Search for 2020

It’s hard to imagine that something as vapid and chaotic as Birds of Prey (full title: Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) transpires in the same “universe” (the DCEU) as Joker. With its John Wick-inspire...

Perhaps the best way to approach Black Bear is to watch it as two distinct short films (each a little under an hour in length) featuring the same primary trio of actors: Aubrey Plaza, Sarah Gadon, and Christopher Abbott. Putting aside the “conne...

If timing is everything then Black Widow has suffered from a buzzard’s luck in that regard. Starring a character who is already dead in the MCU, the movie is forced to pick through her past life in search of a viable story and, in terms of b...

Bloodshot suffers from a world-building failure. With too little time and emphasis placed on crafting the setting and exploring some of the rich possibilities of the milieu in which events transpire, the movie turns into little more than a ho-...

Blow the Man Down is a grounded mystery that relies on old-fashioned movie elements like atmosphere, character development, and narrative arc without needing crutches like fast editing, frenetic action sequences, and visual clutter. Although t...

The chief source of enjoyment from watching a Borat skit (or movie) is seeing how “normal” people, caught in a bizarre situation, attempt to extricate themselves from embarrassing circumstances. It’s Candid Camera on LSD. The first Borat...

If not for the high-energy performance of lead actress Geraldine Viswanathan, The Broken Hearts Gallery would feel like a lesser ‘90s-style rom-com where following a preordained path is more important than taking the time to show two people ...

Note: some spoilers discussing differences between the book and movie.I’ll admit to being disappointed by the newest adaptation of Jack London’s The Call of the Wild. The motion capture technology that creates a dog out of the efforts of a...

Growing up in New Jersey, I was of course aware of the existence of Action Park, an amusement park located in the northwestern portion of the state, not far from where my grandparents lived. Nevertheless, I turned down opportunities to visit for a...

Sometimes, the lure of generic horror tropes can be too strong for even the most high-minded films to avoid. Come Play is an example. The premise intrigues with its potential – the idea that just because something looks like a traditional �...