll probably find a lot to like in the Netflix documentary, "Marty, Life is Short." Director Lawrence Kasdan has assembled a loving tribute to his longtime friend, using a vast library of home videos and film clips, plus interviews with Short's many famous showbiz pals. Short, who is enjoying a late career resurgence in popularity thanks to "Only Murders in the Building," has endured more than his share of tragedies and triumphs. Thanks largely to Short's sunny approach to sarcasm, "Marty, Life is Short" is a funny and touching overview.
Pop phenom Billie Elish joins forces with Oscar-winning filmmaker James Cameron to present a cinematic adaptation that captures her 2024-25 concert tour, "Billie Elish - Hit Me Hard and Soft." Since Elish doesn't employ choreography or elaborate costumes, Cameron uses dozens of swooping, acrobatic cameras and clever editing to add additional visual dazzle. The backstage footage is minimal, but interesting. It could have used a bit more of that. For the uninitiated, “Billie Elish – Hit Me Hard and Soft” provides context for Eilish's enormous popularity. For fans, it's pure catnip. "The Sheep Detectives" is a sweet-natured family-friendly comic whodunit based on the popular novel “Three Bags Full” by Leonie Swann. Hugh Jackman plays George, a reclusive shepherd who lives with his beloved flock in rural England. He reads them mystery novels at night. When George is found murdered, it's up to his loyal sheep to help the thick-headed humans solve the mystery. The realistically animated sheep are voiced by an all-star cast that includes Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Patrick Stewart, and Bella Ramsey. While it tries a bit too hard to be heartwarming, “The Sheep Detectives” is a harmless and likable popcorn flick. The title of the Netflix comic drama "Remarkably Bright Creatures" doesn't describe its narrator, an octopus named Marcellus. It's his description of two lonely human beings whom he helps heal some emotional wounds. Two-time Oscar winner Sally Field stars alongside Lewis Pullman in the gentle story of a lonely aquarium cleaning lady and a troubled stranger she takes on as an assistant. While it's manipulative and predictable, a strong cast keeps “Remarkably Bright Creatures” afloat.
George Orwell's classic totalitarian critique "Animal Farm" gets a dumbed-down animated big screen incarnation. Yes, the pigs take over the farm, but the metaphors don't fly. The all-star voice cast includes Seth Rogan, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin and Woody Harrelson but their efforts are for naught. Screenwriter Nicholas Stoller and director Andy Serkis deserve some credit for trying a new approach, but this so-called modernized version of “Animal Farm” isn't for adults who revere Orwell or for kids who couldn’t care less. Here's one that won't be shown on airlines anytime soon. "Jaws" meets "Airport" in "Deep Water," the story of a loaded passenger flight that crashes into -you guessed it- shark infested waters. Aaron Eckhart and Sir Ben Kingsley are the captains who accidentally serve up a smorgasbord for hungry carnivores along with the typical disaster movie cliches. If the premise sounds familiar, another movie called “No Way Up” came out two years ago with a nearly identical plot. While it’s overly familiar, director Renny Harlin's opus “Deep Water” is impressively filmed. It ain’t deep, but disaster movie fans won’t mind. Producer John Lasseter may no longer be at Pixar, but his creative fingerprints are all over the wildly imaginative Netflix animated fantasy, "Swapped." Michael B. Jordan and Juno Temple provide the voices of a mammal and a bird who magically swap bodies in a fantastical woodland area. Their experiences change their perspectives, proving that differences are good and that working together makes life better for everyone. It's smart and beautifully animated. "Swapped" is a family film in the best sense, providing thoughtful entertainment that can be enjoyed by all age groups.
If you're looking for an in-depth, warts-and-all biopic about the King of Pop, keep looking. If you want a slick, entertaining reenactment of some great music, then "Michael" is the movie for you. Jaafar Jackson is fine portraying his famous uncle Michael Jackson in this family-sanctioned overview of the first 20 years of Jackson's career. The movie seesaws between Jackson's relationship with his abusive dad, played by Coleman Domingo, and his electric stage performances. Keep your expectations low and the volume on high. From "The Most Dangerous Game" to "The Hunt,” there have been a lot of movies about humans hunting humans. The newest entry in this subgenre is the Netflix thriller, "Apex." Oscar-winner Charlize Theron plays an adventurer on a solo outing in the remote Australian wilderness who becomes the target of a deranged hunter, played by Taron Egerton. Director Baltasar Kormakur puts his stars through the ringer as he stages some impressive action sequences in this cat-and-mouse action flick. While more than competent, "Apex" has a grisly ugliness that can be a bit hard to stomach. “Desert Warrior” is a historical action flick that desperately wants to be “Lawrence of Arabia,” but falls somewhat short. Anthony Mackie plays a bandit who aids a princess caught between warring tribes in 7th century Arabia. It’s well made but uninspired. “Fuze” is a taut, twisty British caper movie. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Theo James and Sam Worthington star in a thriller about thieves who use the discovery of an unexploded WWII-era bomb in London’s Paddington district as a distraction for an elaborate bank heist. “Fuze” won’t light any fires but is a zippy bit of escapism.
The grisly body horror flick "Lee Cronin's The Mummy" owes a lot more to "The Exorcist" than Boris Karloff or Brendan Fraser. A little girl goes missing and, eight years later, she's discovered to be alive and possessed by an ancient Egyptian demon. There are some effectively scary moments, but the movie is overlong and over reliant on gruesome makeup effects. Writer/director Lee Cronin had success reviving the “Evil Dead” franchise, but this one should have remained buried. Let's hope it’s a wrap on this version of The Mummy. If you want to see two brilliant actors go toe-to-toe, the sly comedy "The Christophers" is the movie for you. Sir Ian McKellen and Michaela Cole star in the tale of a once famous painter now living as a virtual hermit who makes a little cash doing personalized Cameo videos. The painter’s estranged children hire a woman to pose as his assistant and forge his unfinished paintings so that they can sell them upon his death. James Corden and Jessica Gunning are effectively churlish as the offspring. Director Stephen Soderberg continues to expand his reach with “The Christophers,” a funny, smart and engaging movie. It's good to try to find something positive in even the worst movies, but there's nothing remotely redeeming in the criminally atrocious Amazon Prime comedy, "Balls Up." Mark Wahlberg and Paul Walter Hauser play employees of a condom company who ruin a World Cup soccer game in Brazil and go on the run from angry fans. Not only is it not funny, but it’s also intended to offend. “Balls Up” is certainly successful on that count. Director Peter Farrelly should have his Oscar for "Green Day" revoked.
The grisly body horror flick "Lee Cronin's The Mummy" owes a lot more to "The Exorcist" than Boris Karloff or Brendan Fraser. A little girl goes missing and, eight years later, she's discovered to be alive and possessed by an ancient Egyptian demon. There are some effectively scary moments, but the movie is overlong and over reliant on gruesome makeup effects. Writer/director Lee Cronin had success reviving the “Evil Dead” franchise, but this one should have remained buried. Let's hope it’s a wrap on this version of The Mummy. If you want to see two brilliant actors go toe-to-toe, the sly comedy "The Christophers" is the movie for you. Sir Ian McKellen and Michaela Cole star in the tale of a once famous painter now living as a virtual hermit who makes a little cash doing personalized Cameo videos. The painter’s estranged children hire a woman to pose as his assistant and forge his unfinished paintings so that they can sell them upon his death. James Corden and Jessica Gunning are effectively churlish as the offspring. Director Stephen Soderberg continues to expand his reach with “The Christophers,” a funny, smart and engaging movie. It's good to try to find something positive in even the worst movies, but there's nothing remotely redeeming in the criminally atrocious Amazon Prime comedy, "Balls Up." Mark Wahlberg and Paul Walter Hauser play employees of a condom company who ruin a World Cup soccer game in Brazil and go on the run from angry fans. Not only is it not funny, but it’s also intended to offend. “Balls Out” is certainly successful on that count. Director Peter Farrelly should have his Oscar for "Green Day" revoked.
The latest cinematic treatment of Shakespeare's "Hamlet' tries an interesting new angle, placing the action among the Southeast Asian community of contemporary London. Riz Ahmed gives a strong performance in the title role, and fine turns are provided by Morfydd Clark as Ophelia, Timothy Spall as Polonius and Art Malik as Claudius. But some of the power of The Bard's poetry is lost when rushed or mumbled to give it a more edgy feel. This "Hamlet" is a respectable mixed bag. Keanu Reeves stars in a caustic Hollywood sendup, the Apple TV+ satire, "Outcome." Reeves plays Reef Hawk, a movie star who is being blackmailed by strangers with an incriminating video tape. His best friends played by Cameron Diaz and Matt Bomer, offer moral support but no answers. Reef turns to his crisis lawyer, played by Jonah Hill who also wrote and directed this black comedy, who instructs him to apologize to everyone he may have offended over the years. While it's sometimes very funny and hits some deserving showbiz targets, it paints a bleak picture that's frankly uncomfortable to watch. "Outcome" is like George Clooney’s recent flick "Jay Kelly," but with a meaner edge. Does the Netflix thriller "Thrash" qualify for "So bad, it's good?" status? Even though this “’Jaws’ meets ‘Hurricane’” mashup has many laughable moments, the answer is decidedly, "No." Phoebe Dynevor and Djimon Hounsou star in the tale of a storm surge that pushes ravenous sharks far inland. The man-eaters terrorize the residents of a storm drenched coastal community. "Thrash" is no "Sharknado." It’s better than that camp classic, but not as funny. “Thrash” just bites.
In 2023, the animated comedy "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" took in over a billion dollars at the box office and became the biggest video game adaptation ever. Naturally, a sequel has arrived. "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" offers more of the same. Same players, same game inspired goofiness and the same strengths and weaknesses. Once again, the intrepid Italian plumbers are called upon to save Princess Peach from Bowser and his son Bowser, Jr. The visuals are duly impressive, but the plot of “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” may evaporate from your memory faster than a Mario power-up. The scenario of "The Drama" is designed to make you squirm. On that count, it's very successful. Zendaya and Robert Pattinson play a couple who learn very uncomfortable truths about each other on the cusp of their wedding. Writer/director Kristoffer Borgli examines some very intriguing themes and the players are fine, including Alana Haim in a pivotal supporting role. But there may be moments while watching the excruciating movie “The Drama” that you'll want to scream, "Hey, people, get some counseling!" The well produced faith-based historical drama "A Great Awakening" tells the story of the Calvinist preacher George Whitefield, his friendship with Benjamin Franklin and his effect on the American Revolution that occurred in tandem with an evangelical revival. Jonathan Blair as Whitefield and John Paul Sneed as Franklin give earnest performances in this impassioned biopic. While it glosses over some of controversial aspects of Whitefield's life and his debatable positions, it's a thoughtful, well-acted and sometimes moving account aimed at a receptive Christian audience.
The story of acclaimed French writer and filmmaker Marcel Pagnol is depicted through animation in the unconventional biopic, "A Magnificent Life." Directed by Sylvain Chomet of “The Triplets of Bellville” fame, it’s a colorful overview of Pagnol’s life, from his childhood through his adult years focusing on his artistic and commercial successes…and failures. While mildly interesting, “A Magnificent Life” lacks the passion of any of Pagnol's classic movies. The extremely raw and edgy R-rated documentary "Andre is an Idiot" was the audience winner at this year's Sundance Film Festival. It's easy to see why. A free-spirited iconoclast named André Ricciardi decides to make a documentary of his battle with terminal colon cancer. He and his family and friends handle it with a lot of raw humor...and a bit of denial. “Andre is an Idiot” is cleverly made and surprisingly touching given how utterly irreverent and profane it is. The Hulu time-travel action comedy "Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice" fails to live up to the promise of its intriguing premise. Vince Vaughn plays Nick, a mob enforcer who inadvertently hitches a ride in a time machine and winds up trying to save his wife Eiza Gonzales and fellow mobster James Marsden from being killed...by an earlier version of himself. The timeline gets twisted into knots and the bloody violence and crude humor quickly gets tiresome. The talented cast members try hard, but they are essentially wasted. If you wind up watching “Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice,” you may wish you could go back in time and skip it.
You can have all the great special effects and cute aliens you can muster, but without the charisma and star power of Ryan Gosling, the sci-fi opus "Project Hail Mary" would drift aimlessly into space. Gosling plays a science teacher who reluctantly becomes an astronaut and attempts to save our sun from a bizarre destructive force. While in deep space, he encounters an unlikely ally. While it's overlong and repetitive, "Project Hail Mary" is still an engaging crowd pleaser. Rose Byrne stars in the comic drama "Tow," the true story of a homeless woman trying to rebuild her life. Things took a hellish turn when the vehicle she was sleeping in was towed and she endured a long and excruciating legal fight to reclaim it. While it deals with serious issues, "Tow" takes a lighter tone with its treatment of David vs. Goliath social themes. There are family films and then there are movies for the kids only. "The Pout-Pout Fish" falls into the latter category. It's a harmless animated tale based on the picture books by Deborah Diesen about a depressed fish who discovers his cheery side after an adventure with a cute sea dragon. Toddlers may smile. Parents may snooze. "Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man" is a Netflix feature film that’s a continuation of the popular series. Cillian Murphy is back as Tommy Shelby, the gang leader suffering from spiritual despair, who is forced out of retirement to reclaim his place as head of his gypsy crime family and save Britain from a Nazi threat. It's a good thing that those criminals are so darn patriotic. Terrific performers and solid British production values elevate this WWII era melodrama.
"Cohorts," the loyal followers of bestselling author Colleen Hoover, have been anxiously awaiting the cinematic adaptation of her latest novel, "Reminders of Him." They likely won't be disappointed. Maika Monroe gives a strong performance as a young woman recently released from prison after serving time for involuntary manslaughter. She returns to her hometown in hopes of meeting her daughter who was taken from her at birth and begins a romantic relationship with bar owner Tariq Withers. “Reminders of Him” is as predictable, calculated and manipulative as you might expect, but the committed cast is solid. Bring the Kleenex. The horror entry "Undertone" is billed as "The Scariest Movie You'll Ever Hear." That's because the gimmick is its unique audio approach. Nina Kiri plays one of the hosts of a podcast about the paranormal. She begins losing her grip on reality when listening to ghastly audio mysteriously sent to her co-host. "Undertone" is the very definition of "slow burn"...but in this case it's too slow. Granted, “Undertone” builds to a creep-inducing climax but takes too long to get there. Take an Army training drama and throw in invading Transformer-style robots from outer space, and you have the new Netflix action thriller, "War Machine." Alan Ritchson from TV's "Reacher" plays an Army Staff Sergeant training for an elite Army Ranger regiment. During a training exercise, an alien machine begins killing off the recruits. The whole thing is pretty silly and there's a lot of R-rated carnage. Still, there may be just enough action and mayhem in "War Machine" to appeal to your inner 13-year-old.
Even second-rate Pixar is better than most other animated features. The latest offering from the renowned studio is "Hoppers," a unique sci-fi fantasy about a rebellious girl whose mind is transplanted into a robotic beaver in an attempt to save a pristine glade from the bulldozers of shortsighted developers. Excellent animation, sharp voice work and a thoughtful screenplay elevate “Hoppers,” which should hop right to the top of the U.S. box office. The pro-environmental message comes through loud and clear, but the kids will only care about the wacky characters and zippy action. It may be a bit too scary for the younger kids, but "Hoppers" still has the warmth family audiences crave. As the saying goes, you're only as good as you dare to be bad. Give writer/director Maggie Gyllenhaal credit because she dared, but "The Bride!," her gonzo take on "The Bride of Frankenstein," is a cinematic horror...and not in a good way. Credit also to the brave, powerhouse performances from Christian Bale and Jessie Buckley, but their efforts are in service of a mismatched conglomeration of ideas that are as patchy as Bale's stitched-up monster. Don’t get hitched to this bride. Milla Jovovich, cinema's queen of backside kickers, is back in "Protector," a truly terrible action movie that plays like a gender switch on Liam Neeson's "Taken." Milla plays a former Special Ops soldier with a very particular set of skills whose daughter is kidnapped by human traffickers. It's sleazy, bloody with klutzy dialogue that even skilled actors couldn't save. Plus, it’s got a climatic twist that produces more groans than surprises. Protect your wallet and skip "Protector."
If you don't know what the term BDSM refers to, then the comic drama "Pillion" may not be for you. Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling star in the very...I repeat, very...adult story of a dominant biker and his submissive partner. While it's well written and smartly acted, much of the content of this R-rated movie pushes it close to the NC-17 designation. Still, for open-minded viewers, the unconventional romance “Pillion” is an empathetic portrait of an unusual relationship. Oscar-winner Jessica Chastain stars in the dark and unpleasant drama, "Dreams." She plays a socialite having a steamy affair with a much younger, very talented Mexican ballet dancer played by Isaac Hermandez. The fact that he's an illegal alien is only one of the numerous problems this couple faces.The immigration theme in “Dreams” is top-of-mind, but the movie is undermined by unlikeable characters and...here we go again...some unusually graphic sex scenes. The Amazon Prime movie "The Bluff" is a throwback action swashbuckler starring Priyanka Chopra and Karl Urban set in waning days of Caribbean piracy, the late 19th century. Chopra plays a former pirate known as Bloody Mary hiding out with her family on one of the remote Cayman Islands A rival pirate played by Urban, once her mentor, seeks her out. When he discovers her whereabouts, he takes revenge on her for stealing his stolen treasure. This ain't your Disney pirate adventure, folks. "The Bluff" is a violent R-rated thriller that delivers the action but suffers a bit from its sketchy dialogue and bloody, over-the-top mayhem.
The black comedy thriller "How to Make a Killing" is inspired by the classic 1949 British film, "Kind Hearts and Coronets." But this version isn't quite sure what it wants to be. Glen Powell stars as an heir to a vast fortune who's been disowned by his callous family. He plots to bump off all his relatives who stand in the way of his inheritance. The audience is challenged to root for a guy who's obviously ethically challenged and Powell's charisma is a big help in that department. It's modestly funny, but the tone shifts in “How to Make a Killing” are so jarring that it may give audiences a case of whiplash. As a companion piece to his 2022 hit "Elvis," director Baz Luhrmann offers his first documentary, the concert film, "EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert." Using previously unseen footage stored in a Kansas salt mine, Luhrmann creates a hybrid film that mixes concerts, rehearsals, press conferences and backstage footage into a riveting showcase. For the uninitiated, “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert” demonstrates why Presley was such a dynamic and popular performer. Paul McCartney's traumatic post-Beatles years are the focus of the involving Amazon Prime documentary, "Man on the Run.” It serves as a companion to McCartney's new book about his time with Wings. Oscar-winning director Morgan Neville skillfully sorts through a ton of footage to assemble a thoughtful look at both the considerable misfires as well as the tremendous successes McCartney experienced in the 1970s. Interviews with McCartney, his family as well as folks like Mick Jagger, Chrissie Hynde and Sean Lennon, make “Man on the Run” an enlightening and entertaining overview.
"Crime 101" is a slick and engaging thriller featuring Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry, and Mark Ruffalo. Hemsworth portrays a jewel thief who is emotionally conflicted and determined to complete one final heist. Guided by a personal code of ethics, his character refuses to harm anyone and targets only insurance companies with his schemes. The film's impressive supporting cast includes Barry Keoghan, Monica Barbaro and Nick Nolte who all contribute to the film’s strong ensemble dynamic. Bart Layton, a British documentary filmmaker, brings surprisingly taut and effective direction, allowing "Crime 101" to remain engaging even when the plot stretches believability. “Crime 101” is an entertaining action throwback. The animated sports comedy "Goat" is from producer Steph Curry, who also lends his voice to one of the characters. The story centers on a young goat who dreams of competing in "Roarball," an intense and dangerous version of full-contact basketball. The film boasts a talented voice cast, including Caleb McGlaughlin from “Stranger Things,” David Harbour, Jennifer Hudson, Jelly Roll, and Gabrielle Union. "Goat" is a predictable, but family-friendly bit of escapism. "Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die" is a high-concept, sci-fi comedy that combines the time-loop antics of "Groundhog Day" with the energy of "Terminator." Sam Rockwell stars as a time traveler who repeatedly journeys back from the future, attempting to save humanity from the impending threat of artificial intelligence. Director Gore Verbinski seems to draw inspiration from the eccentric style of the Oscar-winning “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” The result is a smart and wildly imaginative film, even if it sometimes struggles with pacing and knowing when to wrap things up.
First world problems plague a pop star in the unpredictable mockumentary "The Moment." Charlie XCX plays a fictionalized version of herself in the story of her preparations for a concert and tour. While not a comedy per se, it pokes fun at the whole "Brat" phenomenon and satirizes pop stardom. “The Moment” is an interesting experiment more than a satisfying movie and features surprisingly little music. Those sensitive to flashing light, steer clear. French director Luc Besson offers his offbeat take on "Dracula." Caleb Landry Jones is impressive as the cursed vampire who spends centuries searching for his lost love. Besson's opulent, operatic approach is visually engaging, but the movie is overlong and peppered with unintentionally funny moments. "Dracula" doesn't exactly suck, but it isn't a full-blooded horror, either. Perhaps the best thing you can say about the Angel Studios romantic comedy "Solo Mio" is that it's harmless. Kevin James plays a middle-aged schoolteacher who travels to Rome with his fiancée, only to be jilted at the altar. Will he ever find love again? Everything about the script is utterly phony, but the photogenic Italian scenery gives "Solo Mio" a minor boost. The main things wrecked in the Amazon Prime action comedy "The Wrecking Crew" are cars, motorcycles, helicopters, property...and logic. Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa play estranged half-brothers who are forced to work together to solve the mystery of their father’s death. The action is relentless, and the Hawaiian scenery is "nani." But the lapse of plot coherence in “The Wrecking Crew” wrecks any real sense of peril.
The latest Jason Statham thriller "Shelter" provides exactly what you'd expect. It's packed with over-the-top action and ridiculous implausibilities. Statham is a disgraced special ops agent hiding out on a remote Scottish island who's forced back into action to protect an innocent preteen girl, well played by Bodhi Ray Breathnach. The action gets more elaborate and sillier as the movie progresses, but director Rick Roman Waugh puts the pedal to the metal and doesn’t let logic get in the way. Don't roll your eyes too much while watching “Shelter,” or you'll miss some decent stunt work. Omar Epps and Wiz Khalifa lead the cast of the morose and violent crime drama "Moses the Black." Serbian writer/director Yelena Popovic attempts to juxtapose a modern story about a Chicago gang leader recently released from prison with that of the martyred Ethiopian saint from the fourth century. Epps is saddled with the responsibility of staring endlessly into void while supposedly seeing visions of the saint who turned from a life of crime to a life of asceticism. “Moses the Black” is bleak, awkward and as subtle as a sledgehammer. Just when you think that you might not be able to bear another Marvel TV offering, Disney+ presents the unique and involving 8-part series, "Wonder Man." Yahya Abdul-Mateen II plays a struggling actor who is saddled with superpowers that are hard to control. He must hide his outlawed abilities in order to make it in Hollywood. Ben Kingsley plays a fellow actor who may or may not offer support. Often funny and refreshing, "Wonder Man" is a knowing and engaging satire of both Hollywood and superhero cliches.
Artificial Intelligence is once again the antagonist in the sci-fi thriller, "Mercy." Set in the crime-ridden near future, Chris Pratt plays a detective on trial for his wife's murder. He has 90 minutes to convince an A.I. judge, played by Rebecca Ferguson, of his innocence. While it gets a bit goofy and stretches credibility to the limit, “Mercy" gets to its over-the-top climax in an entertaining manner. The gentle British drama "H is for Hawk" is based on an acclaimed memoir. Claire Foy plays naturalist Helen Macdonald who spent a year training a goshawk. She used the experience to cope with the death of her father and her own clinical depression. “H is for Hawk” is relatable, thanks to Foy's performance, but never quite soars. Another strong performance from Maika Monroe can't save the depressing crime thriller, "In Cold Light." Monroe plays a drug dealer recently released from prison who wants back in the game but comes into conflict with mobsters and crooked cops. Good guys are hard to find here. "In Cold Light” is a little too cold and a little too calculated. The two-part HBO Max documentary "Mel Brooks: The 99-Year-Old Man" is a funny, loving and sometimes critical look at life of the legendary comedian and filmmaker from director/interviewer Judd Apatow. Brooks, who is both revered and reviled for his low-brow comedies like "Blazing Saddles" and "Young Frankenstein" is a natural performer who may not always be candid in his interviews, but he's always entertaining. A lineup of famous comics shares their adoration, and some family members share their criticism. Overall, “Mel Brooks: The 99-Year-Old Man” is a worthwhile overview of a remarkable life.
It’s double feature time for fans of stalwart actor Ralph Fiennes. "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple" is the fourth installment in the horror series about a zombie infection. Fiennes plays a doctor who confronts human evil worse than that exhibited by the zombies. While gripping, well-made and genuinely scary, its graphic and sadistic violence approaches the level of torture porn. Fiennes pops up again in a movie that couldn't be more different. In the gentle comic drama "The Choral," he plays a conductor in a small English village mounting an amateur performance of the Edward Elgar piece “The Dream of Gerontius” while struggling with the challenges of WWI. “The Choral” is well crafted, but very lightweight. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck team up once again for the taut and intense Netflix crime thriller, "The Rip." Inspired by a true story but highly fictionalized, it's about a team of Miami drug agents who stumble upon a stash of $20 million in cartel drug money. The discovery sews distrust between the agents as they are forced to decide what to do with the cash, resulting in a lot of violence and intrigue. Fans of the genre will enjoy the action of “The Rip,” as well as the challenge of figuring out who the good guys are...if there are any. In the bizarre true story "Dead Man's Wire," Bill Skarsgård plays a troubled man who took a bank executive hostage over a disputed mortgage issue, forcing the media to cover the standoff. In a bit of stunt casting, “Dog Day Afternoon” star Al Pacino shows up in a supporting role. While it generates a certain level of tension, this thriller from filmmaker Gus Van Sant is really a sober study of utter desperation.
In the very adult comic drama "Is This Thing On?" Will Arnett plays a man who tries out standup comedy as a way to cope with his impending divorce. Strong performances by Arnett and Laura Dern propel this empathetic tale, well directed by Bradley Cooper, who also has a funny supporting role. A number of noted comics appear as cynical versions of themselves. While fictional, the movie inspired by the true story of British standup comic Jim Bishop. Arnett’s foul-mouthed comedy material isn't really all that funny but still rings true. "Is This Thing On?" should appeal to those not easily offended. What's really being said when estranged family members engage in awkward 'small talk?' Indie film darling Jim Jarmusch offers a suggestion in "Father Mother Sister Brother," three unrelated stories of family dysfunction. The strong cast includes Adam Driver, Tom Waits, Mayim Bialik, Charlotte Rampling and Cate Blanchett. Surprisingly, this restrained and subtle drama was the big winner at the 2005 Venice Film Festival. The talented cast helps a lot, but “Father Mother Sister Brother” is one that will probably only appeal to fans of Jarmusch's slow, low-key style. Lucy Liu's impressive performance is the main draw of the excruciating true story "Rosemead" which is based on a 2017 article from the Los Angeles Times. Liu plays a widow suffering from terminal cancer who is forced to decide what to do with her teenage son who's struggling with schizophrenia. The intent is admirable, and the execution is competent enough. But “Rosemead” is a hard watch that offers no easy answers. It’s tragic and depressing in equal measure.
Happy New Year. It’s time to look back and name my top ten movies, the cream of the cinematic crop for 2025. 10) THE SECRET AGENT is an oddly structured but involving Brazilian paranoia thriller set during that country’s political strife in 1977. 9) WEAPONS is an extremely original and genuinely unnerving horror chiller about 17 children who mysteriously disappear from the same grade school class. 8) IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT is a harrowing, secretly filmed Iranian drama about former political prisoners who kidnap a man they believe was their tormentor. 7) THE LIFE OF CHUCK is a thoughtful philosophical and ultimately life affirming comic drama about a terminal cancer victim but told in reverse chronological order. 6) BLACK BAG is a clever and twisty drama that plays like “Who’s Afraid of Virgina Wolf?” but with spies. 5) MARTY SUPREME is an offbeat character study about a brilliant but manipulative and conceited ping pong champ, set in the 1950s. 4) SENTIMENTAL VALUE is an insightful Danish drama about a filmmaker who tries to make up with his estranged daughters by making a film about his family. 3) HAMNET tells an absorbing speculative tale about William Shakespeare and his wife whose personal tragedy inspired his most acclaimed play, “Hamlet.” 2) SINNERS is a grisly vampire film that’s really about racism, Jim Crow, the Blues…and much more. 1) ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER is a wildly entertaining thinking man’s action film dealing with wannabe revolutionaries. Smart and skillfully made, it’s the best film of 2025.
Timothée Chalamet proves once again that he's the real deal in the whacky comic drama, "Marty Supreme." It's an offbeat character study from filmmaker Josh Safdie, set in the 1950s and involving the misadventures of a manipulative, conceited but somehow likable table tennis phenom. While fictional, it's inspired by the remarkable life of ping pong ace Marty Reisman. "Marty Supreme" is supremely watchable. Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson star in "Song Sung Blue," a biopic about a Neil Diamond tribute band called "Lightning and Thunder" that achieved a degree of success in Milwaukee in the 1980s. They experience extreme highs and lows in their personal and professional lives. The stars are very appealing, but if you're not a fan of Diamond's music, steer clear. Amanda Seyfried gives a strong performance in the unorthodox historical musical drama, "The Testament of Ann Lee." She portrays the title character, the founder of the Shaker movement who was considered by some of her followers as the second coming of Christ. She attempted to establish a utopian religious society in 1700s New England but met with ample hardships and considerable backlash. The music is a mix of original songs and hymns of the era. “The Testament of Anne Lee” is dark and dramatically erratic but oddly involving. Kate Winslet makes her directorial debut in the Netflix family drama, "Goodbye June." Winslet plays one of four siblings who come together when their mother, played by Helen Mirren, is hospitalized with terminal cancer during the holiday season. It's manipulative and obvious, but the sterling cast prevents “Goodbye June” from becoming too saccharine.
"Avatar: Fire & Ash" is the third entry in the phenomenally successful sci-fi franchise, and delivers exactly what you'd expect, 3 hours and 12 minutes of spectacular visuals and zippy action. The story, however, is very repetitive and has little to offer that's new. Plus, there's no real sense of peril. The attraction is the remarkable eye candy, so if you opt to see it, go ahead and splurge on the Imax version. The very busy actresses Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried star in the goofy psychological thriller "The Housemaid." Sydney plays the maid who uncovers some dark secrets in the household of wealthy Amanda. Seyfried is excellent but Sweeney is merely adequate in this trashy flick. "The Housemaid" doesn't clean up because the filmmakers didn’t have the nerve to go full camp...which would have been the better route to take. The strange political thriller "The Secret Agent" is a nominee for this year's Critics' Choice Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Set during Brazil's political strife of 1977, Wagner Moura plays a tech pro who is being pursued by secret foes. The structure of “The Secret Agent” is disjointed for sure, but only that adds to its offbeat appeal. The animated musical “David” is the latest from faith-based distributor Angel Studios. This well made and involving movie tells the story of the King of Israel from his early days as a lowly shepherd to his heroic defeat of Goliath and his ascension as leader of his people. The story’s violence has been toned down, but it’s still faithful to the Biblical themes and is a painless introduction for the kiddies.
The Netflix whodunit "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" is the third movie in filmmaker Rian Johnson's tongue-in-cheek series featuring Daniel Craig as private detective Benoit Blanc. This time out, a young priest played by Josh O'Connor is accused of murdering a charismatic monsignor. The all-star cast includes Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner and Kerry Washington. They’re all obviously having fun and O'Connor, in particular, is excellent. But this mildly engaging mystery is overlong and really stretches credibility. Still, "Wake Up Dead Man" is more than entertaining enough to keep you awake. The wildly original horror satire "Dust Bunny" plays like a midnight movie for the junior high set. A little girl named Aurora, sharply played by Sophie Slone, is haunted by a giant carnivorous dust bunny under her bed. After it has eaten her parents, she hires a neighbor, played by Mads Mikkelsen to dispatch it. It turns out that resident in apartment 5B is actually a hired killer, an associate of a handler played by Sigourney Weaver. The art direction and off-kilter humor are very imaginative, but "Dust Bunny" doesn't quite clean up as it tries to stick the landing. The Amazon Prime holiday rom-com "Merv" is one shaggy dog of a movie...and that has nothing to do with the fact that it's about a canine. Zooey Deschanel and Charlie Cox play an estranged couple who share custody of a scruffy pooch who's depressed by their separation, Their efforts to cheer him up mostly fail but rekindle their romantic spark. "Merv" is well meaning, but as artificial as an aluminum Christmas tree.
The outstanding drama "Hamnet" is a speculative period piece about the inspiration behind Shakespeare's "Hamlet." Anchored by terrific performances by Paul Mescal and Jesse Buckley as Shakespeare and his troubled wife Agnes, it's an emotionally involving tale, adapted by director Chloe Zhao from Maggie O'Farrell's award-winning novel. Perhaps surprisingly, "Hamnet" is a better film than Zhao's previous Oscar winner "Nomadland." And speaking of Oscar, Buckley's moving performance is likely a Best Actress shoo-in. The Netflix showbiz drama "Jay Kelly" provides a role that fits George Clooney like a glove. He plays a movie star who tries to reconnect with his estranged daughters while alienating those in his entourage who've supported him. Adam Sandler gives the film's best performance as George's unappreciated manager. While somewhat engaging, there are phony elements in the movie that are uncharacteristic of the gifted filmmaker Noah Baumbach. "Jay Kelly" is a mixed bag bolstered by megawatt star power. Mel Gibson stars in the ugly, excessively violent drama, "Hunting Season." Mel and his daughter provide aid and shelter to a woman found shot in the woods, only to invoke the wrath of a vicious drug lord. This is the kind of fodder that used to be called "grindhouse cinema," prodding audiences into vengeful bloodlust. Happy Holidays! A gifted cast can't save the noisy, irritating Amazon Prime holiday farce, "Oh. What. Fun." Michelle Pfeiffer plays a put-upon mom who goes all out for her family at Christmas, but her efforts aren't appreciated…until she goes missing. None of it rings true. "Oh. What. Fun." is a lump of coal for your cinematic stocking.
Tessa Thompson is solid in "Hedda,” the Amazon Prime reimagining of Ibsen's classic tragedy "Hedda Gabler." Writer/director Nia DaCosta has changed the setting and added lesbian and racial components that Ibsen probably never would have imagined. While not all of DaCosta’s changes work and purists may balk, “Hedda” is a mostly effective update that remains true of Ibsen’s themes concerning the dangers of greed, passion and ambition. The animated horror comedy "Stitch Head" is aimed squarely at the kindergarten crowd. It’s about the monstrous creations of a mad scientist who are more scared of humans than vice versa. “Stitch Head” is reasonably well animated, but the weak storyline blunts its overall appeal. The devastating Netflix documentary "The Perfect Neighbor" is both enlightening and heartbreaking. Told mostly through footage from police body cams, it depicts the events leading up to a tragic and utterly senseless murder. It’s sharply edited and skillfully executed. Smoldering racism and convoluted gun laws are exposed in “The Perfect Neighbor, a thoughtful, disturbing and timely social document. Ethan Hawke gives an impressive performance in Richard Linklater’s melancholy “Blue Moon,” a talky drama about famed Broadway lyricist Lorenz Hart whose alcoholism and emotional troubles ruined his successful collaboration with composer Richard Rodgers. The whole movie takes place at Broadway’s famed Sardi’s restaurant, when Hart’s life seemed to unravel on the opening night of Rodgers’ biggest hit “Oklahoma!” with his new partner, Oscar Hammerstein. “Blue Moon” is a creative bit of speculation that will appeal mostly to fans of musical theater.
"Regretting You" is a drama about romance, infidelity and grief based on a popular novel by Colleen Hoover. A teenage girl played by McKenna Grace discovers dark secrets after some family members are lost in a tragic accident. She navigates the tragedy while experiencing a big high school crush. Grace is terrific, as is Allison Williams as her troubled mom. The story is very soapy, contrived and manipulative, so many viewers will feel like they've been jerked around. However, fans of Colleen Hoover, known as "Cohorts," will get exactly what they want in “Regretting You.” Everyone else, beware. The Hulu entry "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" is a remake and update of a hit thriller from 1992. Mary Elizabeth Winstead plays a wealthy suburban mom who hires a nanny, played by Maika Monroe, who lies about her past and, as it turns out, has a long-standing grudge against the mom. Slowly but surely, all heck breaks loose. You can't blame the talented cast, but this awkward version is saddled with implausible twists and is just a shadow of the original. The Apple TV+ documentary "Stiller & Meara: Nothing is Lost" is a comprehensive, warts-and-all look at the late comedy duo directed by their son, Ben Stiller. The duo achieved fame with their appearances on the “Ed Sullivan Show,” and worked their own marital angst into their routines. As it turns out, Jerry Stiller taped and saved everything in both his public and private life, giving Ben a mountain of material to sort through. Ben discovers some uncomfortable parallels between his parents' struggles and his own. It's a thoughtful showbiz time capsule.
Who would have thought that a movie with a great cast, intriguing theme and acclaimed director could have resulted in something as bad as "After the Hunt." Julia Roberts stars as a college professor who becomes embroiled in a sex scandal. The strong supporting cast includes Ayo Edebiri, Andrew Garfield, Michael Stuhlbarg and Chloë Sevigny. Director Luca Guadagnino is responsible for acclaimed films like “Call Me by Your Name” and “Challengers,” but he’s lost his grip here. Colossally pretentious, burdened with pompous dialogue and unlikable characters, it’s a burden to watch. The terrific performances are the only saving grace of “After the Hunt,” so viewers should hunt for something else to watch. Writer/director/star Aziz Ansari offers a low-key, feel-good comic fantasy, "Good Fortune." Keanu Reeves is an inept guardian angel who switches up the lives of a struggling gig worker, played by Ansari, and a wealthy investor, played by Seth Rogan, to try to make Ansari feel better about his life. Big mistake! Ansari likes being rich and doesn’t want to return to his old life, even though he had a great girlfriend, played by Keke Palmer. Good Fortune” is a likable comedy that tries to be a modern take on a Frank Capra-style premise but is only modestly successful. The Netflix drama "Ballad of a Small Player" is an intriguing experiment that doesn't quite live up to its promise. Colin Farrell is fine as a deeply indebted gambling addict in Macau who desperately strives for one big win to save him. The shifts between the real and the imagined are sometimes awkward and confusing. Even so, “Ballad of a Small Player” is a stylish look at the descent of a loser.
Talk about product placement! The bizarre true story of a kind-hearted criminal gets the big screen treatment in "Roofman." In this entertaining comic drama, Channing Tatum stars as a clever thief who robbed dozens of McDonalds by entering the restaurants through the roof, was sent to prison, escaped, and then holed up for months in a Toys 'R' Us. Kirsten Dunst plays his clueless love interest. “Roofman” was directed by Derek Cianfrance, best known for the dark dramas “Blue Valentine” and “The Place Beyond the Pines.” Here, he takes a much lighter approach. Funny and often touching, "Roofman" is a surprisingly effective crowd-pleaser. The white-knuckle thriller "A House of Dynamite" is in theaters today and will appear on Netflix on October 24th. It explores what would happen if an unknown entity launched a nuclear missile at the US. Under the sure-handed direction of Oscar-winner Kathryn Bigelow, it's a taut and realistic nightmare that effectively shows the chaos such an event would cause. It strives for authenticity, but having well-known actors in the cast is a bit of a distraction in “The House of Dynamite,” and the multiple, intersecting storylines muddy what is otherwise a sharp, well-constructed nail-biter. A terrific cast led by Elisabeth Moss and Kate Hudson can't quite save the derivative tongue-in-cheek horror-thriller "Shell," now available on multiple pay-per-view outlets. "Shell" owes a bit too much to last year's similar body horror entry, "The Substance." A struggling actress tries a mysterious and shady new scientific method for beauty and youth, but guess what, there are...complications. "Shell" is trying to be a black comedy, but the humor seldom lands.
Respectable. That may be the best thing one can say about the new Dwayne Johnson movie "The Smashing Machine." In this art house sports drama from writer-director Benny Safdie, The Rock plays troubled mixed martial arts fighter Mark Kerr who battles drugs and insecurity as well as his opponents in the ring. Emily Blunt is his impatient, moderately supportive girlfriend. The performances of real-life MMA fighters Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten and former heavyweight champion boxer Oleksander Usyk bring additional authenticity. The stars are fine, but in an attempt to avoid cliches, the movie also avoids dramatic momentum. This low-key, matter-of-fact approach prevents "The Smashing Machine" from scoring a knockout. A true story from California's devastating 2018 Camp Fire is the basis of the Apple TV+ thriller, "The Lost Bus." Matthew McConaughey stars as a troubled school bus driver who attempts to navigate the overwhelming blaze and save the lives of two dozen kids and a teacher, played by America Ferrera. Director Paul Greengrass, best known for the Jason Bourne films, knows how to build tension. With “The Lost Bus,” he’s created a realistic and involving nail-biter. In the tongue-in-cheek Amazon Prime crime thriller "Play Dirty," Mark Wahlberg plays Parker, the gifted professional thief from Richard Stark's novel series. What may have worked on the page seems overblown and ludicrous on screen under the direction of action filmmaker Shane Black. After a racetrack heist goes bad, Parker recruits a band of thieves to steal some priceless antiquities and exact revenge on the woman who ruined his previous caper. A good cast is wasted in a bloody, noisy, profane and utterly preposterous crime opus.
Liam Neeson ("Taken") stars in a revival of the 80s absurdist franchise, "The Naked Gun," playing the son of the detective originally played by Leslie Nielson.
Filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson once again proves to be one of the world's top filmmakers with his thinking man's action thriller, "One Battle After Another." Inspired by Thomas Pynchon's novel "Vineland," Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn star in a spellbinding, entertaining and profane tale involving wannabe revolutionaries, racism, military corruption, secret political cabals...and much more. Smart and masterfully made, "One Battle After Another” easily one of the year's best movies. Parents with preschool girls know that "Gabby's Dollhouse" is the partly live-action, partly animated Netflix series about a girl who shrinks herself to doll size for adventures with her tiny doll pals. The theatrical version "Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie" works surprisingly well thanks to imaginative art direction and a funny performance by Kristen Wiig as a cat-obsessed villainess. While squarely aimed at the tots, it's pleasantly painless for parents. The dark action thriller "Dead of Winter" stars Emma Thompson as a woman ice fishing in remote Minnesota who stumbles upon a ramshackle cabin where a strange couple have kidnapped a young woman. It's so well acted that one can almost forgive how unrelentingly grim it is. “Dead of Winter” is suspenseful but mostly unpleasant and implausible. With her directorial debut, Scarlett Johansson shows she’s been paying attention. Ninety-five-year-old June Squibb stars in the touching story of a woman who pretends to be a Holocaust survivor, befriending a teenager enamored with her and her bogus story. Squibb and young Erin Kellyman are excellent in “Eleanor the Great,” a sweet-natured comic drama about the results of questionable choices.
While it doesn't all work, the fantasy romance "A Big Bold Beautiful Journey" is, at least, an interesting experiment. Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell are very appealing, but they're stranded in a bizarre story about strangers who revisit trying episodes from their past by passing through a series of mystical doorways. Its message that encourages risk-taking comes through, but “A Big, Bold, Beautiful Journey” can't quite overcome some uneasy, saccharine elements. Don't be fooled by the name Jordan Peele above the title for the horror movie "HIM." He produced but did not write or direct this ugly and dull one-note chiller about a wannabe quarterback, played by Tariq Withers, who is lured into a Satanic cult led by Marlon Wayans to ensure he becomes the "GOAT." It's odd that a movie about football has no forward momentum. “HIM” fumbles an interesting premise. "Xeno" is an offbeat sci-fi tale that plays like an uneasy mix of the family friendly "ET" and the grisly "Alien." A troubled teenage girl befriends a stranded carnivorous space creature, but the bad guys are the government agencies hunting it. While it's reasonably well made, "Xeno" has a frustrating finale that will likely leave audiences underwhelmed. The Hulu drama "Swiped" purports to tell the true story behind the scandalous rise of dating apps "Tinder" and "Bumble." Lily James plays Whitney Wolfe Herd, the tech entrepreneur who experienced blatant sexism and misogyny as she helped establish the popular sites and wound up being exploited in the press. "Swiped" could have used a bit more bite, but it's an interesting historical nugget.
It's taken 41 years, but the sequel to the classic rock mockumentary "This is Spinal Tap" has finally arrived. In “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues,” Michael McKean, Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer return as the clueless British hard rock band attempts a perilous comeback. Rob Reiner is back as director -on and off screen- and Paul McCartney and Elton John join in the fun along with a number of others from the original movie. The sequel never quite hits the hilarious heights of the original, so it doesn’t go quite to 11. Still, “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues” is an enjoyably goofy dip into satiric nostalgia. "The Conjuring: Last Rites" is the ninth and supposedly final chapter in "The Conjuring" franchise. We'll see. Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson are back as famed paranormal investigators Lorraine and Ed Warren in what is touted as a true story of demonic possession. Right. Fans of the franchise may want to indulge once again, but it's overlong, poorly paced and plays like a hodgepodge of scenes from the previous movies. The cast is right, but "The Last Rites" is wrong. The HBO Max documentary "Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television" is an enlightening overview of the ups and downs experienced by African American artists over the last 75 years. It’s produced by Issa Rae. The first episode of the two-part series is excellent, an involving and entertaining history lesson. The second part, dealing with more recent history, tends to meander and goes a bit off-subject. Overall, “Seen & Heard” is still a timely and provocative examination of ongoing inequality.
The very adult comic drama "Twinless" is about a straight man named Roman, played by Dylan O'Brian whose twin brother dies in an accident. He befriends a gay man named […] The post Freeze Frame: "Twinless" (R), "The Threesome" (R), "Eenie Meanie" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Can Austin Butler carry a movie outside of "Elvis?" If the comic thriller "Caught Stealing" is any indication, the answer is ‘Yes.' Butler is fine as a baseball washout who […] The post Freeze Frame: "Caught Stealing" (R), "The Roses" (R), "The Thursday Murder Club" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Can Austin Butler carry a movie outside of "Elvis?" If the comic thriller "Caught Stealing" is any indication, the answer is ‘Yes.' Butler is fine as a baseball washout who […] The post Freeze Frame: "Caught Stealing" (R), "The Roses" (R), "The Thursday Murder Club" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Filmmaker Ron Howard's latest movie "Eden" ain't paradise. In fact, the gifted director's awkward survival drama can't find a consistent pace or tone. Jude Law, Ana de Armas, Vanessa Kirby, […] The post Freeze Frame: "Eden" (R), "Honey, Don't" (R), "Relay" (R), "Night Always Comes" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
If the uber-talented assassin John Wick had been a family man, his movie might have looked a bit like "Nobody 2." Bob Odenkirk returns in the sequel to his surprise 2021 […] The post Freeze Frame: "Nobody 2" (R), "Fixed" (R), "East of Wall" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Sometimes familiarity is what audiences want, and Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan deliver just that in "Freakier Friday," the sequel to their 2003 comic fantasy, "Freaky Friday." This time out, […] The post Freeze Frame: "Freakier Friday" (PG), "Weapons" (R), "Sketch" (PG), "My Mother's Wedding" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
The extremely creepy and highly original body horror flick "Together" is a date movie for the truly twisted. Real life husband-and-wife Dave Franco and Allison Brie play a struggling couple […] The post Freeze Frame: "Together" (R), "The Naked Gun" (PG-13), "The Bad Guys 2" (PG), "She Rides Shotgun" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
As a Marvel property, The Fantastic Four has been downright snakebit. There have been four live-action box office disappointments plus one in the 90s that was never even released. Thankfully, […] The post Freeze Frame: "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" (PG-13), "Oh, Hi!" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
"I Know What You Did Last Summer"…and it's pretty much the same thing you did in 1997. This reboot of the slasher franchise is about self-centered teens who cover up […] The post Freeze Frame: "I Know What You Did Last Summer" (R), "Finally Dawn" (R), "Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Do you long for the classic Superman, one whose main aspiration is wanting to do the right thing for humanity? If so, then writer/director James Gunn's new take on the […] The post Freeze Frame: "Superman" (PG-13), "Brick" (R), "Hotspring Shark Attack" (Not rated) appeared first on KKFI.
"Jurassic World Rebirth" is the seventh installment in the wildly popular sci-fi franchise. Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali lead a covert expedition to recover dinosaur blood samples from living specimens […] The post Freeze Frame: "Jurassic World: Rebirth" (PG-13), "The Old Guard 2" (R), "Heads of State" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
They have the need…the need for speed. If you've seen "Top Gun: Maverick," just take the planes and substitute formula one race cars, and -‘presto'- you've got "F1 The Movie." […] The post Freeze Frame: "F1® THE MOVIE" (PG-13), "MY MOM JAYNE" (TV-MA) appeared first on KKFI.
The family sci-fi comedy “Elio” stands as yet another example of why Pixar remains the gold standard for animation. They get the story right before building the spectacular visuals. A […] The post Freeze Frame: "Elio" (PG), "28 Years Later" (R), "Deep Cover" (R), "Frozen: The Hit Broadway Musical" (TV-PG) appeared first on KKFI.
The live action remake of the terrific, animated fantasy "How to Train Your Dragon" may not be better than the original, but it's possibly its equal. It’s an enjoyable adaptation […] The post Freeze Frame: "How to Train Your Dragon" (PG), "The Life of Chuck" (R), "The Unholy Trinity" (R), Echo Valley (R) appeared first on KKFI.
"Ballerina" from the world of John Wick is an over-the-top action thriller that's really an extended stunt reel. In the fifth film in the bloody franchise, Ana de Armas plays […] The post Freeze Frame: "Ballerina" (R), "Dangerous Animals" (R), "Predator: Killer of Killers" (R), "Mountainhead" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
The quirky black comedy "The Phoenician Scheme" is the most "Wes Anderson-y" Wes Anderson movie yet. Benicio del Toro leads an all-star cast in the story of a corrupt 50's […] The post Freeze Frame: "The Phoenician Scheme" (PG-13), "Bring Her Back" (R), "Lulu is a Rhinoceros" (TV-Y7) appeared first on KKFI.
Move over "Barbenheimer," it's time for the "Stitch Impossible" weekend. The live-action remake of Disney's 2002 animated hit "Lilo & Stitch" has landed on Earth, with our fugitive alien befriending […] The post Freeze Frame: "Lilo and Stitch" (PG), "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning" (PG-13), "Fountain of Youth" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, stars along with Jenna Ortega in the artsy and very dark musical drama, "Hurry Up Tomorrow." Tesfaye wrote the script along with Reza […] The post FREEZE FRAME: "Hurry Up Tomorrow" (R), "Murderbot" (TV-MA), "Octopus!" (Not rated) appeared first on KKFI.
Whether or not the Alec Baldwin movie "Rust" should have been released at all is a question for another time. Now available on streaming on demand platforms, the controversial Western […] The post Freeze Frame: "Rust" (R), "Fight or Flight" (R), "Clown in a Cornfield" (R), "Nonnas" (PG) appeared first on KKFI.
Nicholas Cage gives yet another gonzo performance in "The Surfer," an Australian production inspired by and modeled on 70s-era exploitation movies. Cage returns to the beach of his childhood to […] The post Freeze Frame: "The Surfer" (R), "Another Simple Favor" (R), "Bullet Train Explosion" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
In the action thriller "The Accountant 2," Ben Affleck is back as the autistic savant money launderer and crime fighter…just go with it…who's trying to solve a murder. He recruits […] The post Freeze Frame: "The Accountant 2" (R), "On Swift Horses" (R), "Havoc" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
"The Wedding Banquet" is a remake, or rather a reimagining of the popular 1993 gay rom com of the same name. Bowen Yang and Lily Gladstone lead the cast in […] The post Freeze Frame: "The Wedding Banquet" (R), "Sneaks" (PG), "The Dark Money Game" (TV-MA) appeared first on KKFI.
Oscar winner Rami Malek stars in a tight and smart throwback spy movie, "The Amateur." Malek plays a meek and mild CIA computer analyst and decoder whose wife is murdered […] The post Freeze Frame: "The Amateur" (R), "Sacramento" (R), "The Luckiest Man Alive" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Don’t be fooled by the deceptive advertising. The big dog movie "The Friend" with Naomi Watts and Bill Murray is NOT a family friendly comedy. It’s an R-rated drama about […] The post Freeze Frame: "The Friend" (R), "Freaky Tales" (R), "MobLand" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
You can chalk up the comic horror thriller "Death of a Unicorn" as a near miss. Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega play a father and daughter who hit a unicorn […] The post Freeze Frame: "Death of a Unicorn" (R), "A Working Man" (R), "Number One on the Call Sheet" (TV-MA), "Holland" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Maybe the best thing to say about the controversial live-action revision of the Disney's classic "Snow White" is that it's not nearly as bad as feared. Rachel Zegler is a […] The post Freeze Frame: "Snow White" (PG), "Locked" (R), "The Twister: Caught in the Storm" (Not rated), "The Electric State" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Want a spy thriller with a little meat on its decadent bones? A first rate cast lights up the screen in Steven Soderbergh's "Black Bag," a twisty tale of duplicity. […] The post Freeze Frame: "Black Bag" (R), "Novocaine" (R), "Rule Breakers" (PG), "The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie" (PG) appeared first on KKFI.
Director Paul W. S. Anderson scored big at the box office with his "Resident Evil" franchise. That same excessive visual style is on display with "In the Lost Lands," an […] The post "In the Lost Lands" (R), "The Rule of Jenny Pen" (R), "Plankton: The Movie" (TV-PG) appeared first on KKFI.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has stepped into yet another role, movie producer. His production company has released a new film that is much better than its awkward […] The post Freeze Frame: "My Dead Friend Zoe" (R), "Riff Raff" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
The Apple TV+ movie "The Gorge" is half of a really solid sci-fi thriller. Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy are fine in this high concept horror flick about two highly […] The post Freeze Frame: "The Gorge" (PG-13), "Kinda Pregnant" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
The Brazilian political drama “I’m Still Here” from acclaimed filmmaker Walter Salles is a nominee for this year’s Best International Feature Oscar. Fernanda Torres has already won a Golden Globe […] The post Freeze Frame: "I'm Still Here" (PG-13), "Heart Eyes" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun star in the high-concept sci-fi romance, "Love Me." Long after mankind has destroyed itself, two remaining AI entities, a smart buoy and a satellite, begin […] The post Freeze Frame: "Love Me" (R), "Dog Man" (PG), "The Seed of the Sacred Fig" (PG-13), "You're Cordially Invited" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
There have been multiple films about the tragic massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics in Munich. The tense drama "September 5" tells the story from the perspective of the […] The post Freeze Frame: "September 5" (R), "Flight Risk" (R), "Star Trek: Section 31" (PG-13), "Brave the Dark" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
The Golden Globe-winning drama "The Brutalist" is half of a great movie. The first half. In Brady Corbet's 3 1/2-hour epic, Adrian Brody excels as a Hungarian Holocaust survivor who […] The post Freeze Frame: "The Brutalist" (R), "Nickel Boys" (R), "Wolf Man" (R), "Back in Action" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Pop star Robbie Williams is a major artist in the UK. But Williams suffers from so much self-loathing that in his musical autobiography "Better Man", he portrays himself…as an ape. […] The post Freeze Frame: "Better Man" (R), "The Last Showgirl" (R), "Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl" (PG) appeared first on KKFI.
Happy New Year! Time to look back at my picks for the best movies of 2024. 10) HIT MAN (R) is a snappy tongue-in-cheek thriller. Glenn Powell stars as a […] The post Freeze Frame: Russ' Top 10 movies of 2024! appeared first on KKFI.
The early years of Bob Dylan’s career are effectively depicted in "A Complete Unknown." Timothée Chalamet captures the nuances of the enigmatic troubadour and does his own singing and playing, as do most […] The post Freeze Frame: "A Complete Unknown" (R), "Nosferatu" (R), "The Fire Inside" (PG-13), "Homestead" (PG-13), "Babygirl" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Disney once again attempts to mine gold from the Serengeti with "Mufasa: The Lion King." This photo-realistic animated film is a prequel to "The Lion King," telling the musical adventure […] The post Freeze Frame: "Mufasa: The Lion King" (PG), "The Six Triple Eight" (PG-13), "ChiefsAholic: A Wolf in Chiefs' Clothing" (Not rated) appeared first on KKFI.
Angelina Jolie's stunning performance is the main draw of filmmaker Pablo Lorraine's "Maria," a Netflix biopic about the last tragic days in the life of famed operatic diva Maria Callas. […] The post Freeze Frame: "Maria" (R), "Queer" (R), "Kraven the Hunter" (R), "Carry On" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Every dog has its day, and Amy Adams has hers in a movie with an awful title. In “Nightbitch,” Adams plays the harried mother of a two-year-old boy. She begins […] The post Freeze Frame: "Nightbitch" (R), "The Order" (R), "Flow" (PG), "Unstoppable" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Disney goes back to the tropical well with the animated sequel, "Moana 2." Auliʻi Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson return as the lead voices, but it’s the spectacular animation that’s the real […] The post Freeze Frame: "Moana 2" (PG), "Beatles '64" (Not rated), "Joy" (PG-13), "Our Little Secret" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Part one of the smash Broadway musical "Wicked," the origin story of Oz's Wicked Witch of the West, finally hits the big screen. Here's the upside: It's very entertaining and beautifully […] The post Freeze Frame: "Wicked" (PG), "Gladiator II" (R), "Bonhoeffer" (PG-13), "The Piano Lesson" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Are you looking for a Christmas movie with charm and warmth that captures the holiday spirit? If so, then the Rock's PG-13 adventure flick "Red One" ain't it. If you […] The post Freeze Frame: "Red One" (PG-13), "A Real Pain" (R), "Emilia Peréz" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Hugh Grant goes against type and scores as a psycho philosopher in the slow burn horror entry "Heretic." Grant lures a pair of Mormon missionaries into an elaborate trap in his […] The post Freeze Frame: "Heretic" (R), "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" (PG), "Absolution" (R), "Small Things Like These" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Kansas City filmmaker Sav Rodgers' documentary "Chasing Chasing Amy" is a story of how Kevin Smith's 1997 film "Chasing Amy" saved Rodger’s life. Traumatized by bullies at school, Rodgers found […] The post Freeze Frame: "Chasing Chasing Amy" (Not rated), "Anora" (R), "Here" (PG-13), "Hitpig!" (PG) appeared first on KKFI.
The Netflix documentary "The Remarkable Life of Ibelin" is an involving film about a solitary Norwegian teenager named Mats who suffered from a rare form of muscular dystrophy. Upon his […] The post Freeze Frame: "The Remarkable Live of Ibelin" (PG-13), "Your Monster" (R), "Rumours" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
The 2022 horror hit “Smile” gets its inevitable sequel. In “Smile 2,” Naomi Scott plays a pop star haunted by a malevolent entity that causes people to kill themselves and […] The post Freeze Frame: "Smile 2" (R), "Exhibiting Forgiveness" (R), "Woman of the Hour" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
The chaotic buildup to the first episode of the classic variety series "Saturday Night Live" is the basis for filmmaker Jason Reitman's engaging account, "Saturday Night." A cast of largely […] The post Freeze Frame: "Saturday Night" (R), "The Apprentice" (R), "The Last of the Sea Women" (PG) appeared first on KKFI.
The drama “White Bird” serves as a sequel and prequel to the movie, “Wonder,” based on the graphic novel by R. J. Palacio. Helen Mirren plays the French grandmother of […] The post Freeze Frame: "White Bird" (PG-13), "The Wild Robot" (PG), "Wolfs" (R), "Will and Harper" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Francis Ford Coppola remains one of the world's greatest filmmakers. That's true even though his latest effort, "Megalopolis," is a colossally pretentious mess. Adam Driver stars in a high-concept sci-fi […] The post Freeze Frame: "Megalopolis" (R), "My Old Ass" (R), "Apartment 7A" (R), "Lee" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Three strong performances provide a solid foundation for the Netflix drama, "His Three Daughters." Carrie Coogan, Natasha Leone and Elizabeth Olsen play disconnected sisters who gather together as their father […] The post Freeze Frame: "His Three Daughters" (R), "The Substance" (R), "Transformers One" (PG) appeared first on KKFI.
Graphically violent action comedies just keep popping up, with over-the-top stunt work inspired by movies like "The Kingsman" and "John Wick." It takes a deft touch to pull these movies […] The post Freeze Frame: "The Killer's Game" (R), "The Critic" (R), "Uglies" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
It's taken 36 years, but Michael Keaton's wisecracking demon returns to haunt supernatural TV hostess Winona Ryder in Tim Burton's gory gothic comedy, "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice." Surprisingly, the over-the-top farce has […] The post Freeze Frame: "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" (PG-13), "Across the River and Into the Trees" (Not rated) appeared first on KKFI.
The crime drama "1992" is a typical thriller but is infused with social relevance. Tyrese Gibson plays a worker at a metals plant who winds up battling thieves out to […] The post Freeze Frame: "1992" (R), "Reagan" (PG-13), "You Gotta Believe" (PG), "The Deliverance" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
After 45 years and eight previous "Alien" movies, is it possible for yet another installment to be exciting, suspenseful and fresh? In the hands of director Fede Alverez, the answer […] The post Freeze Frame: "Alien: Romulus" (R), "The Union" (PG-13), "My Penguin Friend" (PG), "The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
The healing power of the arts is the focus of the moving and thoughtful drama, "Sing Sing." Coleman Domingo is excellent, starring alongside a group of actual former inmates in […] The post Freeze Frame: "Sing Sing" (R), "Daughters" (PG-13), "Jackpot!" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Yearning for another movie based on a video game series? If so, you still may want to avoid "Borderlands." Director Eli Roth, best known for his gory splatter films strands […] The post Freeze Frame: "Borderlands" (R), "It Ends with Us" (PG-13), "The Instigators" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
The fourth feature length film from the SpongeBob SquarePants universe is a wacky animated farce on Netflix. The scandal involving standup comic Louis C. K. is the subject of a […] The post Freeze Frame: "Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie" (Not rated), "Sorry/Not Sorry" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
The cast of "The Fabulous Four" may indeed be fabulous, but they're the only thing remotely redeeming about this awful, raunchy comedy. Bette Midler, Susan Sarandon, Sheryl Lee Ralph and […] The post Freeze Frame: "The Fabulous Four" (R), "Young Woman and the Sea" (PG), "Land of Bad" (R), "Touch" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Action fans, you’ll be glad to know that “Twisters” doesn’t blow. It’s officially called a “standalone sequel,” with only a tenuous connection with the 1996 disaster hit, “Twister.” Daisy Edgar-Jones […] The post Freeze Frame: "Twisters" (PG-13), "Widow Clicquot" (R), " Find Me Falling" (TV-14), Wild Wild Space" (Not rated) appeared first on KKFI.
Flimflamming advertising exec Scarlett Johannson fakes a moon landing and lands hunky NASA flight director Channing Tatum in the spacey but stylish romantic comedy, "Fly Me to the Moon." Tatum […] The post Freeze Frame: "Fly Me to the Moon" (PG-13), "Dandelion" (R), "Sunny" (TV-MA) appeared first on KKFI.
Eddie Murphy’s patented cheeky persona is the saving grace of the otherwise graceless Netflix sequel, "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F." Murphy returns to the role 40 years after the initial […] The post FREEZE FRAME: "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F" (R), "Despicable Me 4" (PG), "Maxxxine" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
In the mood for a 2-hour therapy session? In the provocative drama "Daddio,” Dakota Johnson plays a troubled young woman who confesses all to a brash cab driver, played by Sean […] The post Freeze Frame: "Daddio" (R), "Janet Planet" (PG-13), "Fancy Dance" (R), "Trigger Warning" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Movies about motorcycle culture in the 1960s were popular drive-in fodder back in the day. "The Bikeriders" is a throwback that removes the fabricated glamor and replaces it with gritty […] The post Freeze Frame: "The Bikeriders" (R), "Ghostlight" (R), "Bad Behaviour" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
The folks at Disney/Pixar retain their status as the gold standard of animation because of their meticulous dedication to getting the screenplay right as well as the animation and voice […] The post Freeze Frame: "Inside Out 2" (PG), "Tuesday" (R), "Treasure" (R), "Farewell, Mr. Haffmann" (TV-14) appeared first on KKFI.
In a scene from the fourth entry in the "Bad Boys" franchise, "Bad Boys: Ride or Die," Will Smith is repeatedly slapped by Martin Lawrence. Intentional or not, the moment […] The post Freeze Frame: "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" (R), "Star Wars: The Acolyte" (TV-14), "Hard Miles" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Glen Powell co-wrote, produced and stars in Netflix's tongue-in-cheek thriller, "Hit Man." Richard Linklater directed this surprisingly sunny neo-noir entry, where Powell plays a nerdy teacher who poses as a slick hitman […] The post Freeze Frame: "Hit Man" (R), "Ezra" (R), "Babes" (R), "Summer Camp" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
"Sight" tells the remarkable true story of Dr. Ming Wang. Terry Chen plays Dr. Wang, an immigrant to the US who developed groundbreaking eye surgery techniques. It spotlights his personal […] The post Freeze Frame: "Sight" (PG-13), "The Garfield Movie" (PG), "Atlas" (PG), "The Blue Angels" (G) appeared first on KKFI.
If being sentimental, sweet-natured, and family-friendly is a crime, then "IF" is guilty on all counts. Filmmaker John Krasinski's fantasy about a young girl who can see other people's imaginary […] The post Freeze Frame: appeared first on KKFI.
When they decided to reboot the "Planet of the Apes" franchise in 2011, eyes rolled. But the refreshed franchise turned out to be a winner. The fourth entry, "Kingdom of […] The post Freeze Frame: "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" (PG-13), "The Last Stop in Yuma County" (R), "Mother of the Bride" (TV-PG). "Dark Matter" (TV-MA) appeared first on KKFI.
Ryan Gosling is on a roll. His latest movie, "The Fall Guy" is a cheeky big screen adaptation of the 1980s TV series that starred Lee Majors. Gosling plays a […] The post Freeze Frame: "The Fall Guy" (PG-13), "Jeanne du Barry" (Not rated), "Unfrosted" (PG-13), "The Idea of You" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
The tennis movie "Challengers" takes the term ‘love' in a kinky direction. Zendaya, Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist star in a raunchy comic drama about a ménage à troi involving […] The post Freeze Frame: "Challengers" (R), "Boy Kills World" (R), "We Grown Now" (PG) appeared first on KKFI.
Director Guy Ritchie's paints with very broad strokes for his wacky action comedy "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare." Henry Cavill and Alan Ritchson lead the cast as criminal mercenaries recruited by […] The post Freeze Frame: "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare" (R), "Sasquatch Sunset" (R), "The Beast" (Not rated), "The Greatest Hits" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Contemporary political divisions and paranoia add an uneasy edge to filmmaker Alex Garland's chilling speculative nightmare, "Civil War." Kirsten Dunst is solid as a famed photojournalist who races with colleagues […] The post Freeze Frame: "Civil War" (R), "La Chimera" (Not rated), "Scoop" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Bollywood meets “John Wick” in the over-the-top, ultraviolent thriller, “Monkey Man.” Actor Dev Patel wrote, directed and stars in the tale of an impoverished Indian man who extracts bloody vengeance […] The post Freeze Frame: "Monkey Man" (R), "Wicked Little Letters" (R), "Música" (PG-13), "Someone Like You" (PG) appeared first on KKFI.
Liam Neeson once again plays a man grudgingly forced into violence in the drama "In the Land of Saints and Sinners." During Ireland's political and social upheaval in the 1970s, a […] The post Freeze Frame: "In the Land of Saints and Sinners" (R), "STEVE! (Martin): A Documentary in 2 Pieces" (TV-MA), "Renegade Nell" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Kansas City native son Paul Rudd is joined by originals Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson for another comically spooky go-round, “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.” The old team up with […] The post Freeze Frame: "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" (PG-13), "Late Night with the Devil" (R), "Shirley" (PG-13), "Cabrini" (PG-13), "The Crime is Mine" (Not rated) appeared first on KKFI.
The action thriller "Love Lies Bleeding" is an example of extremely well-made sleaze, a midnight movie with a mind. Kristen Stewart and Katy O'Brien star in a twisted lesbian romance […] The post Freeze Frame: "Love Lies Bleeding" (R), "Arthur the King" (PG-13), "One Life" (PG), "American Dreamer" (Not rated) appeared first on KKFI.
In the Netflix sci-fi flick "Spaceman," Adam Sandler plays a cosmonaut who befriends a giant space spider. No, this ain't a comedy. "Spaceman" is a slow-moving but thoughtful drama from […] The post Freeze Frame: "Spaceman" (R), "Kung Fu Panda 4" (PG), "Damsel" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
The delay is over Dunatics. Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi epic "Dune: Part 2" has finally arrived on the big screen and it's a sweeping saga that arguably tells Frank Herbert’s intricate […] The post Freeze Frame: "Dune: Part 2" (PG-13), "Io Capitano" (Not rated), "Tyler Perry's Mea Culpa" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Two-time Oscar winner Hillary Swank stars in the family friendly social drama, "Ordinary Angels." It tells the inspirational true story of Sharon Stevens, an alcoholic hairdresser who seeks redemption by […] The post Freeze Frame: "Ordinary Angels" (PG), "Perfect Days" (PG), "Out of Darkness" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
“Bob Marley: One Love” is both entertaining and disappointing at the same time. The late reggae icon's music propels what is otherwise a very bland reenactment of segments of his […] The post FREEZE FRAME: "Bob Marley: One Love" (PG-13), "Madame Web" (PG-13), "The Taste of Things" (PG-13), "This is Me…Now: A Love Story" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
“The Teachers' Lounge" is a German film deservedly nominated for the Best International Feature at this year's Oscars. Leonie Benesch plays a naive novice schoolteacher who sets off a volatile firestorm when […] The post Freeze Frame: "The Teachers' Lounge" (PG-13), "Suncoast" (R), "Upgraded" (R), "Genius: MLK/X" (Unrated) appeared first on KKFI.
The wildly imaginative tongue-in-cheek action comedy "Argylle" is the sort of movie that the term "meta" was coined for. Bryce Dallas Howard stars as a homebody novelist. She becomes the […] The post FREEZE FRAME: "Argylle" (PG-13), "Scrambled" (R), "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
The banality of evil is the subject of the devastating German entry, "The Zone of Interest," loosely based on the novel by Martin Amis. It’s the favorite to win this […] The post Freeze Frame: "The Zone of Interest" (R), "The Underdoggs" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Ava DuVernay's earnest and thoughtful drama "Origin" focuses on the multiple personal traumas that prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson endured as she wrote and researched her nonfiction bestseller, “Caste: The Origins […] The post Freeze Frame: "Origin" (R), "I.S.S." (R), "Freud's Last Session" (PG-13), "True Detective: Night Country" (TV-MA) appeared first on KKFI.
Tina Fey's hit 2004 comedy "Mean Girls" was adapted into a popular Broadway musical. The new movie is a cinematic version of that play. Angourie Rice leads the cast in […] The post Freeze Frame: "Mean Girls" (PG-13), "American Fiction" (R), "Lift" (PG-13), "Echo" (TV-MA) appeared first on KKFI.
Happy New Year. Time to look back at the best of the cinematic crop for 2023. 10) PAST LIVES A sweet and melancholy drama about childhood friends who awkwardly reconnect […] The post Freeze Frame: The Best Films of 2023 appeared first on KKFI.
The second cinematic adaptation of Alice Walker's classic novel "The Color Purple" is an admirable reworking of the Broadway musical version. Fantasia Barrino is terrific in the central role of […] The post Freeze Frame: "The Color Purple" (PG-13), "The Boys in the Boat" (PG-13), "Ferrari" (R), "Society of the Snow" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Jason Mamoa returns for possibly the last time as the aquatic DC superhero in "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom." There's over $200 million worth of eye candy in the story […] The post Freeze Frame: "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" (PG-13), "Poor Things" (R), "The Iron Claw" (R), "Migration" (PG), "Rebel Moon" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Did we really need a musical prequel to the classic 1971 fantasy "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory?" No. But I'm still glad that we got one. Timothy Chalamet is […] The post Freeze Frame: "Wonka" (PG), "Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget" (PG), "The Family Plan (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Writer/director/star Nia Vardalos is back for round three in the broad and sappy comedy, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3.” Nia and her clan travel to Greece for a big […]
The post Freeze Frame: “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3” (PG-13), “Sitting in Bars with Cake” (PG-13), “The Changeling” (TV-MA) appeared first on KKFI.
There are two words to describe what’s good about the ultra-violent action thriller, “The Equalizer 3.” Those words are Denzel Washington. He returns as an uber-talented former Defense Intelligence agent […]
The post Freeze Frame: “The Equalizer 3” (R), “The Good Mother” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
When is a video game movie not a video game movie? When it’s a true story about a race car gamer who became a real race car driver. “Gran Turismo” […]
The post Freeze Frame: “Gran Turismo” (PG-13), “Bottoms” (R), “Golda” (PG-13), “Retribution” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
“Blue Beetle” is the latest superhero movie from the DC Comics universe that’s notable mainly for its Hispanic cast and production staff. Xolo Maridueña from “Cobra Kai” plays a young man whose […]
The post Freeze Frame: “Blue Beetle” (PG-13), “Strays” (R), “Landscape with Invisible Hand” (R), “The Monkey King” (PG) appeared first on KKFI.
“The Last Voyage of the Demeter” is an adaptation of just one chapter from Bram Stoker’s classic novel “Dracula.” Corey Hawkins and Kansas City native son David Dastmalchian star in […]
The post Freeze Frame: “The Last Voyage of the Demeter” (R), “Jules” (PG-13), “Heart of Stone” (PG-13), “Red, White and Royal Blue” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
After nearly 40 years, countless comics, five TV series and four feature films, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles just keep mutating. The farcical animated feature “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant […]
The post Freeze Frame: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” (PG-13), “Meg 2: The Trench” (PG-13), “Shortcomings” (R), “Dreamin’ Wild” (PG) appeared first on KKFI.
The second time isn’t the charm for Disney’s “Haunted Mansion.” This movie based on the Disneyland attraction is, at best, an adequate timewaster for older kids. Director Justin Simien has […]
The post Freeze Frame: “Haunted Mansion” (PG-13), “Theater Camp” (PG-13), “Earth Mama” (R), “The Beanie Bubble” (R), “Happiness for Beginners” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Who knew that “Barbie” could be the victim of an existential crisis? Margot Robbie is perfectly cast in Greta Gerwig’s wacky and wildly imaginative comedy about Mattel’s superstar doll. It’s […]
The post Freeze Frame: “Barbie” (PG-13), “Oppenheimer” (R), “They Cloned Tyrone” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Tom Cruise is back, this time battling Artificial Intelligence in the zippy action thriller, “Mission Impossible-Dead Reckoning, Part One.” The seventh entry in the franchise has stilted dialogue that sounds […]
The post Freeze Frame: “Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part One” (PG-13), “The Miracle Club” (PG-13), “Bird Box Barcelona” (R), “Sound of Freedom” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
In the shameless and unapologetically bawdy comedy “Joy Ride,” Ashley Park, Stephanie Hsu, Sherry Cola and Sabrina Wu play Asian-American friends who go on a trip to China where everything […]
The post Freeze Frame: “Joy Ride” (R), “The League” (Not rated), “The Out-Laws” (R), “The Lesson” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Relentless action, welcome nostalgia and the irascible Harrison Ford energize the fifth and final installment of the blockbuster series, “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.” Set in 1969, the story […]
The post Freeze Frame: “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” (PG-13), “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken” (PG), “Run Rabbit Run” (Not rated), “Nimona” (PG) appeared first on KKFI.
Filmmaker Wes Anderson is the king of quirky and his movies are an acquired taste. His latest effort, the offbeat comedy “Asteroid City” is no exception. This whimsical story-within-a-story involves […]
The post Freeze Frame: “Asteroid City” (PG-13), “No Hard Feelings” (R), “The Perfect Find” (Not rated) appeared first on KKFI.
Try to forget the negative headlines about troubled actor Ezra Miller. As the DC comics troubled superhero “The Flash,” he’s terrific. This lightning fast member of the Justice League opens a […]
The post Freeze Frame: “The Flash” (PG-13), “Elemental” (PG), “The Blackening” (R), “Extraction 2” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
If I were a seven-year-old, I’d be anxiously awaiting the arrival of the latest “Transformers” movie. While the seven-year-old in me still gets a bit of a kick out of […]
The post Freeze Frame: “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” (PG-13), “Flamin’ Hot” (PG-13), “The Idol” (TV-MA) appeared first on KKFI.
While it’s long, frenzied and slings more plot webs than it can reasonably control, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” is an impressive, visually extravagant sequel to the 2018 Oscar-winning animated feature […]
The post Freeze Frame: “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” (PG-13), “The Boogeyman” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
Should Disney continue its conversion of animated hits into live action movies? Well, when they are as good as “The Little Mermaid,” the answer is, “Yes.” Halle Bailey is terrific in […]
The post Freeze Frame: “The Little Mermaid” (PG), “Kandahar” (R), “You Hurt My Feelings” (R), “The Starling Girl” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
If you’re a fan of the “Fast and the Furious” franchise, you already know that you need to check your brain at the theater door. So, let’s just say that […]
The post Freeze Frame: “Fast X” (PG-13), “Carmen” (R), “Rare Objects” (R), “White Men Can’t Jump” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Ben Affleck stars in “Hypnotic” a flaky sci-fi thriller from Robert Rodriguez about a police detective who discovers that government mind control experiments may have something to do with his […]
The post Freeze Frame: “Hypnotic” (R), “Book Club: The Next Chapter” (PG-13), “Blackberry” (R), “Fool’s Paradise” (R), “The Mother” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
The newest chapter in the wildly popular “Guardians of the Galaxy” series has arrived and… it’s out of this world. “Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3” is an imaginative and surprisingly […]
The post Freeze Frame: “Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3” (PG-13), “Love Again” (PG-13), “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning” (Not rated) appeared first on KKFI.
Is Judy Bloom’s 1970 coming-of-age story “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” still relevant? If the new film adaptation is any indication, the answer is “yes.” Abby Ryder Fortson is […]
The post Freeze Frame: “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” (PG-13), “Showing Up” (R), “Peter Pan and Wendy” (PG), “TNT Jackson” (TV-MA) appeared first on KKFI.
Be afraid. Be very afraid. The off-putting phantasmagorical horror comedy “Beau is Afraid” is a psychologist’s nightmare. Joaquin Phoenix is excellent as a middle-aged man with mommy issues who goes […]
The post Freeze Frame: “Beau is Afraid” (R), “Chevalier” (PG-13), “Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant” (R), “Ghosted” (PG-13), “To Catch a Killer” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
In the grisly, over-the-top vampire comedy “Renfield,” Nicholas Cage plays Dracula and gets to chew the scenery as well as a lot of jugular veins. Nicholas Hoult plays his reluctant servant Renfield […]
The post Freeze Frame: “Renfield” (R), “Mafia Mamma” (R), “Suzume” (PG), “How to Blow Up a Pipeline” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
When is an inspirational sports movie not a sports movie? When it’s the stirring Ben Affleck-directed opus, “Air.” Matt Damon stars in the absorbing true story about the people from […]
The post Freeze Frame: “Air” (R), “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” (PG), “Whaam! Blam! Roy Lichtenstein and the Art of Appropriation” (Not rated) appeared first on KKFI.
Sometimes mindless, silly fluff is just what a weary viewer wants at the end of a long day’s work. If that's you, then the goofy Netflix caper movie "Murder Mystery […] The post Freeze Frame: "Murder Mystery 2" (PG-13), "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" (PG-13), "Tetris" (R), "Spinning Gold" (R) appeared first on KKFI.
The latest installment of the wildly popular John Wick action franchise, “John Wick: Chapter Four,” is an amazing stunt reel in search of a plot. Keanu Reeves is back as […]
The post Freeze Frame: “John Wick: Chapter 4” (R), “Last Sentinel” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
The Hulu drama “Boston Strangler” is a workmanlike journalistic procedural about the two women, played by Keira Knightly and Carrie Coon, who in the 1960s were credited with breaking the […]
The post Freeze Frame: “Boston Strangler” (R), “Moving On” (R), “The Magician’s Elephant” (PG), “One Fine Morning” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
At one point in the absurd slasher sequel “Scream VI,” a stabbing victim says, “**** this franchise.” I agree. While it delivers the tongue-in-cheek chills that fans of these movies […]
The post Freeze Frame: “Scream VI” (R), “Champions” (PG-13), “The Quiet Girl” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
"Creed III" has Michael B. Jordan. Check. Jonathan Majors is solid as his nemesis. Check. It has well-staged boxing scenes. Check. It's no knockout by any means, but those three […] The post Freeze Frame: "Creed III" (PG-13), "Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre" (R), "They Wait in the Dark" (Not rated), "Turn Every Page" (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
In 1985 a Georgia black bear consumed a duffel bag of cocaine that smugglers had dropped from an airplane. The grisly black comedy “Cocaine Bear” imagines what could have happened […] The post Freeze Frame: "Cocaine Bear" (R), "Emily" (R), "We Have a Ghost" (PG-13), "Linoleum" (Not rated) appeared first on KKFI.
“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” is the third stand-alone Ant-Man movie featuring our size-shifting Avenger hero, played by Kansas City’s own Paul Rudd. Evangeline Lily, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Michael Douglas […]
Attractive, likable stars can’t save the creaky, warmed-over Netflix rom-com “Your Place or Mine.” Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher play long-distance friends who hooked up once twenty years ago. She’s […]
The post Freeze Frame: “Your Place or Mine” (PG-13), “Consecration” (R), “Pamela: A Love Story” (TV-MA) appeared first on KKFI.
The broad and goofy comedy “80 for Brady” is aimed squarely at the underserved older moviegoer demographic. Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Sally Field and Rita Moreno play elderly fans of New […]
The Hollywood rom-com meets an R-rated social commentary in the Netflix movie, “You People.” Jonah HIll plays Ezra, a white Jewish podcaster who falls for an African-American Muslim designer named […]
“Women Talking” is an award-winning film adapted from a 2018 novel by Miriam Toews. It’s loosely based on the true story of a group of Mennonite women who gather to […]
The post Freeze Frame: “Women Talking” (PG-13), “The Son” (PG-13), “Alice, Darling” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
With movies like the action trilogy “Olympus Has Fallen,” “London Has Fallen and “Angel Has Fallen,” Scottish actor Gerard Butler is carving out a niche for himself as an action […]
Tom Hanks plays a judgmental curmudgeon facing bitter personal disappointment in the sentimental comic drama, “A Man Called Otto.” Upon his forced retirement, a lonely widower must decide what to do with […]
The post Freeze Frame: “A Man Called Otto” (PG-13), “The Pale Blue Eye” (R), “Corsage” (Not rated), “White Noise” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Time for my annual countdown of the best movies of the year. 10) Amazing aerial stunt work overcomes the absurd, testosterone-fueled script in the entertaining box office blockbuster, “Top Gun: […]
Oscar-winning filmmaker Damien Chazelle wants to have it both ways. He wants “Babylon” to be a celebration of the decadent excesses of Old Hollywood as well as a condemnation of […]
Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro (“The Shape of Water) adds some new twists to the classic story in a new stop-motion musical adaptation.
Oscar-winner Will Smith returns for yet another powerful performance in the harrowing historical drama “Emancipation,” now in theaters and on Apple TV+. While somewhat fictionalized, “Emancipation” tells the heart-wrenching story […]
Had enough heartwarming holiday fare? If so, then the dark R-rated comedy “Violent Night” might be more to your liking. David Harbour of “Stranger Things” fame plays a tired, inebriated, […]
For fifty years, Steven Spielberg has been Hollywood’s preeminent filmmaker. His latest movie, “The Fabelmans,” is his most personal yet. This semi-autobiographical story is about a young boy who discovers the magic of filmmaking. But more than that, it’s about how his thorny family dynamics shaped him as an artist. Heartfelt. humane and beautifully acted, […]
“She Said” is a timely journalist procedural in the fashion of “All the President’s Men” and “Spotlight.” It depicts the efforts of two New York Times reporters, played by Carrie Mulligan and Zoe Kazan, to expose the sexual misconduct allegations surrounding movie producer Harvey Weinstein. Their discoveries helped spark the #MeToo movement. While this lengthy […]
The post Freeze Frame: “She Said” (R), “Spirited” (PG-13), “Disenchanted” (PG), “The Menu” (R), “A Christmas Story Christmas” (PG) appeared first on KKFI.
The highly anticipated sequel “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is a sprawling, action-packed and overlong Marvel epic, redeemed by filmmaker Ryan Coogler’s vision that serves as an earnest salute to the late Chadwick Boseman, who initially played the title character. It’s also a thoughtful commentary on colonialism. Laticia Wright takes the spotlight as Shuri, the Black […]
Watching the pitch-black comedy of writer/director Martin McDonough can sometimes feel like an assault. His latest effort, “The Banshees of Inisherin” is no exception. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson give compelling performances as two friends living on an isolated island off the coast of Ireland. Things degenerate violently when one decides that he can no […]
An important story respectfully told. That’s the bottom line for the heartbreaking historical drama “Till.” Danielle Deadwyler gives a riveting performance as the mother of Emmit Till, the black teen murdered by white racists in Mississippi in 1955, the event that ignited the Civil Rights movement. You can count on seeing Deadwyler’s name bandied about a […]
The DC Cinematic Universe adds yet another larger-than-life character to its ever-expanding lineup. Dwayne Johnson is “Black Adam,” a superpowered antihero from the Middle Eastern nation of Kahndaq, who becomes the nemesis of the Justice Society. After being entombed for 5000 years, Black Adam is released and his existence endangers the citizens…blah, blah, blah. If your […]
The title of the movie is “Halloween Ends.” And if you believe that, I’ve got a bridge in Bonner Springs to sell you. After 11 films over 44 years, Jamie Lee Curtis is still being menaced by boogeyman Michael Meyers in theaters and on Peacock. Curtis is back as Laurie Strode, now battling depression and […]
What do you get when you combine an intriguing story, great cast, impressive production values and a top-notch director? In the case of “Amsterdam,” you get a real mess. Christian Bale, Margot Robbie and John David Washington lead a terrific ensemble in David O. Russell’s bold experiment gone awry. It’s a murder mystery, period drama, […]
A heartfelt and empathetic performance by Ana de Armas as troubled Hollywood superstar Marilyn Monroe isn’t quite enough to elevate the excessively depressing NC-17 drama, “Blonde, ” now on Netflix. […]
A heartfelt and empathetic performance by Ana de Armas as troubled Hollywood superstar Marilyn Monroe isn’t quite enough to elevate the excessively depressing NC-17 drama, “Blonde, ” now on Netflix. This fictionalized account based on the novel by Joyce Carol Oates has flashes of brilliance, but dramatically it’s a one-note affair. And with its nearly […]
The post Freeze Frame: “Blonde” (NC-17), “Bros” (R), “Smile” (R), “The Good House” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
Olivia Wilde’s feminist sci-fi thriller “Don’t Worry Darling” has generated outsized interest due to the headlines involving the backstage turmoil during and after filming. I just wish the movie were as interesting. Florence Pugh gives an electric performance as a 50s-era housewife whose life unravels when she figures out that things just aren’t what they seem […]
The post Freeze Frame: “Don’t Worry, Darling” (R), “A Jazzman’s Blues” (R), “Lou” (R), “Sidney” (Not rated) appeared first on KKFI.
Olivia Wilde’s feminist sci-fi thriller “Don’t Worry Darling” has generated outsized interest due to the headlines involving the backstage turmoil during and after filming. I just wish the movie were as […]
“The Woman King” should be a contender for a gold crown come Oscar time. Viola Davis leads a stellar cast in this action-packed historical epic about an elite unit of female warriors who protect the West African Dahomey kingdom in the 1820s. It’s a rousing, crowd-pleasing saga that benefits from terrific production values even though the […]
The post Freeze Frame: “The Woman King” (PG-13), “Pearl” (R), “Confess, Fletch” (R), “See How They Run” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
“The Woman King” should be a contender for a gold crown come Oscar time. Viola Davis leads a stellar cast in this action-packed historical epic about an elite unit of female […]
America’s dad wants to be a real dad. Tom Hanks stars as Geppetto in the Disney Plus live-action remake of the 1940 animated masterpiece, “Pinocchio.” Cynthia Erivo plays the Blue Fairy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt provides the voice of Jiminy Cricket and Keegan-Michael Key is the duplicitous Honest John. Hanks re-teams here for the fourth time with […]
The post Freeze Frame: “Pinocchio” (PG), “End of the Road” (R) appeared first on KKFI.
America’s dad wants to be a real dad. Tom Hanks stars as Geppetto in the Disney Plus live-action remake of the 1940 animated masterpiece, “Pinocchio.” Cynthia Erivo plays the Blue Fairy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt provides the voice of Jiminy Cricket and Keegan-Michael Key is the duplicitous Honest John. Hanks re-teams here for the fourth time with […]
When it comes to the comic mockumentary “Honk for Jesus, Save Your Soul,” you can thank heaven for one thing: the outstanding performances from Regina Hall and Sterling K. Brown. They play the first lady and pastor of a megachurch, preaching the gospel of prosperity. But a sex scandal complicates their comeback efforts. This dark […]
When it comes to the comic mockumentary “Honk for Jesus, Save Your Soul,” you can thank heaven for one thing: the outstanding performances from Regina Hall and Sterling K. Brown. They play the first lady and pastor of a megachurch, preaching the gospel of prosperity. But a sex scandal complicates their comeback efforts. This dark […]
The post Freeze Frame: “Honk for Jesus, Save Your Soul” (R), “Gigi and Nate” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.
The Idris Elba film fest continues for the second week in a row with the ambitious fantasy, “Three Thousand Years of Longing.” Elba plays a genie who emerges from a bottle to grant scholar Tilda Swinton three wishes. What follows is an off-beat philosophical meditation on human desire. This earnest effort was written and directed […]
Who is the king of the jungle, man or beast? Idris Elba finds out the hard way in the unnerving new action thriller, “Beast.” A widower doctor takes his estranged teenage girls to Africa to visit a wildlife preserve. They encounter an enraged lion out to kill all humans after his pride is wiped out by […]
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If “Men in Black” had been about vampires instead of aliens, it may have looked a bit like the tongue-in-cheek horror movie, “Day Shift.” Jamie Foxx plays a rogue vampire hunter in suburban LA. He tries to get back in the vampire hunters union, but has troubles with his new union steward, played by Dave […]
If “Men in Black” had been about vampires instead of aliens, it may have looked a bit like the tongue-in-cheek horror movie, “Day Shift.” Jamie Foxx plays a rogue vampire hunter in suburban LA. He tries to get back in the vampire hunters union, but has troubles with his new union steward, played by Dave […]
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Brad Pitt is a charismatic, Oscar-winning actor. His considerable efforts and some outstanding stunt choreography aren’t enough to save the over-the-top action comedy, “Bullet Train.” Pitt plays an assassin sent to Japan to recover a mysterious briefcase on the world’s fastest train, only to find himself confronting an assortment of colorful bad guys. The frantic action […]
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File the animated action comedy “DC League of Super Pets” under the ‘pleasant surprises’ category. Krypto, Superman’s dog, puts together a crew of rescue pets to save his master and the other members of the Justice League when their lives are threatened by a super evil guinea pig. Okay, okay, I thought this one would […]
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Jordan Peele’s ambitious and inventive sci-fi horror entry “Nope” is one part brilliant and three parts frustrating. It’s as if M. Knight Shyamalan had decided to remake Steven Spielberg’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” with the goal of creeping us out. Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer play proprietors of a horse training ranch who attempt […]
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The troubled life of former Kansas City Royals first baseman Willie Aikens gets the inspirational biopic treatment with “The Royal.” It’s currently showing theatrically at the Screenland Armour and is available on multiple streaming platforms. Amin Joseph plays Aikens who clung to his dignity after serving years in prison on drug charges. “The Royal” is an instructive […]
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When comedian Taika Waititi wrote and directed the 2017 Marvel epic “Thor: Ragnarok,” he injected the Avengers series with a playful, irreverent twist, emphasizing humor as well as action. He made Thor a bit of a goof. Still heroic, but also flawed and fearful. Watiti employs that same template with its follow-up, “Thor: Love and […]
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“Minions: The Rise of Gru” is the fifth movie in the hit animated “Despicable Me” franchise. The kids are already tuned in, but the makers of this origin story cleverly place the action in the 1970s to give adults a cagey nostalgia hit. We learn how Gru met the yellow fellows and how he fulfilled his aspirations […]
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The life of rock n’ roll legend Elvis Presley gets an over-the-top, almost operatic treatment with Baz Luhrmann’s phantasmagorical two-hour and forty-five-minute biopic, “Elvis,” Tom Hanks plays his Svengali-like manager, Col. Tom Parker, narrating the story from his selfish, opportunistic perspective. Austin Butler is excellent as the naive but extraordinarily talented Presley, seen here as […]
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Buzz Lightyear, the Space Ranger who inspired the fabled action figure from “Toy Story,” gets an origin story with “Lightyear.” Chis Evans provides the voice of our hero who battles the evil Emperor Zurg and his robot army while attempting to protect fellow space travelers on a remote planet millions of miles from Earth. The animation […]
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The “Jurassic Park” films have raked in over $5 billion at the worldwide box office. Naturally, Hollywood is as interested in resurrecting the franchise as the evil corporations are in resurrecting those aggressive dinosaurs. “Jurassic World Dominion” is the sixth film in the series, and it offers more of the same, an abundance of action, […]
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Lenexa, Kansas native and “America’s Got Talent” winner Grace VanderWaal stars in the Disney+ musical, “Hollywood Stargirl,” a sequel to the 2020 film “Stargirl.” When Stargirl and her mom leave Arizona for the West Coast, the young singer gets involved with neighbors trying to make their own movie. While it’s totally predictable and filled with […]
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It’s been 36 years since Tom Cruise first scrambled his jets in the action blockbuster “Top Gun.” The long-gestating sequel “Top Gun: Maverick” has finally arrived and, happily, these Navy pilots nearly reach mach 10. But, as Maverick says, “You don’t have time to think up there. You think, you’re dead.” Good advice for the audience, […]
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The second “Downton Abbey” feature film, “Downton Abbey: A New Era,” provides fans with just what they expect from their favorite British period soap opera; High-toned escapism. Multiple plot threads unfold as the dowager countess, played with her patented aristocratic spunk by Dame Maggie Smith, discovers that she has inherited a villa in the south of […]
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Is it possible to find comfort in mutual desperation? The extremely edgy comic drama “On the Count of Three” dares to explore that thorny question in a story about two friends who make a mutual suicide pact. Jerrod Carmichael and Christopher Abbott are excellent, full stop, as lifelong friends who decide that life’s challenges aren’t […]
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Remember Charles Bronson, the actor who in the 1970s and 80s, made a slew of bloody revenge dramas during his golden years? The career of Liam Neeson has taken a similar trajectory. The latest example is “Memory,” the story of an aging hit man who gains a conscience but loses his memory. When he’s assigned to […]
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The medieval Viking legend of Amleth, the inspiration for Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” becomes a dark big screen extravaganza in “The Northman.” Alexander Skarsgård takes the title role of a prince who spends years seeking revenge on his uncle who killed his father, married his mother, and stole his kingdom. Director Robert Eggers lacks Shakespeare’s depth and poetry but […]
The Harry Potter prequels have all the superior production values that fans have come to expect from this popular franchise. And while better than the previous episode, “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” is still saddled with a somewhat clunky, meandering storyline. Jude Law returns as Hogwarts professor Albus Dumbledore, but Mads Mikkelsen replaces Johnny […]
The HBO Max cloak-and-dagger drama “All the Old Knives” is a well-acted espionage thriller with a plot that twists like a mobius strip. Chris Pine and Thandiwe Newton add steamy eroticism as former lovers who reunite years after their CIA field intelligence office mishandled a hijacking case that left over 100 people dead. Are they […]
Like the recent “Venom” movies, the Marvel entry “Morbius” is a Spider-Man villain origin story. It’s a full-blown horror flick about a brilliant doctor, played by Jared Leto, who attempts to cure his own blood disease, only to unintentionally turn himself into a super vampire. It’s watchable, but the by-the-numbers execution leaves “Morbius” just a bit […]
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Anyone who has seen the classic 1984 romantic action comedy “Romancing the Stone” may feel a bit of deja vu watching the slapstick adventure movie “The Lost City.” Sandra Bullock plays Loretta, a romance novelist kidnapped by a wealthy bad guy, played by Daniel “Harry Potter” Radcliffe. He needs her understanding of hieroglyphics to decipher […]
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The Hulu movie “Deep Water” desperately wants to be an erotic thriller like some of director Adrian Lyne’s earlier films like “Fatal Attraction.” Sadly, this poorly paced adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel is fatal, but there’s little attraction. Ben Affleck portrays a wealthy snob who may or may not be killing off his promiscuous wife’s […]
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As time travel movies go, they don’t get much sunnier than the Netflix action thriller, “The Adam Project.” Ryan Reynolds plays Adam, a pilot from the future who crash lands in 2022 and winds up having to recruit his 12-year-old self to thwart some baddies who are using time travel for nefarious ends. Reynolds […]
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The Dark Knight continues to get darker and darker. In his first appearance as “The Batman” Robert Pattinson takes the brooding caped crusader to a new level of bleakness. “The Batman” is an extremely well-made movie that plays more like a gangster film noir than a superhero flick. In addition to giving us a […]
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There have been at least eleven film adaptations of Edmond Rostand’s classic romantic play “Cyrano de Bergerac” and at least eleven others that were inspired by the story. The latest cinematic version is different in a couple of major ways. “Cyrano,” starring Peter Dinklage, is a full-blown musical and the lovestruck main character is self-conscious because he’s […]
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Someday, someone will make a really good movie adaptation of a video game. It has to happen, eventually, right? “Uncharted,” based on the PlayStation title, is the latest attempt. It’s an adventure yarn in the mold of Indiana Jones that has a likable cast, spectacular production values and plenty of over-the-top action. If it only […]
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If you’re in the mood for an old-fashioned Turner Classic Movies-style whodunit, look no further than “Death on the Nile.” Director/star Kenneth Branagh is back as Agatha Christie’s erudite detective Hercule Poirot, whom we last saw in 2017’s “Murder on the Orient Express.” Now, we see Poirot working on a murder case among the wealthy […]
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KC based filmmaker Trevor Hawkins delivers an impressive feature film debut with “Lotawana,” a movie that he wrote, produced, and directed, shot at Lake Lotawana, Missouri. Now available on video on demand, it’s a skillfully made character study about an aimless man, played by Tom Blubaugh, who lives off grid on a boat at the […]
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Oscar-winning Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar continues to show why he’s at the top of his game. Another Oscar winner, actress Penelope Cruz stars in Almodovar’s “Parallel Mothers.” It’s the tale of two women whose newborns may have been accidentally switched at birth. Cruz plays a successful single photographer who finds herself in the family way. […]
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So, is it true that no good deed goes unpunished? With his latest movie “A Hero,” Oscar-winning Iranian writer/director Asghar Farhadi continues to show why he’s one of the world’s finest filmmakers. This contemporary morality play is about a man serving time in an Iranian debtors’ prison who, while on a two-day leave from incarceration, […]
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The fifth installment of the “Scream” movie franchise, simply titled “Scream,” supplies more of the same. And that’s just what many fans expect. This self-referential, tongue-in-cheek slasher movie ups the ante on bashing horror movie cliches while simultaneously embracing them. Expect clueless teens, plenty of blood and plenty of snark. “Drive My Car” is […]
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Happy New Year. It’s time for my annual countdown of the best films of 2021: #10) CODA is a heartfelt comic drama about a hearing teenager whose deaf parents can’t understand why she wants to pursue a career in music. #9) THE MITCHELLS VS THE MACHINES is a funny and surprisingly touching animated sci-fi comedy […]
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Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the world’s top filmmakers, specializing in dark, thoughtful dramas like “There Will Be Blood,” “Boogie Nights” and “Magnolia.” His latest movie, “Licorice Pizza” is a real departure. It’s a nostalgic coming-of-age comedy and his most audience-friendly work. Newcomers Cooper Hoffman and Alana Haim are very appealing as a 15-year-old wannabe actor […]
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It’s been 18 years since the last installment of the lauded sci-fi “Matrix” franchise. Is the fourth movie “The Matrix Resurrections” necessary? Not really, but it’s a welcome mind-trip down memory lane. Neo tries to save his beloved Trinity from the conniving puppeteer behind the matrix…but who’s saving whom? The best way to enjoy “The […]
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In “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” our hero’s identity as Peter Parker is revealed to the world. He recruits Dr. Strange to employ dangerous magic to conceal the truth, inadvertently unleashing villains from alternate universes. Involving, eye-popping and filled with welcome surprises, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” is a super superhero entry. Guillermo del Toro’s remake […]
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The rule should be “Classic movies don’t need to be remade. Remake the bad ones and improve them.” But Steven Spielberg’s new take on the musical “West Side Story” is an exception. It’s better than the 1961 Oscar-winning Best Picture. Pulitzer Prize winner Tony Kushner has made some sly changes in the screenplay that add an extra […]
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The gothic arthouse western “The Power of the Dog” is one of those movies that causes critics to flip and general audiences to shrug. Benedict Cumberbatch leads an accomplished cast in director Jane Campion’s adaptation of Thomas Savage’s 1967 novel that tells the tragic tale of a despicable cowboy who makes life miserable for everyone […]
The post Freeze Frame: “The Power of the Dog” (R), “The Hand of God” (R), “C’Mon, C’Mon” (R), “Below the Fold” (Not rated) appeared first on KKFI.
Infidelity, scandal, intrigue, murder. These are the topics of many a soap opera. They also emerge in the true story “House of Gucci,” currently available in theaters only. Lady Gaga gives a wily performance as the ambitious and cunning wife of fashion house heir Maurizio Gucci, played by Adam Driver. Director Ridley Scott has put […]
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Time for Will Smith to dust off his shelf and make room for an Oscar. In “King Richard,” he gives a riveting performance as the obsessive and galvanizing Richard Williams, the driving force behind the tennis domination of his daughters Venus and Serena Williams. This wildly entertaining biopic transcends the conventions of the inspiring sports […]
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“Belfast” is a dreamily nostalgic tale from filmmaker Kenneth Branagh, loosely inspired by his own childhood in late 60s strife-torn Northern Ireland. Shot in glorious black-and-white, “Belfast” is a loving tribute to Branagh’s family and the denizens of his close-knit neighborhood as they faced “The Troubles” between Protestants and Catholics. There’s a lot of heart […]
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What would an Academy Award-winning director do with a Marvel movie? “Eternals” provides the answer: More of the same. Chloé Zhao, who won the Oscar for the low-key drama “Nomadland,” mounts an impressive two-and-a-half-hour spectacle with all the over-the-top action one would expect from a Marvel opus. The problem with “Eternals” is its big, unwieldy […]
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Eccentric filmmaker Wes Anderson’s latest exercise in quirkiness, “The French Dispatch,” is a lightweight but eye-popping homage to personal journalism, especially a nod to the writers and editors of The New Yorker. An all-star cast is featured in an anthology of three stories from a fictional news magazine’s final issue. Although it’s wildly imaginative and […]
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What do you want in a James Bond movie? Great Bond girls, nasty villains, fast cars, cool gadgets, exotic locales and plenty of action? Well, if so, the 25th installment in the franchise, “No Time to Die,” delivers on all counts. It’s a wildly entertaining if overlong saga that showcases a tired and world-weary Bond, forced […]
It’s certainly no surprise when a Marvel movie is a box office hit. But the 2018 action flick “Venom,” featuring a villain from the Spider-Man universe, was universally panned. It still drew big crowds anxious to see the deadly alien parasite’s origin story. But “Venom” was an uneasy and absurd mix of gory CGI action […]
The acclaimed Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen” makes a bumpy transition to the big screen. Ben Platt reprises his Tony Award-winning role as a trouble, outcast teen who tries to gain sympathy by pretending to be the friend of a kid who dies by suicide. Oh, what a tangled web we weave. Social media, peer pressure and […]
Although she was often the butt of jokes for critics, the late TV evangelist Tammy Faye Bakker was an inspiration and an icon for many others. With her over-the-top enthusiasm, her warbly singing, her gaudy attire and exaggerated makeup, she became a cultural phenomenon. Jessica Chastain gives an appropriately exuberant performance as Bakker in the new […]
The wacky comedy “Queenpins” is, oddly enough, based on a bizarre true story. Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste star as a couple of Phoenix women who made tens of millions of dollars by counterfeiting manufacturers’ coupons and selling them online. The filmmakers turn the story into an offbeat farce that pokes fun at the inept […]
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”).
Who can creep out viewers? The “Candyman” can. Twenty-nine years after the scare-fest “Candyman” dared viewers to “Say my name,” a woke sequel slithers into theaters. This time out, “Candyman” has some social context to go along with the chills, skewering gentrification along with a heap of human bodies. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II plays a painter […]
Maggie Q plays a super-skillful assassin out for revenge in the slick and sleazy action flick. “The Protégé.” Samuel L. Jackson does his usual thing as Maggie’s hired-killer mentor and Michael Keaton goes against type as Maggie’s nasty nemesis. There’s plenty of bloody mayhem under the workmanlike direction of Martin Campbell who cut his teeth […]
The star of “Deadpool” and the director of “Night at the Museum” team up and the results are just what you’d expect. “Free Guy” is a visually elaborate comic fantasy with a snarky PG-13 edge. Ryan Reynolds plays a background character in a violent video game who doesn’t know he isn’t real. Things get tricky […]
“The Suicide Squad” is a reboot and reimagining of the disappointing 2016 DC Comics movie “Suicide Squad,” about super villains manipulated into serving a shady government agency. Writer/director James Gunn of “Guardians of the Galaxy” fame gives this decadent R-rated action flick a wacky, comedic grindhouse edge. Some of the stars from the first film […]
Turning a theme park ride into a movie worked box office wonders for Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean.” The Mouse House employs the same template with “Jungle Cruise.” Duane Johnson and Emily Blunt bring plenty of personal charisma to their roles of a charming Amazon boat captain and a spunky English explorer. It’s too bad […]
Have you ever felt like you’ve aged while watching a movie? That’s the feeling you’ll get if you decide to endure the latest eerie experiment from M. Knight Shyamalan, “Old.” A family goes on a vacation to an island resort only to realize that a strange beach causes them to age a lifetime in a […]
The unconventional career of Oscar-winner Nicholas Cage just got a bit more offbeat.. He gives a brilliant, nuanced performance in his latest film, the eccentric comic drama “Pig.” Cage plays a hermit living in the Oregon woods who goes on a bizarre adventure in an attempt to retrieve his stolen truffle-sniffing pig. Writer/director Michael Sarnoski […]
“Black Widow,” The latest extravaganza from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, plays more like an over-the-top spy movie along the lines of James Bond than a superhero adventure. Scarlett Johansson stars in this action-packed movie that takes place sometime between the events of “Captain America: Civil War” and “Avengers: Infinity War.” If you don’t follow the […]
Take one part “Terminator” and two parts “Alien,” shake with big budget vigor and you might come up with something like “The Tomorrow War.” Chris Pratt stars in this action-packed sci-fi extravaganza about people transported into the future to save humanity from an extraterrestrial invasion. The trappings are familiar, but “The Tomorrow War” is a […]
In a scene from the latest in the “Fast and Furious” franchise, “F9,” a character played by Ludacris aptly says, “Nobody’s gonna believe this!” Exactly. Entries in the 20-year-old 10-film franchise have morphed into preposterous over-the-top action fantasies that make “Transformers” movies seem credible by comparison. The script is awful, but you can still enjoy […]
Even lesser Pixar offerings are better than most of their competitors’ work. Such is the case with “Luca,” a sweet and beautifully animated fantasy about the adventures of some nice sea monsters. Two young ocean dwellers near the Italian Riviera venture onto land and discover they turn human whenever they’re out of the water. It’s […]
The new Netflix offering “Awake” is yet another apocalyptic sci-fi thriller with a gimmick. After the radiation from solar flares bombards the earth, people lose their ability to sleep. After a few days of universal insomnia, chaos reigns and civilization begins to crumble. A young mother, played by Gina Rodriguez, attempts to protect her children, […]
Pre-teen girls comprise the target audience for “Spirit Untamed,” a big-screen adaptation of the animated Netflix TV series “Spirit Riding Free.” Set in the 19th century American west, it tells the story of a young girl who befriends a wild Mustang stallion after she relocates to a small frontier town. They team up to thwart […]
The long-delayed sequel to filmmaker John Krasinski’s wildly original sci-fi horror thriller has finally arrived in theaters. “A Quiet Place: Part II” is a worthy follow-up that seems even more timely as we emerge from quarantine. The blind aliens with acute hearing continue to wreak havoc on humanity as one family tries desperately to remain […]
Amy Adams (“Hillbilly Elegy”) stars in a new Netflix suspense thriller from director Joe Wright (“Darkest Hour”). The supporting cast includes Gary Oldman (“Mank”) and Julianne Moore (“Gloria Bell”).
Alfred Hitchcock is long gone, but filmmakers continue to try to recapture the signature style of the master of suspense. “The Woman in the Window,” based on A.J. Finn’s novel, is one of the best and most involving of the many Hitchcock imitations. Amy Adams is excellent as an emotionally disturbed agoraphobic psychologist who may […]
The teaming of Billy Crystal and Tiffany Haddish promised to be a combo of comic gold. Instead, “Here Today” is a sweetly sentimental drama written and directed by Crystal about an aging comedy writer who relies on a newfound friend when his struggles with dementia become increasingly difficult to hide. The stars are appealing, and […]
Michael B. Jordan steps into the role of Navy Seal and CIA operative John Clark in the involving action drama, “Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse.” The plot has been updated from the Viet Nam era to contemporary times to provide an origin story for Clark, who attempts to thwart a plot to instigate war between the […]
Ben Franklin famously said, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Today, he could add, “and movies adapted from video games will be bad.” That’s certainly true of the reboot of the franchise “Mortal Kombat.” They tried to make something cinematic out of the game’s plot and themes in […]
The action thriller “Vanquish” represents the nadir in the distinguished career of Morgan Freeman. The Oscar-winning actor can’t save this ridiculous, over-directed mess about a corrupt police commissioner who blackmails a skilled assassin, played by Ruby Rose, into conducting a series of bloody revenge crimes. Writer/director George Gallo uses every filmmaking technique in the handbook […]
Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer are forces of nature. It’s their personal appeal that propels “Thunder Force,” a silly superhero spoof written and directed by McCarthy’s husband, Ben Falcone. McCarthy and Spencer play two friends who become a dynamic duo when Spencer develops a method to imbue them with superpowers. In many ways, the force […]
Thanks to its childlike enthusiasm and spectacular special effects, “Godzilla Vs. Kong” is a fun popcorn movie adventure even though its storyline and dialogue are below par. “Kong: Skull Island” is still the best of the Legendary Studios MonsterVerse series that has successfully revived the giant monster genre. Ultimately, ”Godzilla vs. Kong” is like watching […]
Director Zach Snyder’s superpower is that there’s no ‘quit’ in him…even when there should be. His bloated superhero movie “Zach Snyder’s Justice League” drones on and on for over four hours of spectacular but mind-numbing action featuring Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash and Cyborg. Is it better than the original 2017 version that was […]
“The Courier” is an understated, workmanlike spy thriller, based on a true story. In the run-up to the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, the British spy agency MI6 recruited a reluctant businessman named Greville Wynne, solidly played by Benedict Cumberbatch, to travel to Moscow and secretly work with a mole in the Russian government. The […]
Oscar winners Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Coleman add significant gravitas to the heartbreaking drama, “The Father.” Hopkins plays an elderly gent tortured by dementia and Coleman is his long-suffering daughter who does her best to help him. Writer-director Florian Zeller uses some clever dramatic tricks to give us a sense of the mental confusion and […]
It’s been 33 years since Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall teamed up for the memorable comedy, “Coming to America.” They join forces once again in “Coming 2 America.” Newly crowned King Akeem of Zamunda, played by Murphy, returns to America when he learns he’s got an illegitimate son living in Queens who is the rightful […]
Andra Day makes an auspicious and striking feature film debut in “The United States vs. Billie Holiday.” It isn’t so much a biopic about the iconic jazz vocalist as it is about Holiday’s contentious relationship with the FBI which used her drug abuse as an excuse to censor her performance of the classic protest song, […]
Expect multiple Oscar nominations for “Nomadland,” a drama based on a non-fiction book about indigent senior citizens who travel around the U.S. in trailers in search of employment. Frances McDormand is solid, as always, and director Chloé Zhao uses a number of non-actors to play versions of themselves. It’s slow-moving, but “Nomandland” is elegantly understated […]
Another dark chapter in American history is the focus of the riveting drama, “Judas and the Black Messiah.” Daniel Kaluuya is electrifying as Chicago Black Panther leader Fred Hampton whose organization was infiltrated in the 1960s by a self-serving FBI informant, well played by Lakeith Stanfield. Writer/director Shaka King effectively depicts the personal passions of […]
John David Washington stars along with Zendaya in the dark and talky drama, “Malcolm & Marie.” Following a movie premier, a filmmaker and his girlfriend muse intermittently argue, make up, make love and argue again. The actors are terrific, but writer/director Sam Levinson’s bitter film plays out like a lesser version of “Who’s Afraid of […]
“The Dig,” a warm and moving tale inspired by true events. Carrie Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes star in Simon Stone’s adaptation of John Preston’s novel about one of the most important archeological discoveries in British history. In 1939, group of enthusiastic amateurs unearth an Anglo-Saxon treasure on a remote rural estate…but it’s the filmmakers who […]
The well-made and disturbing Netflix drama “The White Tiger” is based on the award-winning picaresque novel by Aravind Adiga. Set in modern India, the sprawling story is a scathing indictment of business and political corruption as well as the inequities of the Indian caste system. The story is seen through the eyes of a low […]
On the night that Muhammad Ali defeated Sonny Liston for the heavyweight boxing crown in 1964, he met up with NFL running back Jim Brown, pop music superstar Sam Cooke and civil rights activist Malcom X. The film “One Night in Miami” is a fictionalized account of that event. Kingsley Ben-Adire, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge […]
Are you a fan of the sweeping melodramatic Hollywood romances of the 1950s that often show up on Turner Classic Movies? If so, then “Silvie’s Love” is right up your alley. Tessa Thompson and Nnamdi Asomugha star in the story of a rocky romance between a wannabe TV producer and a jazz sax player. “Silvie’s Love” […]
As we begin a new year, it’s time to look back at the best movies of 2020. Here’s the cream of the year’s cinematic crop. 10) End of Sentence (Not rated) John Hawkes and Logan Lerman star in a sweetly sentimental comic drama about the attempted reconciliation of an estranged father and son. […]
The folks at Pixar continue to show their golden touch. “Soul” is a Disney+ feature that again demonstrates that animation can be a powerful way to tell a compelling story that would be difficult for live action. Jamie Fox voices the lead character, a jazz piano player who is accidentally transported to the pre-life realm […]
The valedictory performance from the late Chadwick Boseman may well earn him an Oscar. He’s dynamic as a troubled trumpet player in the Netflix adaptation of August Wilson’s acclaimed play, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” It tells the tragic story of an ill-fated blues recording session in 1927 and touches on themes of racism, sexism, faith […]
Meryl Streep, James Cordon and Nicole Kidman headline Ryan Murphy’s energetic adaptation of the wacky Broadway musical, “The Prom.” They play narcissistic theater folk who decide to take up the cause of a small-town lesbian teenager for the sake of publicity. It’s overlong and it’s message as subtle as a sledgehammer, but a great cast […]
Disney plays around with its own fairytale tropes with the lighthearted comic fantasy, “Godmothered.” Jillian Bell plays a fairy godmother-in-training who is called upon to save the motherland by granting the wish of a jaded TV journalist, played by Isla Fisher. Bell is perfectly cast as the bungling but good-hearted fairy. While this Disney+ offering […]
The updated Disney+ adaptation of the classic children’s novel “Black Beauty” takes many liberties with the original plot. Kate Winslet provides Beauty’s voice and Mackenzie Foy is the girl who loves her. While this version of “Black Beauty” is uninspired and the filmmaking is sometimes clumsy, it’s still a harmless, winsome distraction for kids. […]
Gary Oldman stars in David Fincher’s outstanding showbiz drama, “Mank.” Filmed in glorious black-and-white, “Mank” showcases the difficulties that infamous alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz experienced while writing Orson Welles’ classic, “Citizen Kane.” It’s a shrewd, top-notch Hollywood biopic that crackles with great dialogue. “Mank” is pure Oscar bait. “Hillbilly Elegy” is a disappointing, […]
“Freaky Friday” meets “Friday the 13th” in the bloody R-rated horror comedy, “Freaky.” Vince Vaughn plays a deranged serial killer who supernaturally switches bodies with a mousey teenager. While “Freaky” doesn’t quite live up to its wacky promise, Vaughn milks his dual role for all its comic worth. Mel Gibson plays Santa Claus…you heard […]
Kevin Costner and Diane Lane play a retired couple who attempt to rescue their grandson from a rural North Dakota family in the harrowing drama “Let Him Go,” based on a novel by Larry Watson. Leslie Manville memorably chews the scenery as the cultish family’s domineering matriarch. Violent and a bit lurid, “Let Him Go” […]
If you took a typical Hallmark Channel Christmas romantic comedy and added in plenty foul language and crude sexual banter, you might come up with something like the off-putting Netflix offering, “Holidate.” Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey star in the story of two singles who decide to use one another as a non-intimate date on […]
“Rebecca,” a Netflix remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic suspense drama is a handsomely produced but uninspired adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s novel. Armie Hammer and Lily James star in this dark gothic romance that checks all of the appropriate boxes but can’t match the 1940 Best Picture Oscar winner, which can be seen for free […]
Oscar-winning filmmaker Aaron Sorkin offers one of the year’s finest movies, “The Trial of the Chicago 7.” This surprisingly timely drama covers the infamous case in which peace activists were tried for allegedly inciting riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Sasha Baron Coen, Eddie Redmayne and Mark Rylance are part of a great cast […]
Bill Murray re-teams with “Lost in Translation” filmmaker Sophia Coppola for the disarming comedy, “On the Rocks.” Rashida Jones plays a woman who fears her husband, played by Marlon Wayans, may be cheating on her. Her pushy ne’er do well father, played by Murray, manipulates her into spying on her spouse. There’s a lot more […]
The life of feminist icon Gloria Steinem is given the art house treatment in Julie Taymor’s overambitious biography, “The Glorias.” Four actresses play Steinem in various stages of her life, including Oscar winners Alicia Vikander and Julianne Moore. While it’s illuminating and relevant, the film skims the surface while indulging in some unnecessary and pretentious […]
If nothing else, you’ll have to admit that the comic drama “Kajillionaire” is not the same old thing. This quirky and gentle movie stars Evan Rachel Wood as an emotionally stunted young woman who works as a petty scam artist with her parents, Richard Jenkins and Debra Winger. Things get complicated when they invite a […]
Pop superstar and Kansas City native Janelle Monáe stars in “Antebellum,” a bizarre horror entry with significant social overtones. Monáe plays a slave on a plantation in the Civil War South…or is she a renowned author living today? This well acted but enigmatic film doesn’t make much sense until the final scenes when the film […]
“The Broken Hearts Gallery” is a cute, maybe too cute romantic comedy for millennials that exists in an otherworldly rom-com dimension. Geraldine Viswanathan plays a young woman who saves mementos from her many failed romances and turns them into a gallery exhibit. Can she ever find true love? What do you think? The cast is […]
Christopher Nolan’s mind-boggling sci-fi action thriller “Tenet” begs to be seen on the big screen. It also begs to have subtitles. While it’s involving and visually dazzling, the confounding time-inversion plotline is further muddled by an obtrusive soundtrack and heavy accents. John David Washington and Kevin Branagh do an impressive job of navigating their tricky […]
“The Personal History of David Copperfield” is a fanciful reimagining of Charles Dickens’ classic novel. Dev Patel takes the title role in this quirky adaptation, an offbeat but fresh, exuberant and mostly comic take from writer/director Armando Iannucci, the man behind TV’s “Veep.” Purists may balk, but many viewers will be captivated by this […]
Oscar winning filmmaker Kevin Willmott’s drama “The 24th” is a harrowing depiction of the intolerable racism that led to the 1917 mutiny of an all-black US infantry division. Trai Byers leads a solid cast in this true story that ably illuminates a dark episode in American history. Russell Crowe’s bloodcurdling performance fuels “Unhinged,” a […]
The star power of Jamie Foxx and Joseph Gordon-Levitt is the only thing powering Netflix’s “Project Power,” a silly, overblown sci-fi action flick about a street drug that provides short-lived superpowers. The premise showed promise, but the plot gets goofier as it goes along. Try not to laugh. “Endless” is a morose paranormal romance […]
“An American Pickle” is a ‘stranger-in-a-strange-land’ comic fantasy starring Seth Rogan in dual roles. He plays an immigrant worker accidentally brined in a pickle vat 100 years in ago. When he miraculously awakens, he meets his only living descendant, his great-grandson, also played by Rogan. “An American Pickle” is a surprisingly sentimental look at the […]
“Upside-Down Magic” is a “Harry Potter” wannabe aimed at an even younger demographic. This Disney Channel movie, based on the Scholastic book series, is about students who attend a school for kids with the gift of magic, but the story concentrates on the struggles of four misfits who are ostracized because their magical powers don’t […]
Rosamund Pike’s solid performance is the main attraction of the arthouse biopic, “Radioactive,” the story of Madame Curie and her discovery of radium. Scenes that jump forward in time to illustrate the ultimate effects of her pioneering work are awkward and heavy handed. But “Radioactive” still serves as an informative primer about the world’s first […]
Nia Long and Omar Epps star in the predictable and overly familiar Netflix thriller, “Fatal Affair.” Long plays a lawyer who becomes the unwilling object of obsession for the smart but psychologically disturbed Epps. While shamefully derivative, the earnest performances from Long and Epps make “Fatal Affair” a moderately tense little time waster. Search the […]
“Greyhound” is a fast-paced WWII Naval battle flick starring and written by Tom Hanks. He plays the captain of a destroyer assigned to escort commercial vessels through parts of the Atlantic teeming with Nazi subs. The tension is derived from cat-and-mouse skirmishes with invisible enemies. While no dog, “Greyhound” is at best a modest, workmanlike […]
“Hamilton,” Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hip-hop history lesson about a founding father may be the most unlikely hit musical of all time. The Disney+ ‘live capture’ version of the original Broadway production more than lives up to the hype. While no filmed play can capture the electricity of a live performance, “Hamilton” comes close. Miranda and director […]
Comedian and commentator Jon Stewart steps behind the camera for the second time with the political satire, “Irresistible.” Steve Carell stars as a big time Democratic strategist who gets involved in a small-town mayoral race. The oversized role of money in politics is the movie’s main target. While it generates some laughs, “Irresistible” lacks the […]
If a claustrophobic thriller is what you’re looking for, the airline hijack movie “7500” fills the bill. Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as a mild-mannered pilot fending off terrorists wielding glass knives. All of the action takes place in the plane’s cockpit. Gordon-Levitt is solid and the filmmakers strive for realism over melodrama. While tense and well […]
Oscar winners Spike Lee and Kevin Willmott reunite for an intriguing and timely drama, “Da 5 Bloods.” This Netflix movie is about aging African American Vietnam vets who return to that country to retrieve the remains of a fallen brother and a fortune in gold they left behind. Delroy Lindo and Chadwick Boseman lead a […]
As our local cinemas are still temporarily closed, this week’s Freeze Frame will concentrate on NEW movies that can be streamed at home. Elisabeth Moss, easily one of the best actresses working today, turns in yet another impressive portrayal the drama “Shirley.” This fictionalized biopic focuses on a difficult period in the life of acclaimed […]
In the new Netflix romantic comedy “The High Note” Dakota Johnson portrays the hardworking assistant of a famous and demanding pop star. Tracee Ellis Ross plays the music diva in a role that might -or might not- be inspired by her famous mom, Diana Ross. Ice Cube is the hard-as-nails manager. “The High Note” is […]
The last time that actor Kumail Nanjiani teamed with director Michael Showalter, the result was the brilliant and moving 2017 comic drama, “The Big Sick.” Their new collaboration, “The Lovebirds,” is a Netflix romantic comedy-slash-action flick that isn’t nearly as successful. Nanjiani and Issa Rae play a couple in a tenuous relationship whose bickering takes […]
Tom Hardy’s gonzo performance is the main draw for “Capone,” now available on Amazon Prime. This experimental movie concentrates on the last hellish year of the infamous mobster’s life when he was suffering from dementia and his body was wracked with syphilis. Did he actually hide millions in cash? That’s what his family, associates and […]
“Becoming” is a new Netflix documentary featuring former First Lady Michelle Obama. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at her 2018 34-city book tour promoting her memoir, “Becoming.” The film consists of snippets from her appearances at sold-out arenas, mixed with interview clips, scenes from her meetings with community organizations, book signings and occasional personal asides. […]
As our local cinemas are still temporarily closed, this week’s Freeze Frame will concentrate on NEW movies that can be streamed at home. Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney give terrific performances in the strange but true HBO film, “Bad Education.” Jackman plays a popular Long Island school superintendent who was in charge when millions […]
Chris Hemsworth is a conflicted action hero in the excessively violent Netflix thriller, “Extraction.” Hemsworth plays a super skillful mercenary who is hired to rescue the kidnapped son of an Indian gangster who has been spirited off to Bangladesh. Heralded stuntman Sam Hargrave makes his directorial debut and brings some jaw-dropping stunt sequences to vivid […]
The Netflix original drama “Tigertail” is a low-key family drama about a strained father-daughter relationship. Chinese-American actor Tzi Ma, who may be best known for his recent role in “The Farewell,” plays Grover, an immigrant from Taiwan who can’t seem to make an emotional connection with his adult daughter Angela, played by Kristine Ko. In […]
As our local cinemas are still temporarily closed, this week’s Freeze Frame will concentrate on new movies that can be streamed at home. “Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always” now available through video on demand platforms like Amazon Prime, is one of those quiet human dramas that critics rave about and general audiences often scratch their […]
As our local cinemas are still temporarily closed, this week’s Freeze Frame will concentrate on new movies that can be streamed at home. The raunchy Netflix original comedy “Coffee & Kareem” is shamefully wrong-headed and beneath the talent and dignity of its able cast. Ed Helms plays Officer James Coffee, a bungling Detroit cop who’s […]
Since most of our local cinemas are temporarily closed, this week’s Freeze Frame will focus on three “feel good” films currently available to stream at home, ones that can provide some uplift in trying times. Available on Amazon Prime, “The Big Sick” might, at first blush, sound like something from the Lifetime Network, but […]
Due to the fact that most of our local cinemas are temporarily closing in reaction to the coronavirus outbreak, this week’s Freeze Frame will focus on brand new movies that are available to stream on home streaming services. “Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker” is a 3-hour Netflix miniseries about America’s […]
“The Hunt” is an ultra-violent, pitch black satire that’s trying to tap into the zeitgeist. In a contemporary reworking of “The Most Dangerous Game,” a group of wealthy liberal elites entrap citizens with hard right political beliefs and then hunt them down like game. Betty Gilpin from “GLOW” leads the cast as an Afghan War […]
Second-rate Pixar movies are still better than most of their animated rivals. “Onward” is a likable comic fantasy aimed at boys in the same way that “Frozen” was aimed at girls. Chris Pratt and Tom Holland provide the voices for brother elves from an otherworldly suburbia who embark on a magical quest. It’s funny and […]
A riveting, Oscar-caliber performance from Elizabeth Moss anchors an effective and scary reimagining of the horror chestnut, “The Invisible Man.” Flipping the script to make the victim the focus instead of the title character, this update works as a full-blooded horror film as well as an effective commentary on social issues like bullying and the […]
“The Call of the Wild” is at least the ninth adaptation of the classic Jack London novel about the adventures of a dog named Buck, set during the Yukon Gold Rush iof the 1890s. Harrison Ford plays John Thornton, the gruff prospector who becomes one of Buck’s multiple masters. It’s a rousing story and Ford’s […]
“Downhill” is an American remake of “Force Majeure,” a critically acclaimed Swedish film from 2014. Will Farrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus star in the story of a family on a ski vacation in the Alps. Their marriage is strained to the breaking point when Ferrell’s character engages in an act of cowardice during an avalanche. There […]
Margot Robbie’s bat-swinging performance as the Joker’s girlfriend Harley Quinn was probably the best thing about 2016’s comic book movie, “Suicide Squad.” Her character takes center stage in the latest entry in the extended DC Universe, “Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn).” Essentially an R-rated girl gang movie, “Birds of […]
Actress Sophia Lillis from the recent “It” films, moves from dealing with a scary clown to encountering a scary witch in the horror fantasy, “Gretel & Hansel,” based on the classic Brothers Grimm story. Gretel leads her little brother into the dark forest in search of sustenance only to meet up with a wretched enchantress, […]
“The Turning” is the latest in a long string of movies based on Henry James’ classic ghost story, “The Turn of the Screw.” Mackenzie Davis plays a nanny who attempts to protect two children from evil spirits. Ambiguity isn’t necessarily a fault, but “The Turning” is so vague and disjointed that it plays like a […]
Writer/director Greta Gerwig (“Lady Bird”) has adapted the classic Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel “Little Women” with a certain contemporary flair. The cast includes Saoirse Ronan (“Brooklyn”), Florence Pugh (“Midsommar”), Laura Dern (“Marriage Story”), Timothée Chalamet (“Call Me By Your Name”) and Meryl Streep (“The Laundromat”).
“1917” is a stunning WWI drama that unfolds in a single shot. Two young British soldiers played by George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman are sent on a desperate mission with little hope of success. They’re to cross the dangerous terrain of no man’s land to warn a British regiment not to attack German forces because […]
As we begin a new year, it’s time to look back at the best movies of 2019. Here’s the cream of the year’s cinematic crop. 10) The Farewell Awkwafina stars in a sweetly sentimental comic drama about an American woman who travels to China to visit her terminally ill grandmother. 9) The Two […]
Writer/director Greta Gerwig has pulled off a minor miracle. She’s given a modern feminist sensibility to Louisa May Alcott’s” old chestnut “Little Women,” while maintaining the appealingly traditional feel of her beloved writings. Saoirse Ronan is fine in the pivotal role of Jo March and Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Timothée Chalamet, Laura Dern and Meryl […]
“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” is not the final movie in the franchise. It’s supposedly the end of the line for the Skywalker clan, though. We’ll see. Daisy Ridley is back as Rey, who uses the force to battle evil Emperor Palpatine and the murderous son of Leia and Han Solo, Kylo Ren. It’s […]
The bombing incident at Atlanta’s Centennial Park during the 1996 Olympics marked the beginning of a dark time in American society. The FBI and the press were convinced that the security guard who first noticed the pipe bomb and saved many lives had actually planted the device himself in a concerted effort to be hailed […]
Mark Ruffalo portrays a conflicted corporate lawyer in the sincere social drama, “Dark Waters.” This true story involves mysterious deaths and illnesses in a small community that may have been caused by the malfeasance of a major US corporation. Ruffalo plays Robert Bilott, who waged a 20-year war with DuPont. As a work of social […]
Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci deliver the goods in Martin Scorsese’s epic, violent gangster flick, “The Irishman.” In a sweeping tale that takes place over a number of years, DeNiro plays a truck driver and hitman who serves as a go-between linking the Teamsters Union and the mob. Pacino plays the colorful union […]
Actor Edward Norton (“Birdman”) wrote, produced, directed and stars in “Motherless Brooklyn,” a big screen adaptation of Jonathan Lethem’s novel. It’s a film noir thriller about a private eye who uncovers city corruption in New York City. It also stars Alec Baldwin, Bruce Willis, Willem DeFoe and Gug Mbatha Raw.
Hollywood’s ‘Master of Disaster,’ director Roland Emmerich, is best known for big screen spectacles like “Independence Day” and “The Day After Tomorrow.” He gives the famous South Pacific WWII battle “Midway” that same splashy, special effects-heavy treatment. While the action sequences are impressive the human drama is soapy and superficial. Stars like Woody Harrelson and […]
Actor Edward Norton wrote, produced, directed and stars in the moody film noir melodrama, “Motherless Brooklyn.” Norton is excellent as a gumshoe with Tourette’s Syndrome who uncovers a web of fraud and racial exploitation in 50s New York City when he investigates the death of his employer, played by Bruce Willis. The solid supporting cast […]
With a great cast and a riveting true story to work with, “The Current War” should have been an electrifying movie. It tells the tale of the bitter competition between Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse during the early days of electrical power. Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon and Nicholas Hoult are all fine, but […]
Disney’s Halloween season offering is a sequel to a 2014 hit that flipped the script on “Sleeping Beauty,” turning the evil sorceress into a heroine. Angelina Jolie is back in the titular role of the gargantuan production, “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.” Apparently, the filmmakers wanted to make a kiddie version of “Game of Thrones,” giving […]
Gary Oldman has always been a busy actor, but since picking up his Oscar as Winston Churchill in 2017’s “Darkest Hour,” he’s made ten more movies. If the horror entry “Mary” is any indicator, perhaps Oldman should seriously consider slowing down the pace a bit. In what is essentially a haunted house movie set at […]
Joaquin Phoenix gives a riveting performance in “Joker,” undoubtedly one of the more controversial and provocative movies of the year. Can the hard knocks of life rob a person of the gift of empathy? On one hand, that seems to be the story’s underlying theme, but, intentional or not, “Joker” is sending mixed messages. […]
If ever there were a role designed to attract gold statuettes, this is it. The last tragic months in the life of Hollywood legend Judy Garland provide Renée Zellweger the role of a lifetime in “Judy.” After 30 years of drugs, insomnia and loveless marriages, Garland attempts a comeback on the London stage. Zellweger captures […]
Brad Pitt takes an impassioned space odyssey in the earnest sci-fi epic, “Ad Astra.” Pitt plays an astronaut who is sent to the far reaches of our solar system to see if he can locate his long-lost scientist father, played by Tommy Lee Jones, who is believed to still be living on a remote research […]
Jennifer Lopez gives an assured and charismatic performance in “Hustlers,” the true story of some Manhattan strippers who, during the financial crisis of 2008, began drugging and ripping off their Wall Street clients. Constance Wu plays a stripping newbie J-Lo takes under her wing. The ethics of this female empowerment story are dubious, but “Hustlers” […]
Jillian Bell gives a star-making performance in the comic drama, “Brittany Runs a Marathon,” the story of an overweight Manhattan party girl who tries to break out of her personal rut through running. It’s smart and often funny. The only problem is that this story about a marathon is its pace. Still, “Brittany” finishes strong. […]
Two of America’s finest actresses attempt a gender flip remake of the acclaimed 2006 Danish drama, “After the Wedding.” Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams both do terrific wrok here, but their performances aren’t enough to help this soapy reboot make an effective emotional connection. Moore plays a zillionaire corporate executive who manipulates the charity-minded Williams […]
“Ready or Not” is a shamelessly violent and deranged horror comedy. Samara Weaving is sharp as a woman who marries into an eccentric, spectacularly wealthy family only to be forced to participate in a deadly game of hide and seek. It’s ugly gore played for laughs. If you’ve got the properly twisted sense of humor, […]
If your idea of cinematic hilarity is hearing three sixth grade boys cuss like sailors and chat on and on about sex and drugs, have I got the movie for you. “Good Boys” is like a pre-teen “Superbad,” a raunchy R-rated movie that’s stars are so young, they wouldn’t be allowed in to see it. […]
The mob drama “The Kitchen” is a bit undercooked. Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish and Elizabeth Moss star in this ethically dubious thriller based on a comic book series. They play the wives of Irish mobsters who take over their husbands’ protection racket when the men are sent to prison. In spite of its fine cast, […]
The 2001 movie “The Fast and the Furious” was based on a true story about LA street racers. Over the years, the films in the franchise have evolved into action fantasies so preposterous that they make James Bond flicks look like documentaries by comparison. Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham star in the ninth film in […]
For his ninth feature film, writer/director Quentin Tarantino presents a very dark Valentine to the town and the art form he grew up loving and copying. “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” is about the movie business and the folks who attempt to survive the dramatic changes Tinseltown underwent in the late 1960s. Leonardo […]
Disney’s stampede to create so-called ‘live-action’ remakes of its animated classics continues with “The Lion King.” The super-realistic computer-generated imagery that replaces the classic hand-drawn animation is nothing short of spectacular. But for some reason, the cinematic magic of the 1994 version doesn’t make the transition quite as smoothly. Much of the film is a […]
The violent action farce “Stuber” plays a bit like a comic reworking of the Tom Cruise/Jamie Foxx action flick, “Collateral.” Kumail Nanjiani plays an Uber driver named Stu, hence the jokey title. Dave Bautista is an LA cop who commandeers the ride, forcing Stu to take him on a series of trips to capture a […]
Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man just wants to enjoy a quiet European vacation with his high school pals. Is that too much to ask? Of course, it is. Tom Holland returns as the socially artless Peter Parker in “Spider-Man: Far From Home.” During his summer holiday on the continent, Peter is recruited by Samuel L. Jackson’s […]
What if the Beatles never existed but you knew all of their songs? That’s the high-concept behind the comic romantic fantasy, “Yesterday.” Himesh Patel plays a wannabe singer who, mystically, is the only person who remembers the songs of the Fab Four and becomes an overnight sensation. An appealing cast, sharp direction and great music […]
It’s nothing less than a cinematic miracle. The folks at Pixar have gone back to an old mine and found more gold. “Toy Story 4” is a brilliantly conceived and executed animated story that works as a comedy, as an action adventure and as an emotionally satisfying conclusion to the series. As usual, Pixar’s animation […]
Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson last co-starred in the hit “Thor: Ragnarok,” They re-team to reboot the “Men in Black” franchise with “Men in Black International.” While this wacky sci-fi action comedy lacks the freshness of the previous entries, it retains the goofy spirit of the series. That may not be enough to satisfy fan […]
Ever wonder if it’s possible for excellent actors to save stilted dialogue? A game cast gives it their all but there’s only so much they can do with the latest X-Men prequel, “Dark Phoenix.” Jennifer Lawrence, Sophie Turner, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain nearly work miracles with the script, but it’s still a […]
With the rise of Netflix, I’ve been asked to occasionally depart from our usual Freeze Frame format of reviewing movies in local theaters to cover some of the newest releases available for streaming viewing. So, here goes. Harrowing and skillfully acted, the Netflix miniseries “When They See Us” is a powerful indictment of one of […]
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Disney’s ongoing effort to create live-action versions of its animated classics continues with “Aladdin.” Will Smith steps into Robin Williams’ genie shoes for this eye-popping musical extravaganza. Director Guy Ritchie is best known for his frenetic action movies and he brings that sensibility to this busy enterprise. It doesn’t capture the magic of the […]
The early years of author J.R.R. Tolkien are the focus of the lethargic biopic, “Tolkien.” Nicholas Hoult plays the “Lord of the Rings” scribe who suffered multiple losses in his youth. Lily Collins portrays his lover and muse, Edith Bratt. Although it’s sincere, “Tolkien” never provides much insight into the novelist’s imagination. The vocal […]
Dennis Quaid may be best-known for his good-guy roles in movies like “The Rookie” and “The Right Stuff.” But he takes a successful turn to the dark side in the new thriller, “The Intruder.” Meagan Goode and Michael Ealy play a nice couple who buy Quaid’s lovely Napa Valley home. Problem is, the strange senior […]
“The Chaperone” is an adaptation of a novel by Lawrence, Kansas author Laura Moriarty. Elizabeth McGovern (“Downton Abbey”) stars in this story of a suppressed Wichita housewife who accompanies 15-year-old dancer Louise Brooks to a dance workshop in New York in …
Yes, the laborious stop-motion animation technique still has a place in a world dominated by CGI cinema. “Missing Link” is a visual treat from the folks at Laika Studios. Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana and Zach Galifianakis provide the voices in this comic tale about a big-headed Victorian explorer who discovers and befriends a big-footed sasquatch. […]
With the exception of the exceptional “Wonder Woman,” most of the recent superhero movies from the DC universe have been dark and dour or dumb and dull. Thankfully, “Shazam!” has come to the rescue! Zachary Levi leads the cast in this witty, heartfelt work of escapism that that brings the fun back to the DC […]
The 1941 Disney animated classic “Dumbo” soared because of its charm. That’s the crucial element that’s sorely missing in Tim Burton’s live action remake. The superb art direction provides an immersive atmosphere, but Burton’s quirky style is ill-suited to the gentle story. It’s passable, but this overlong “Dumbo” never quite takes off. Keira Knightley, […]
Originality is a rare commodity in Hollywood, but Oscar-winning writer/director Jordan Peele demonstrates more than his fair share in his new horror film, “Us.” Multiple social allegories are explored in the story of a family of four that is terrorized by a murderous quartet that looks exactly like them. Lupita Nyong’o gives a stunning dual […]
he Marvel Universe offers yet another superhero origin story, this time set in the 1990s. “Captain Marvel” stars Bree Larson as Vers, a member of the alien Kree Starforce. But through a convoluted series of plot twists, she discovers that she’s actually Carol Danvers, a former U.S. Air Force pilot now imbued with high-energy powers […]
Acclaimed French actress Isabelle Huppert plays a troubled woman who stalks young Chloë Grace Moretz around New York City in the campy thriller, “Greta.” Written and directed by Neil Jordan, the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind “The Crying Game,” “Greta” tells the story of a naïve girl who finds a woman’s purse on the subway. When she tracks her down to […]
“How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” brings the wildly popular animated adventure trilogy to a satisfying conclusion. Hiccup and his faithful dragon Toothless are forced to lead the Viking villagers to a new home when an evil dragon hunter brings an armada to enslave the flying reptiles. While the visuals and action are […]
The ‘down-on-his-luck cop trying for redemption’ genre gets a gender change in “Destroyer.” Nicole Kidman goes grimy and gritty in this dark character study about an LAPD detective with a lot of personal baggage whose past comes back to haunt her as she tries to unravel a murder mystery. Kidman goes all out in a […]
“Cold War” is one of the best European films of the year and is, rightfully, a contender for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. This bittersweet tale is about the on-and-off romance between a young singer and her choir director …
The films from writer/director M. Knight Shyamalan are always a crap shoot. When he finds his stride, as he did with “The Sixth Sense” and “Signs,” his movies create an effective and otherworldly atmosphere. When he loses his grasp, as …
It’s time to take a look back at the movie year. Here is my list of the ten best movies of 2018. (Scroll down to see my list of the WORST films of the year!) 10) HEARTS BEAT LOUD …
Looking for a cheery comedy for the holiday season? How about a movie featuring the warm and loveable former Defense Secretary and George W. Bush Vice President Dick Cheney? “Vice” is an offbeat political black comedy from the mind of …
The 1964 classic “Mary Poppins” was practically perfect in every way. Although Disney’s cheery sequel, “Mary Poppins Returns” is nearly a slavish remake, Emily Blunt is delightful. “Mary Poppins Returns” goes down nicely with or without a spoonful of sugar. …
A strong performance by Wilem Defoe is the main attraction of the eccentric biopic “At Eternity’s Gate,” the story of the last days in the life of Vincent Van Gogh. Filmmaker Julian Schnabel is also a renowned artist, so this …
Fans of Japanese anime will find much to love in “Mirai,” a beautifully produced epic that takes on grandiose philosophical ideas in the guise of a simple family film about the importance of sibling ties. Problem is, its themes will …
The strange story of the rise-and-fall story of 1988 Presidential candidate Gary Hart should have been a riveting political drama. “The Front Runner” is workmanlike and well-acted but lacks the dramatic arc that would have made it a winner. Hugh …
KC native screenwriter Gillian Flynn might finally get the Oscar love that eluded her for “Gone Girl.” “Widows” is a fierce and gritty heist movie that is also a potent, beautifully acted social drama with powerhouse performances from Viola Davis …
Shakespeare said it best. “Brevity is the soul of wit.” The classic 1966 animated TV version of Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Chuck Jones proves that Shakespeare was right. “The Grinch” was perfect at 26 touching minutes. …
This is what “Bohemian Rhapsody” is NOT: The definitive biopic about Freddie Mercury of Queen. This is what it IS: A very entertaining overview of the British rock band that features a powerhouse performance by Rami Malek. It skims the …
It’s been 40 years since the masked killer Michael Meyers slashed his way into movie infamy in the horror classic “Halloween,” but there was one victim who got away. After decades in an asylum, Michael escapes to finally finish things …
Oscar-winning director Damien Chazelle goes from “La La Land” to outer space with “First Man.” Ryan Gosling plays the ultra-reserved astronaut Neil Armstrong and Claire Foy is his devoted wife, Janet. It’s beautifully produced, but like Armstrong himself, “First Man” …
There are two words that best describe the fourth big screen version of the old Hollywood chestnut, “A Star is Born”: Oscar bait. Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga are impressive in this tragic romance about an alcoholic musician on the …
“The House with a Clock in its Walls” is an atmospheric PG-rated horror movie for kids based on John Bellairs’ novel. Jack Black and Cate Blanchett star in this story about witchcraft, a young kid and a particularly spooky house. …
“The Predator” is the fifth entry in the popular alien huntsman series. Writer/director Shane Black offers lots of chaotic violence as well as a good deal of jokey humor. Jacob Tremblay, who may be the best child actor working today, …
Do you miss the good old “Death Wish” days when Charles Bronson took the law into his own hands and meted out vigilante justice against all manner of bad guys? Well, Jennifer Garner essentially has stepped into Bronson’s shoes in …
Audiences always say they want something different from Hollywood. “Searching,” a tense thriller with a unique gimmick, fills the bill. All of the action takes place on a computer screen. John Cho and Debra Messing star in the story of …
Some foul-mouthed puppets behaving in degenerate ways provide the gimmick in the one-joke movie, “The Happytime Murders.” Jim Henson’s son, Brian Henson, takes his puppetry skills into the R-rated realm with this raunchy and vulgar comedy. Melissa McCarthy plays a …
You’ve seen it all before, but not like this and not with this cast and not at this locale. “Crazy Rich Asians” is a very likable Cinderella story, a romantic comedy that seems fresh due to its engaging all-Asian cast, …
If it weren’t true, you might not believe it. “BlacKkKlansman” tells the remarkable true story of a black Colorado police officer who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan in the 1970s. Director Spike Lee, who co-wrote the screenplay with KU professor …
At age 56, it may seem impossible for Tom Cruise to do his own stunts, pilot doomed helicopters, run his own cameras and lead high-speed motorcycle chases. But he and his co-stars do all this and more in the sixth …
Audiences say they want originality, but do they actually prefer familiarity? If the latter is true, then “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” should catch the fancy of audiences who made the original 2008 Abba musical a box office hit. …
“Die Hard” meets “The Towering Inferno” in “Skyscraper,” Duane “The Rock” Johnson’s third action/adventure special effects extravaganza in the past seven months. Johnson plays a security expert whose family is trapped above the fire line when the world’s tallest building …
In the Marvel Universe, we’ve recently been hit with the dark tragedy of “Avengers: Infinity War” and the comic superhero parody, “Deadpool 2.” In tone, the latest Marvel entry, “Ant-Man and the Wasp” falls somewhere in between. Paul Rudd is …
“Sicario: Day of the Soldado” is a sequel to the acclaimed drug war drama from 2015. The follow up is equally grim and cynical, this time adding the element of human trafficking along the southern border to the mix. James …
If you haven’t witnessed the marketing blitz for “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” I hope you get your TV, radio and internet service back soon. The fifth film in the popular series should take in a monstrous haul at the box …
The remake of the classic 70s blaxploitation flick “Superfly” replaces gritty with glossy. Trevor Jackson plays an ultra-smooth Atlanta drug dealer who tries to arrange one last big score and get out of the game. This violent crime drama is …
Flip the script, make the con men con women, but keep the cheeky feel. That seems to be the thought process behind the comic heist spin-off, “Ocean’s Eight.” Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett and a bevy of talented actresses fill the …
If you’re planning a boat trip any time soon, you may not want to see “Adrift,” a harrowing true story. Shailene Woodley plays Tami Oldham, a young woman whose sailboat was severely damaged by a storm when she and her …
If there is a litmus test for the new Star Wars entry “Solo,” it lies in one’s perception of actor Alden Ehrenreich who takes on the role of the young Han Solo, once embodied by the one-and-only Harrison Ford. Can …
Shamelessly raunchy, unapologetically profane and completely irreverent, Marvel’s R-rated 2016 superhero parody “Deadpool” became a surprise box office smash. The equally obscene sequel doesn’t quite match it, but with a zippy pace, well-staged action and Ryan Reynolds’ cheeky performance, “Deadpool …
Melissa McCarthy is a funny lady. Can the force of her personality propel the farce “Life of the Party?” Susan and Russ give the lowdown on this back-to-school comedy about a woman who, after divorce, decides to attend the same …
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 …
If “more” equals “better,” then “Avengers: Infinity War” is everything a Marvel fanboy could hope for. However, in spite of some impressive scenes and spirited individual performances, “Avengers: Infinity War” is just what you’d expect from a $300 million, 2 …
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has a knack for making a silk purse out of a cinematic sow’s ear. Can he do the same for the cursed video game genre? Maybe so. In “Rampage,” based on the Midway arcade game, Johnson …
There probably isn’t a director better suited to adapting Ernest Cline’s pop novel “Ready Player One” for the big screen than Steven Spielberg. It’s the sort of visual-heavy sci-fi extravaganza that a lesser filmmaker like Michael Bay would have made …
One day, someone will make a truly good movie based on a video game. We’re still waiting. Oscar-winning actress Alicia Vikander is the latest to log in for a paycheck. “Tomb Raider” reboots the old Angelina Jolie franchise and the …
Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence has proven that she’s got the acting chops and personal charisma to elevate so-so material. That ability is sorely needed in the new suspense thriller, “Red Sparrow,” based on the novel by Jason Matthews. Lawrence …
Pulling off a screwball comedy is as difficult as pulling out the last block in Jenga. There’s always a good chance the whole thing will come toppling down. The goofy farce “Game Night” somehow remains standing even though it’s not …
Marvel’s superhero “Black Panther” finally gets his proper feature-length movie introduction and it’s a rousing, involving adventure. The fact that most of the folks in front of and behind the camera are black makes it all the more compelling. Chawick …
The final chapter in the big screen adaptation of E.L. James’ kinky S&M bestseller “Fifty Shades of Grey” trilogy finally hits theaters this week. Like its predecessors, “Fifty Shades Freed” isn’t bad enough to be campy fun and is about …
February is “Black History Month,” and people have asked me to put together a list of movie suggestions to commemorate the annual observance. So, here are some films that are, I believe, apt viewing choices. “12 Years a Slave” …
The clichés and stereotypes that populate most Westerns are upended in “Hostiles,” a brutal, challenging and beautifully filmed drama. Christian Bale leads a terrific cast in the story of a war weary Army captain who, in the late 1800s, reluctantly …
One of the year’s most acclaimed movies has finally gotten its Kansas City release. It’s hard to imagine a timelier movie about freedom of the press than “The Post.” Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep star in Steven Spielberg’s riveting drama …
As we leap into 2018 it’s time to look back the best movies the year had to offer. Here’s my list of the cream of the cinematic crop. 10) THE FLORIDA PROJECT (R) The poor who live on the …
It’s hard to imagine a timelier movie about freedom of the press than “The Post.” Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep star in Steven Spielberg’s riveting drama about the Washington Post’s behind the scenes struggles leading up to the publication of …
You can always count on filmmaker Guillermo del Toro to deliver visually arresting and atmospheric cinema. “The Shape of Water” is no exception. This adult sci-fi fantasy is really an oddball love story featuring an aquatic humanoid creature and a …
From “8 1/2” to “Day for Night” to “Ed Wood,” some very entertaining movies are movies about making movies. You can add “The Disaster Artist” to that distinguished list. James Franco directs and stars in “The Disaster Artist,” a behind-the-scenes …
Kenneth Branagh’s take on the classic Agatha Christie whodunit “Murder on the Orient Express” is like its namesake: Luxurious, workmanlike…and just a bit stodgy. Branagh plays Belgian detective Hercule Poirot who is pressed into service when a gangster, played by …
Is the third time the charm for “Thor?” The latest installment in the Marvel Universe to have the God of Thunder front and center is indeed the best of the three. A goofy, tongue-in-cheek action adventure that relies a lot …
“Suburbicon,” a twisted collaboration between director George Clooney and the Coen Brothers, is a satiric poke in the eye to the idea of an idyllic 50s American suburbia. This pitch black comedy stars Matt Damon and Julianne Moore in a …
With a great cast, bestselling source material and acclaimed filmmakers in command, “The Snowman” should have been a solid thriller. Sadly, it’s an icy misfire. Michael Fassbender plays a detective on the trail of a cunning serial killer who leaves …
“Marshall” is not a biopic about America’s first black Supreme Court justice Thurgood Marshall. It’s a courtroom drama about one Connecticut rape case that the famed jurist worked on in his early days as a lawyer for the NAACP. Chadwick …
Is the highly anticipated sequel to the 1982 sci-fi classic “Blade Runner” merely a replicant? Nope. Happily, “Blade Runner 2049” is a compelling film noir follow-up that stands on its own. Ryan Gosling plays a LAPD officer who hunts down …
One the most watched sporting events of all time is celebrated in the crowd-pleasing comic drama, “The Battle of the Sexes.” Emma Stone and Steve Carell star as Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, who, in 1973, faced off on …
Is the third time the charm for Lego’s animated franchise? Well, even though the novelty is wearing a bit thin, “The Lego Ninjago Movie” is, for the most part, cheeky, colorful fun. Jackie Chan leads the voice cast as …
Filmmakers have been trying for years to adapt the political thrillers by the late author Vince Flynn. His CIA super agent Mitch Rapp finally makes his big screen appearance in “American Assassin,” a noisy thriller that introduces us to Rapp …
A white, plus-sized female rapper from a depressed New Jersey suburb may be the most unlikely movie lead of the year. In “Patti Cake$,” Australian actress Danielle Macdonald plays a young woman derisively called ‘Dumbo’ who tries to make her …
Robert Pattinson works hard to shake his “Twilight” image in “Good Time,” a gritty crime drama that takes place in one night. He plays a none-too-bright bank robber who tries to get his mentally challenged brother released from jail. While …
Actor Channing Tatum and director Steven Soderbergh go rogue with their independently produced and distributed comic heist movie, “Logan Lucky.” Tatum plays a fired miner who decides to rip off all the cash for a big race at the Charlotte …
The term “uplifting” is often overused, but it’s apt when describing “Step,” a documentary about a step dancing team from an all-girls high school in inner city Baltimore. Don’t expect lots of dance footage, however. “Step” instead focuses on the …
One way or another, you will be disturbed by Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow’s grim and troubling historical drama, “Detroit.” Either the police brutality and racism will rattle you or the movie’s sadistically violent depiction of it will do the trick. …
The provocative Charlize Theron and some smashing fight choreography provide a potent one-two punch for “Atomic Blonde,” an ultra-violent adaptation of a popular graphic novel. Theron plays a British secret agent with a particular set of skills who is sent …
British actress Sally Hawkins gives the kind of performance Oscar loves in “Maudie,” a biopic about Maude Lewis, the late Canadian folk artist who gained fame in the 1950s. The story covers her struggle with crippling rheumatoid arthritis, her dysfunctional …
It may seem absurd, but I’m not monkeying around. The franchise update of “The Planet of the Apes” series that began in 2011 may be the best Hollywood franchise reboot ever. The third installment, “War for the Planet of the …
Okay, so just who needs yet another reboot of the Spider-Man franchise? After all, this is the third time the story has been reworked since 2002. Well, I guess we do since “Spider-Man: Homecoming” is arguably the best Spider-Man movie, …
Decadent, violent, profane…and wildly entertaining, “Baby Driver” is a zippy heist film fueled by a kinetic soundtrack that should appeal to both Baby Boomers and Millennials. Ansel Elgort plays a skilled getaway driver who uses music to help him concentrate …
Just how does one transform $260 million into something pretty much worthless? Just ask director Michael Bay, who spent all that dough on the latest Hasbro Toys come to life extravaganza, “Transformers: The Last Knight.” It’s not that you can’t …
The raunchy ‘girls gone wild’ comedy “Rough Night” wastes a talented cast on an effort that tries to be the female equivalent of “The Hangover.” Scarlett Johansson’s friends plan a wild bachelorette party in Miami but, in a coke-induced haze, …
Acclaimed British filmmaker Ken Loach is known for his realistic kitchen sink dramas that focus on disparities and injustices in contemporary British society. His latest, “I, Daniel Blake” is no exception. It won the Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival. …
Lawrence, Kansas native Patty Jenkins, the director who steered Charlize Theron to her Oscar-winning performance in “Monster,” takes on her biggest Hollywood project to date with the highly anticipated “Wonder Woman.” Gal Gadot stars as the Amazonian princess who is …
It may seem early to start a “Worst Movies of the Year” list, but surely “Baywatch” will qualify. A raunchy parody of the old TV series, “Baywatch” struggles to mine a few meager laughs from gross-out jokes, but it drowns …
While Ridley Scott’s newest “Alien” prequel “Alien: Covenant” doesn’t add much that’s new, it does fill in the blanks. We now know where the creatures came from. Fans of the franchise should enjoy the action and mayhem that this origin …
Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn are two comic stars that bring a lot of personal appeal to their roles. Audience goodwill may be tested, however, with their broad and raunchy comedy, “Snatched.” Schumer plays a colossally irresponsible twentysomething dumped by …
Ten years ago, the harrowing Romanian abortion drama “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days” marked the arrival of a major new talent, filmmaker Christian Mungiu (Chris-tee-ann Mon-JEEW). His latest effort, “Graduation,” won him the Best Director Award at the …
It’s no accident that “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, …
When “The Fast and the Furious” debuted in 2001, it was inspired by a true story about LA street racers. Now that we’re on the eighth entry, the series has morphed into an over-the-top sci-fi action extravaganza that makes James …
There are three Oscar winners in the buddy comedy, “Going in Style” and their presence gives this broad, shopworn farce a very big boost. A loose remake of the 1979 George Burns movie of the same name, “Going in Style” …
The first live-action adaptation of the phenomenally popular Japanese manga comic and anime series “Ghost in the Shell” finally reaches the big screen. Scarlett Johansson plays a woman who is given cyber-enhancement after a near fatal accident. She’s then recruited …
Is there life in “Life?” This sci-fi thriller features Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Reynolds as astronauts who confront a deadly new species on their voyage to Mars. The film owes a bit too much of its inspiration to the classic …
It’s a tale as old as time, but when Disney goes back to the well it’s usually worth the trip. The 1991 animated classic “Beauty and the Beast” gets a rousing ‘live-action’ reboot, although I use the term “Live-action” loosely …
There are those who may think that Hollywood has given us way too many giant monster movies already. But I felt like a giddy kid at an old-time Saturday matinee when I saw “Kong: Skull Island.” This action-packed fantasy adventure …
In what is being touted as his final big-screen appearance as “Logan,” aka Wolverine, Hugh Jackman is back as a tired, aging and worn out mutant, a far cry from his glory days with X-Men. In the ultra-violent flick “Logan,” …
Comic Jordan Peele of Key & Peele fame makes his directorial debut with a surprisingly effective, full-blooded horror film, “Get Out.” Daniel Kaluuya plays a young black photographer who goes to meet his white girlfriend’s parents in rural suburbia, where …
Yet again, Hollywood mistakes vulgarity for wit. Charlie Day and Ice Cube star in “Fist Fight,” an R-rated comedy about a wimpy teacher challenged to an afterschool brawl by a testy fellow educator. This mean-spirited vehicle manages to pummel a …
It’s sequel mania at theaters this week, and at least two of them live up to the originals. Who would have thought that an animated movie about toy building blocks would have been a hit, let alone a brash, …
The teen sci-fi romance “The Space Between Us” has an intriguing premise and good intentions. However, with its plot holes and eye-rolling circumstances, it could have been called “The Space Between its Ears.” Asa Butterfield plays Gardner, the first human …
Who would have thought that the most controversial movie in theaters today would be about puppy dogs? “A Dog’s Purpose” has come under scrutiny because of a leaked video that suggests that a dog might have been treated inhumanely during …
Since hitting the big time with “The Sixth Sense,” the work of quirky filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan has been a hit-and-miss affair. His new horror entry “Split” is something of a return to form. James McAvoy is excellent as a …
Kansas City native Janelle Monáe has proven herself to be a terrific musician. She can now add the title ‘acclaimed actress’ to her resume. She’s part of a strong acting ensemble in “Hidden Figures,” potent follow-up to her role in …
At the close 2016, it’s time to look back the best movies the year had to offer. Here’s my list of the cream of the cinematic crop. 10) MOONLIGHT An impeccable acting ensemble gave life to the story of the …
Are American audiences ready for a full-blown movie musical about struggling performing artists in Los Angeles? I hope so, because “La La Land” is easily one of the best movies of the year. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are splendid …
Don’t be surprised if you hear the title “Manchester by the Sea” being bandied about a lot at awards time. Filmmaker Kenneth Lonergan’s heartbreaking drama about loss and grief is a skillfully written and impeccably acted ensemble piece. Casey Affleck …
Earnest performances and good intentions don’t always lead to good movies. “Man Down” is a case in point. Shia LaBeouf gives a solid turn as a U.S. Marine who, upon his return home from serving in Afghanistan, discovers that his …
Harry Potter fans who mourned the end of his book and movie franchise, take heart. J. K Rowling has revived that universe with her original screenplay, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” Eddie Redmayne plays an English wizard who …
“Arrival” is a science fiction opus that walks a razor’s edge. It could be hokey in the extreme or profoundly moving. Luckily, it mostly keeps its balance thanks to skillful direction from Denis Villeneuve and a touching performance from Amy …
The 14th film from the Marvel Universe is easily the trippiest, yet. Benedict Cumberbatch plays “Doctor Strange” in a visually spectacular origin story about Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme. While you may not be able to make heads or tails out of …
Tom Hanks and director Ron Howard may have gone to the well one too many times with “Inferno,” their third entry in the Robert Langdon “Da Vinci Code” series by novelist Dan Brown. This time out, our intrepid Harvard symbologist …
“Jack Reacher: Never Go Back” could be described as “’The Last Samurai’ with a Pistol.” Tom Cruise reunites with “Samurai” director Ed Zwick in Cruise’s second go round as Lee Child’s backside-kicking ex-military policeman turned lone vigilante. While it has …
“American Honey” is the Shia LaBeouf drama that that was shot largely in the Kansas City area and won this year’s jury prize at the Cannes Film Festival. It’s an unusual coming of age drama about a hard-partying group …
“The Birth of a Nation” is Nate Parker’s controversial but powerful film about the educated slave Nat Turner who became a pastor and led an ill-fated slave revolt in 1831. Parker wrote, directed, produced and stars as Turner in this …
Disney’s “The Queen of Katwe” may be the sunniest view of Uganda you’re likely to see. David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong’o and newcomer Madina Nalwanga star in the true story of a brilliant young girl who escapes her difficult circumstances when …
Western fans have been eagerly anticipating the remake of the classic 1960 shoot-‘em-up, “The Magnificent Seven.” Antoine Fuqua’s reimagining of the story isn’t magnificent, but it could be called “The Pretty Good Seven.” Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt and Ethan Hawke …
It’s been 12 years since the last Bridget Jones movie. It’s amazing how little she’s evolved in the meantime. Rene Zellweger and Colin Firth are back, this time joined by Patrick Dempsey in a love triangle involving Bridget’s pregnancy and …
Tom Hanks is an actor who, like the late Jimmy Stewart before him, has a natural aura of decency that comes through in his characters. That makes him the ideal person to portray a modest American hero, airline Captain Sully …
“The Light Between Oceans” comes tantalizingly close to being a great movie. Sadly, its missteps derail the efforts of an impeccable cast and a stunning production. Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander play a troubled Australian lighthouse keeper and his dutiful …
There are times while watching “Don’t Breathe” that you probably won’t. Yes, it’s yet another sordid, R-rated horror flick, but it’s an exceptionally well made edge-of-your-seat chiller. Three young and foolish thieves break into the house of a blind man, …
In terms of spectacle and emotional power, few films have equalled the 1959 epic, “Ben-Hur.” Although the new version big screen version is adequate for the uninitiated, it pales by comparison. Jack Huston steps into the role that won Charton …
Disney goes back to the well for yet another reimagining of one of their family film classics. This time, it’s “Pete’s Dragon,” a sweet but by-the-numbers remake of the 1977 adventure that featured a goofy, cartoon dragon. The story has …
DC Comics attempts to expand its universe with the highly anticipated superhero thriller, “Suicide Squad.” While involving, it never quite lives up to its promise. Viola Davis plays a U.S. intelligence big wig who assembles a team of dangerous incarcerated …
If you’re looking for frenetic action, car chases and general paranoid mayhem then look no further than “Jason Bourne.” Matt Damon returns for the fourth time as Robert Ludlum’s CIA super assassin seeking revenge against those who stole his identity. …
From 1991 to 2012, the hard drinking, hard partying fashionistas from British TV’s popular sitcom “Absolutely Fabulous” had worldwide audiences laughing at their narcissistic antics. Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley have returned for “Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie,” a breezy farce …
When you wanna laugh, who you gonna call? Guess what, all you misogynistic Internet trolls who were certain that an all-female version of “Ghostbusters” would be a disastrous rip-off. The new “Ghostbusters” is actually good, goofy fun. Melissa McCarthy, Kristen …
“Toy Story” showed us what toys did when their owners weren’t around. Ditto for Legos in “The Lego Movie.” The conceit should work for pets, too, and, by golly it does in “The Secret Life of Pets.” The folks who …
After 98 years and at least 48 cinematic adaptations, do we really need another big screen Tarzan? Hollywood thinks so. “The Legend of Tarzan” stars Alexander Skarsgård as the former King of the Jungle, who is conned into returning from …
It’s taken Pixar 13 years to come up with a sequel to the smash animated hit, “Finding Nemo.” But even after all these years, this fish is still fresh. Ellen DeGeneres again provides the voice for the forgetful blue tang …
If director James Wan had worked in the Golden Age of Hollywood, he might have made musicals. His camera work is more like choreography than direction. But it’s that showy style that makes his horror entry “The Conjuring 2” work …
So, can the Mother of Dragons become the Queen of Weepies? “Game of Thrones” star Emilia Clarke takes on the lead role in the four-hankie romantic drama “Me Before You” and her sparkling performance is the best thing about the …
The latest installment in the X-Men franchise follows the ‘younger mutants’ timeline from “X-Men: Days of Future Past.” Jennifer Lawrence is the nicer Mystique of days gone by and Michael Fassbender’s Magneto gets more than he can handle from Oscar …
The ‘buddy comedy’ gets a new treatment in an old way with “The Nice Guys.” The writer/producer/director team that brought you the “Lethal Weapons” movies reunite for a foul-mouthed action comedy set against the sleazy backdrop of 1977 Hollywood. Russell …
Although he died in 1920 at the age of 32, self-taught Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan (Sree nee vasa Raman Oojen) is considered a pioneer who made major contributions to the field. “The Man Who Knew Infinity” is an earnest and …
The latest comic book extravaganza from the folks at Marvel, “Captain America: Civil War” is everything that “Batman v Superman” wishes it could have been. A villain cleverly manipulates The Avengers into a battle that splits the team in two, …
Key & Peele’s first feature film together may be a one-joke affair…but it’s a very funny joke. Fans of the duo’s Comedy Central sketch show will love “Keanu,” a raunchy, irreverent satire…and so will many newcomers. The comics play nerdy …
Someone must have watched the Pixar/Disney films “Brave” and “Frozen” and then decided they should do a very gloomy amalgamation of those stories. The result is “The Huntsman: Winter’s War,” a sequel to 2012’s “Snow White and the Huntsman.” A …
After viewing Melissa McCarthy’s goofy comedy “The Boss,” you may be tempted to say, “You’re fired!” McCarthy plays a self-centered business tycoon who gets busted for insider trading and attempts a comeback after her jail stint. The language is foul …
Hank Williams was one of the greatest country music stars of all time. His short and complicated life could make a truly great movie. Sadly, the musical biopic “I Saw the Light,” ain’t it. British actor Tom Hiddleston stars as …
The much-heralded superhero smack down has finally arrived. “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” is action-packed and visually striking. Problem is, it’s just not much fun. Ben Affleck dons the cowl as the Dark Knight and Henry Cavill returns as …
In a future dystopian society, pretty young people will stand around looking bored while computer generated mayhem swirls around them. Or at least that’s how it plays out in “The Divergent Series: Allegiant,” the third film in the four-part franchise …
Back in 2008, producer J.J. Abrams surprised audiences with a nifty sci-fi opus called, cryptically, “Cloverfield.” It seemed to have arrived out of nowhere and when on to become a box office smash. Well, Abrams has yet another surprise up …
With a name like “Zootopia,” you might expect a cute Disney animated flick about anthropomorphic animals. And while you’d be right, “Zootopia” is much, much more. It’s a wildly imaginative, beautifully animated comic crime thriller. “Zootopia” is a utopian city …
Although you’ll feel shamelessly manipulated by the cheery sports flick “Eddie the Eagle,” you probably won’t mind too much. Taron Egerton and Hugh Jackman star in the true story of a somewhat mentally challenged British ski jumper and the drunken …
Many recent faith-based films have suffered from low budgets and mediocre acting. Not so with “Risen,” a new take on the story of the resurrection of Christ. Joseph Fiennes is excellent as a battle weary Roman Tribune who is charged …
First, the bad news: The edgy R-rated Marvel superhero movie “Deadpool” is smutty, vulgar, tasteless and perverse. Now, the good news: “Deadpool” is funny, sharply made and Ryan Reynolds is terrific as the X-Men’s snarky, wisecracking antihero. If you’re not …
Russ covers the latest farce from the Coen Brothers as well as an Oscar-nominated British drama.
The theaters are loaded for Christmas. Some are gifts and others are lumps of coal. Russ sorts out all the holiday film releases, including “The Hateful Eight,” “The Big Short,” “Daddy’s Home,” “The Danish Girl,” “Carol, “Concussion,” “Joy,” “Youth,” and …
Russ lets us know if the force is strong with series reboot, a Tina Fey-Amy Poehler comedy and the latest kids’ opus featuring animated rodents.
Two movies with local connections are on Russ’ agenda. A collaboration between KU professor Kevin Willmott and director Spike Lee and a biopic of Mother Teresa by a Clinton, MO native.
Russ fills us in on the “Rocky” franchise revival, an old-fashioned romantic drama and a biopic about a blacklisted screenwriter.
Claustrophobia abounds in a kidnapping drama and a dramatization of the 2010 mine disaster in Chile. Russ also covers a German drama about Nazi persecution and a British rom-com.
The latest James Bond opus, a reboot of a comic strip classic, a martial arts art film and a four-hankie tearjerker are on Russ’ agenda this week.
Sandra Bullock’s political satire, the story of the downfall of Dan Rather and a feminist Western are on Russ’ agenda for this week.
A Vin Diesel Halloween movie, a Hasbro doll adaptation, a Bill Murray comedy and a Chinese melodrama all fall under Russ’ scrutiny.
Russ guides us through two high-profile true stories, a horror comedy for kids and a documentary about Indian-American matchmaking.
Russ fills us in about a Peter Pan origin story, a documentary about a Nobel Laureate and a searing social drama.
Russ reviews a wide range of films this week, including “The Martian,” focusing on an otherworldly Matt Damon, “Sicario,” about a hitman and “The Walk,” on a high wire act.
Russ covers “The Intern,” a comedy with Robert De Niro, “Stonewall,” a film about the early history of the gay rights movement and “Pawn Sacrafice,” a drama about chess master Bobby Fischer.
Russ gives the lowdown on “Black Mass,” Johnny Depp’s gangster flick, “Everest,” a docudrama about a mountain tragedy and “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials,” the second in a Young Adult action series.
Russ reveals if “The Visit,” M. Night Shyamalan’s new horror flick is worth the visit and whether “Queen of Earth,” a new drama with Elizabeth Moss is truly regal.
Russ covers “A Walk in the Woods,” the latest from actor Robert Redford, “Jimmy’s Hall,” a social drama from Ireland and “7 Chinese Brothers,” a wacky indie comedy.
Russ gives us an overview of “No Escape,” a thriller, “Zipper,” a political soap, “We Are Your Friends,” a drama about the LA dance scene, “Mistress America,” a screwball comedy, “Diary of a Teenage Girl,” a coming-of-age drama and “Z …
Russ takes a hit for us by viewing “Hitman: Agent 47,” a video game movie and provides the lowdown on two documentaries about two eccentric celebs, “Listen to Me, Marlon” and “Being Evel.”
“Straight Outta Compton,” a drama about the rise of rap group NWA and “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” a tongue-in-cheek spy thriller hit theaters this week. Russ gives the scoop.
Russ marvel’s at the failure of “Fantastic Four,” Marvel’s latest and reviews “Irrational Man,” a Woody Allen drama, “The Gift,” a psychological thriller and “Shaun the Sheep,” an stop-motion animated feature.
Russ covers “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation,” Tom Cruise’s latest, “Vacation,” the re-boot of a classic comedy, “Infinitely Polar Bear,” a Mark Ruffalo drama, and “The Stanford Prison Experiment,” the screen version of a textbook psychology experiment.
Russ provides fair warning on “Pixels,” Adam Sandler’s new sci-fi comedy and “Paper Towns,” the latest dramedy aimed at young audiences.
Russ covers “Ant-Man,” homeboy Paul Rudd’s entry into the Marvel universe, plus “Mr. Holmes,” Ian McKellan’s take on an aging detective, “Trainwreck,” Amy Schumer’s movie debut and “Lila & Eve,” a thriller with J. Lo and Viola Davis.
Russ covers the movie bases with “Minions,” a kids’ flick, “Amy,” an intriguing documentary about Amy Winehouse, and “The Gallows,” a low-budget horror entry.
They’re both back. Arnold is a time traveling cyborg in “Terminator Genisys” and Channing Tatum is an exotic dancer in “Magic Mike XXL.” Russ lets us know if either is worth our time.
Is Ted 2, a film about a raunchy teddy bear bearable? Is “Max” a movie dog? Is “Me, Earl & the Dying Girl,” the big winner at Sundance, worth the hype? Russ weighs in.
Russ covers two films from opposite ends of the cinematic spectrum. “Inside Out” is an animated Pixar offering, and “Dope” is an R-rated Sundance hit.
Russ lets us know if “Jurassic World,” the latest in the dino franchise has bite and covers “About Elly,” a strong Iranian film and two adaptations of Flaubert’s classic, “Madame Bovary” and “Gemma Bovary.”
Check out reviews of “Love & Mercy,” a biopic of Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, “Spy,” a secret agent spoof with Melissa McCarthy, and “Entourage,” the big screen version of an HBO series get the once-over from Russ Simmons.
Russ warns us about “San Andreas,” a disaster flick starring The Rock and explains why “An Honest Liar,” a documentary about magician “The Amazing Randi” is worth your time.
“Tomorrowland,” Disney’s big budget sci-fi extravaganza and two art house flicks — “Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter,” “The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared” — are on Russ’ agenda this week.
In a really unusual week, Russ gives ‘thumbs way up’ to three new movies, “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Pitch Perfect 2,” and “Far From the Madding Crowd.”
Russ explains that two lame buddy Hollywood comedies — “Hot Pursuit” and “The D Train” — are the best that Hollywood can offer us this week.
Could two films be more divergent? Russ takes on “Marvel’s The Avengers: Age of Ultron,” the comic book juggernaut, and “The Clouds of Sils Maria,” an art film about a aging actress.
Russ thinks “Ex Machina,” a new sci-fi effort is the year’s best so far. “The Water Diviner,” Russell Crowe’s directorial debut, and “Little Boy,” a new faith-based offering are also covered.
Russ scrutinizes “Merchants of Doubt,” a frightening but important documentary about professional spin doctors who create confusion about the concept of climate change.
Russ marvels at the empty-headed joys of “Furious 7,” the latest action epic in the “Fast and Furious” franchise.
Russ wonders about racial stereotypes in the Will Ferrell/Kevin Hart comedy, “Get Hard” and covers the animated fantasy, “Home” and the creepy horror entry, “It Follows.”
“Insurgent,” the second installment in the “Divergent” series, “The Gunman,” a Sean Penn action flick and “Do You Believe?,” a faith-based drama are up for Russ’ inspection.
Two movies that couldn’t be less alike are in the spotlight this week, “Cinderella,” a Disney fairy tale and “Run All Night,” a violent mob thriller.
“Hot Tub Time Machine 2,” an unnecessary comedic sequel, and “Song of the Sea,” an Oscar-nominated animated feature are the subjects of this week’s reviews from Russ.
Russ covers the so-called “hottest” movie of the year, plus a spy spoof, an Oscar contender and an art house flick. Listen to reviews of “Fifty Shades of Grey,” “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” “Still Alice,” and “Mr. Turner” during this episode …
Russ sorts through a sci-fi opus, a French language social drama, a 3-D cartoon and a medieval action fantasy. The movies are: “Jupiter Ascending,” “Two Days, One Night,” “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water,” “Seventh Son.”
Russ fills us in on an 80s-style crime movie, a social drama about race relations and a teen time travel opus when he reviews “A Most Violent Year,” “Black or White, and “Project Almanac.”
Can J-Lo generate the thrills? Is Song One worth singing about? Russ chimes in on both “The Boy Next Door,” “Song One.”
Russ reviews two tragic true stories, one of a Navy Seal sharpshooter and the other about a paranoid schizophrenic millionaire.
Is “Selma” worth marching to? “Inherent Vice” nice? Russ weighs in on these very different films.
Russ reviews the Christmas Day openings, including Angelina Jolie’s directorial effort and the adaptation of the Broadway musical, “Into the Woods.”
Russ Simmons takes a look at the finales of two popular movie franchises as well as a new drama starring Reese Witherspoon.
Russ reviews Ridley Scott’s revisionist version of the Biblical story of Moses, Chris Rock’s edgy comedy and an Australian horror flick.
Tommy Lee Jones directs Hillary Swank in a dark Western based on the 1988 novel by Glendon Swarthout. Russ has a review.
Russ covers the latest in the wildly popular YA sci-fi movie series starring Jennifer Lawrence.
Jon Stewart of “The Daily Show” makes his filmmaking debut with the new drama, “Rosewater.”
Russ reviews the latest from filmmaker Christopher Nolan, a zippy Disney animated flick and a documentary about Edward Snowden.
Russ Simmons gives us the latest on a couple of possible Oscar contenders open this week, including the eccentric black comedy, “Birdman” starring Michael Keaton and the dark thriller, “Nightcrawler” with Jake Gyllenhaal.
Russ covers the brutal Brad Pitt WWII flick, “Fury” and the ensemble drama “Men, Women & Children,” starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Garner.
Freeze Frame with Russ Simmons reviews three films: The Judge with Robert Downey, Jr and Robert Duvall, The Notebook, an ultra bleak Czech film, not to be confused with the love story film of the same title, and Kill the Messenger, …
Russ Simmons gives us a preview of Richard Linklater‘s epic 12-year project, Boyhood, featuring Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, and Ellar Coltrane, as well as the new James Brown biopic Get On Up, starring Chadwick Bozeman, and Chris Pratt in the …
Russ Simmons gives us a look into Scarlet Johansson‘s sci-fi thrill ride Lucy, directed by Luc Besson, as well as the new Rob Reiner/Diane Keaton/Michael Douglas vehicle And So It Goes. He also previews the documentary Gore Vidal: The United …
Fox 4’s Russ Simmons gives us a sneak peek into the sequel The Purge: Anarchy, Roman Polanski‘s Venus In Furs, the Roger Ebert biopic Life Itself, Planes, Fire & Rescue, Sex Tape, a look into the films premiering at the …
Russ Simmons gives us a preview of the sequel “Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes”, starring Gary Oldman, Jason Clarke, and Keri Russell, Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis’ “Third Person” as well as a glimpse at the KC Fringe Festival.
Russ Simmons gives us a peek at Melissa McCarthy’s screenwriting debut, “Tammy”, as well as “E.T.” redux “Earth To Echo”, as well as “The Double”, “Begin Again”, and “Deliver Us From Evil”.
Russ Simmons profiles Kevin Costner‘s latest flick Draft Day, creepfest Oculus, Errol Morris‘ documentary The Unknown Known, about Donald Rumsfeld, and Rio 2, as well as Lunchbox, Rob The Mob, and much more.
Russ Simmons profiles Captain America: The Winter Soldier with Chris Evans, the Higgs-Boson documentary Particle Fever, and gives us an update on the Kansas City Film Fest happening this month.
FOX 4 film critic Russ Simmons breaks down for you the latest films opening at your local theater this week: sci-fi film Divergent, starring Kate Winslet, Wes Anderson‘s The Grand Budapest Hotel, starring Ralph Fiennes, indie horror flick Enemy starring …
Russ Simmons previews anticipated sequel 300: Rise Of An Empire, the family-friendly Peabody & Sherman, French export Stranger By The Lake, and restaurant documentary Spinning Plates.
KKFI and Fox’s Russ Simmons profiles Son Of God, the Oscar-nominated Japanese animated film The Wind Rises, and Nonstop featuring Liam Neeson.
Russ Simmons gives us a look at visual epic Pompeii, In Secret with Jessica Lange, Kevin Costner‘s Three Days To Kill, and romantic drama Barefoot.
The remakes of Robocop and About Last Night are previewed by Russ Simmons, as is A Winter’s Tale with Colin Farrell, Asghar Farhadi‘s The Past, Chilean film Gloria, and the remake of 1981’s Endless Love.
This week, Russ Simmons profiles cartoon satire The Lego Movie, The Monuments Men starring George Clooney, teen comedy Vampire Academy, and horror film A Field In England, set in 1648.
On this installment of Freeze Frame, Russ Simmons gives us a preview of August: Osage County with Meryl Streep, Her starring Joaquin Phoenix, Lone Survivor with Mark Wahlberg, and Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit starring Star Trek‘s Chris Pine.
Russ Simmons gives his Worst Of… picks for 2013, including To The Wonder, Michael Bay‘s Pain & Gain, The Getaway with Ethan Hawke, and more.
On this edition of Freeze Frame, host Russ Simmons gives his picks for Best Films of 2013, including Fruitvale Station, American Hustle, A Hijacking, and more.
Russ Simmons previews Anchorman 2 with Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd, con movie American Hustle with Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper, and Saving Mr. Banks with Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson, as well as the Coen Brothers’ latest offering Inside …
Local movie critic Russ Simmons gives us a preview of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug with Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch, as well as documentary The Armstrong Lie by Alex Gibney and comedy Madea’s Christmas.
Russ Simmons and Susan Sanders give their reviews of Philomena, based on a true story and starring Dame Judi Dench and Steve Coogan. From Wikipedia: Based on the 2009 investigative book by BBC correspondent Martin Sixsmith, The Lost Child of …
Russ Simmons gives his take on Out Of The Furnace starring Christian Bale and Forrest Whitaker, and gives us an update on the successful TIvoli Theatre campaign.
This week, Russ Simmons gives us a sneak peek at The Hunger Games: Catching Fire starring Jennifer Lawrence, Delivery Man starring Vince Vaughn, Dallas Buyers Club starring Matthew McConaghey and Jared Leto, and Kill Your Darlings starring Daniel Radcliffe.
Today’s films covered by host Russ Simmons are 12 Years A Slave starring Michael Fassbender, Ender’s Game starring Harrison Ford, the geriatric comedy Last Vegas starring Robert DeNiro, About Time starring Bill Nighy and Rachael McAdams, the Saudi Arabian film …
Russ Simmons previews new movies opening this week: The Counselor starring Michael Fassbender, Johnny Knoxville‘s Bad Grandpa, Chinese-language film A Touch of Sin, and true-life climbing adventure The Summit. Also, he tells of the KAN Film Festival selections receiving a …
Today on Freeze Frame, Russ Simmons gives us a glimpse into the upcoming films Carrie, the reboot starring Chloe Grace Moretz, WikiLeaks biopic The Fifth Estate starring Benedict Cumberbatch, The Escape Plan starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone, and Concussion …
Russ gives us a look at movies opening this week, including true-life adventure Captain Phillips starring Tom Hanks, Grindhouse-inspired sequel Machete Kills starring Charlie Sheen and Sofia Vergara, income disparity documentary Inequality For All with Robert Reich, sci-fi flick Escape …
This week, Russ Simmons gives us a look at Gravity starring Sandra Bullock, Runner Runner starring Justin Timberlake, Beatles insider pic Good Ol’ Freda, JFK drama Parkland with Paul Giamatti and Bitsie Tulloch, French-language film Hot Cuisine, and a glimpse into the …
Today, Russ Simmons tells us about Rush starring Chris Hemsworth, Don Jon with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Enough Said with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini, Baggage Claim with Paula Patton, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2 starring Bill Hader, Cutie And …
Russ gives his take on Prisoners starring Hugh Jackman and Maria Bello, Short Term 12 starring Brie Larson, Thanks For Sharing starring Mark Ruffalo, Battle of the Year starring Josh Holloway, Populaire starring Berenice Bejo, Salinger starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman, …
Russ Simmons gives his take on The Family, starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert DeNiro and Tommy Lee Jones, Insidious: Chapter 2 starring Rose Byrne and Patrick Wilson, Austenland starring Keri Russell, In A World starring Lake Bell, and Hannah Arendt starring …
Russ Simmons gives his take on Riddick, a British-American science fiction film and the third installment in the The Chronicles of Riddick film series, starring Vin Diesel, Museum Hours starring Mary Margaret O’Hara, and Adore starring Naomi Watts.