ReelViews for R movies

The infamous tale of two 19th century Scottish murderers, William Burke (Simon Pegg) and William Hare (Andy Serkis), might make for a dark, compelling drama. Or, with a little more focus on the gore, it could be a period piece horror movie. But a ...

After watching the Coen Brothers spend years mowing their way through genres and upending conventions, one question comes to mind: Is there anything these guys can't do. Common wisdom suggests "no" and, after winning Oscars early this year for No...

Burnt by the Sun, the winner of 1995's Best Foreign Film Oscar, attempts, with only limited success, to combine two segments of radically different pacing and temperament. The movie's resolution represents forty-five minutes of taut, arresting dra...

If I was to review Giuseppe Capotondi’s The Burnt Orange Heresy based exclusively on the film’s first half, I would have nothing to offer but raves. Unfortunately, the film’s final 30 minutes prove unable to deliver on the promise of the...

It is likely that a number of reviews are going to describe The Butterfly Effect as a "science fiction" movie. Nothing could be further from the truth - little that occurs during the course of this film relates to science or technology, and to for...

Note: The Cabin in the Woods works best if left unspoiled. Its impact relies not on a single unexpected twist but upon the cumulative impact of little unanticipated actions and incidents. It's virtually impossible to write anything coherent without...

Guilt and paranoia - two powerful cornerstones of the human psyche. In his latest, award-winning drama (it has captured about a dozen significant international citations), writer/director Michael Haneke explores both, although the manner in which ...

Cadillac Records, while not a "musical" in the traditional sense, is close to 50% musical content and 50% drama. Accordingly, it's about 50% good and 50% bad. The re-creations of some of the most noteworthy blues and early rock tunes from the '50...

Call Me by Your Name, the latest film from Italian director Luca Guadagnino, is a study in mood and emotion. It’s about living in the moment and capturing that moment. It’s about using the canvas of film to convey to the audience the inner...

Note: This review contains spoilers. It isn't possible to discuss the full breadth of The Call's stupidity without providing some specifics. Labeling The Call as "relentlessly dumb" would be an overestimation of its intelligence. This is as br...