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Run Time: 1:33
U.S. Home Release Date: 2023-10-17
MPAA Rating: "R" (Violence, Profanity)
Genre: Horror
Director: Osgood Perkins
Cast: Kiernan Shipka, Lucy Boynton, Emma Roberts, James Remar, Lauren Holly

Although neither scary nor creepy (despite its "horror" classification), the movie is a puzzle whose picture fails to snap into focus until the final piece is in place.

Run Time: 1:38
U.S. Home Release Date: 2023-09-28
MPAA Rating: "R" (Violence, Profanity, Nudity, Sexual Content)
Genre: Drama/Thriller
Director: Henry Bean
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Billy Zane, Theresa Russell, Summer Phoenix

An interesting film for the things it does right but, by the time the end credits rolled, I was unable to fight back a sense of frustration with its limitations.

The characters are relatable, the humor generates laughter without becoming moronic, and the feel-good vibe is never far from the surface.

Run Time: 2:01
U.S. Home Release Date: 2023-08-15
MPAA Rating: "R" (Profanity)
Genre: Drama
Director: Matt Johnson
Cast: Jay Baruchel, Glenn Howerton, Matt Johnson, Rich Sommer, Michael Ironside, Martin Donovan, Cary Elwes

A classic rags-to-riches-to-rags story; a feel-good tale that transforms into a meditation on arrogance and neglect.

The primary sin is not that "Blue Beetle" stinks the way really bad movies do but that it is deeply mired in mediocrity.

A degree of unevenness is expected and that is what "Barbie" delivers: a delightful confection at its best, an unfocused jumble at its worst.

Run Time: 1:35
U.S. Home Release Date: 2023-08-22
MPAA Rating: "R" (Violence, Gore, Profanity, Drugs)
Genre: Comedy/Horror
Director: Tim Story
Cast: Antoinette Robertson, Dewayne Perkins, Sinqua Walls, Grace Byers, X Mayo, Melvin Gregg, Jermaine Fowler

Beneath all the gags, jokes, and one-liners, it dissects not only the role of Black characters in horror movies but the perception of Black viewers of those characters.

As horror movies go, this one lacks much to distinguish it; despite the “based on the work of Stephen King” tag, it is generic in approach and result.

Run Time: 2:09
U.S. Release Date: 2023-01-13
MPAA Rating: "R" (Profanity)
Genre: Drama
Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda
Cast: Song Kang-ho, Gang Dong-won, Bae Doona, Lee Ji-eun, Lee Joo-young, Im Seung-soo

Highlights a strength of filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda – the ability to find compelling truths underneath a veil of sentimentality.

The movie has an unfortunate trajectory where the story becomes less interesting as the running time increases. This is the classic definition of being “front-loaded.”