Search for 2020

It’s probably fair to say than an individual’s appreciation of John Scheinfeld’s Herb Alpert Is… is most likely tied to one’s appreciation of Alpert’s music. A pop chart titan in the late 1960s and major influence in the music worl...

With movies like The High Note that tell familiar stories, it’s all about how things are presented. Details matter. Performances are key and the “little things” that give the narrative a unique flavor are to be savored. In imparting the ...

Here’s a rare example of a Netflix prestige film that neither runs too long nor overstays its welcome. While some of the A-list directors working for the streaming distributor have taken the opportunity to meander and add bloat to otherwise ...

It’s probably fair to say that Liam Neeson could do this role in his sleep. Perhaps that would explain the curious lack of energy not only in his performance but in the production as a whole. Ever since Neeson became accepted as an action st...

While watching Horse Girl, which is either a whacked-out science fiction film or an exploration of mental illness (my money is on the latter), two other titles came to mind: Kristin Wiig’s Welcome to Me and Darren Aaronofsky’s mindfuck, mo...

As a piece of social satire, it could be argued that The Hunt runs too long. A similar complaint could be made about this as a horror/thriller property. As pregnant as the promise may be, there’s not quite enough to fill the full 90-minute r...

If there’s one thing I have learned about Charlie Kaufman over the years, it’s that he’s a much better screenwriter than director. Collaborating with the likes of Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich) and Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of ...

Roughly 20 minutes into Inheritance, I was hooked. Despite the overzealousness of director Vaughn Stein’s intercutting when attempting to ratchet up the suspense during an early sequence, the film exhibits a fast pace and the story offers an...

Aside from the title, the basic concept, and the use of the surname “Griffin,” Leigh Whannell’s “reboot” of The Invisible Man bears little resemblance to the 1933 classic Universal monster movie and even less resemblance to the 1897 ...

At first glance, it might appear that Irresistible is going to be just another political comedy generated by progressive-leaning filmmakers to salve the still-stinging wounds left by the 2016 election. However, for those expecting a hatchet-jo...