EnglishMovie Review
A Gentleman in Moscow – Triumph over Adversity
Paramount+ scores a perfect 10 out of 10 with its brilliant A Gentleman in Moscow, starring the wonderfully talented Ewan McGregor. In his role as Count Alexander Rostov, the unrepentant aristocrat sentenced to life imprisonment under house arrest in the grand Metropol Hotel by the Bolsheviks, he is at once witty, cunning, charming, deceitful, industrious […]
The Fall Guy or How Film Editing Failed
OMG, David Leitch’s The Fall Guy is SO SO long, it is painful. Do we blame the editor, who should have recognized the incredibly repetitive scenes, or the director, who insisted on the final cut? The 2 hours and 6 minutes could easily have been encapsulated into a mere 90 minutes of glorious fast-action stunts, […]
RUSTIN shines a spotlight on our prejudices
Director George C. Wolfe brings “Rustin” to life with grace and ease as he tackles what for all should be a harsh reminder of the cruelty and prejudice rampant during the advent of the civil rights movement. This could not have been accomplished without the brilliant casting of Colman Domingo as the title character, Bayard […]
Maestro – So Not A Symphony!
You have to give Bradley Cooper kudos for attempting to tell the story of the iconic legend Leonard Berstein and for directing himself, but, alas this film is not a symphony and barely equates to a concerto. At times Bradley brilliantly channels the legend without falling into the oft performance miring genre of parody but […]
American Fiction? No. 5 Star American Fact!
Cord Jefferson’s American Fiction interpretation of Percival Everett’s novel “Erasure” is a brilliant study of how to deftly bring a storyline to life with a subtle and even-handed approach. He masterfully develops this story of inherent hypocrisy within the publishing arena while balancing a myriad of subplots and characters. Jeffrey Wright absolutely shines as the […]
Ferrari – Director Michael Mann is back!
Michael Mann’s latest endeavor, Ferrari, is a wonderful homage to the late racing and car industry giant. Through his deft handling of what was an extraordinarily messy (or should I say dysfunctional?) private life, Mann delivers a compelling biographical sports drama focused on the man, not the car or the racing. For those going in expecting a […]
Poor Things or how I survived a Salvador Dali LSD trip!
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would leave a movie theatre thinking I had just taken an LSD trip or been a player in a Salvador Dali nightmare. Poor Things was certainly that and a lot more. NO, this is NOT a negative as I certainly give this film a more […]
Napoleon by Ridley Scott Barely Pierces the Surface
Dear Ridley Scott: your latest endeavor is visually brilliant but sorely lacks any depth in character or historical development or accuracy (yes, I know, literary license and all that rot.). Your film trolls through the life of a seminal historical figure as though it were playing hop-scotch – jumping from one event to another barely […]
Candy Cane Lane – Please Make Up Your Mind!
The new Eddie Murphy vehicle is at best, caught somewhere between a movie for kids (so NOT) and a weak attempt at a humorous adult-focused film (lots of subtle societal references/attempts at humor that no one under the age of 21 would get). That being said, it is a step up from all the saccharine […]
The Holdovers – 5 Star Charm
Alexander Payne’s latest movie, The Holdovers, redefines the concept of charm as this film radiates charm and warms your heart without becoming saccharine. Set in a 1970s New England prep school winter break the movie takes you on a fascinating journey of its main and supporting characters’ lives of self-indulgence and self-awakening and ultimately self-awareness. […]
Oppenheimer? HUGE YES!
Christopher Nolan’s latest opus is nothing short of brilliant! Cillian Murphy as Oppenheimer is Oscar worthy but let us not overlook the brilliance of Robert Downey Jr, as Lewis Strauss. Of all the roles in his career, this is superb. His malevolent narcissistic Machiavellian portrayal is simply brilliant. One should not overlook the wonderfully nuanced performance by […]
Indiana Jones meets James Bond with a lot of sass!
And are any of you surprised that I LOVED this latest installment of the Indiana Jones enterprise? This is a wonderful romp incorporating the best of Indiana with spectacular James Bond over-the-top action scenes with a touch of Steve McQueen Bullitt car races. The opening segments are a brilliant use of CGI to make Harrison […]