Monthly Archives: November 2016

So, Christmas comes twice this year. Or are we just talking about Santa? Billy Bob Thornton revisits his most infamous role with “Bad Santa 2,” reprising the foul-mouthed, safe-cracking,anal-sex obsessed loser who discovers the true meaning of Christmas from a … Continue reading →

Fate has turned an indifferent eye to the breakout cast of the “Twilight” movies. The stars of that film series — Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner — haven’t been able to turn that success and name recognition with … Continue reading →

Just finished Margot Lee Shetterly’s “Hidden Figures,” soon to be a major motion picture, as publishers used to say. The trailers to the film had me figuring it was a Fla/NASA story about the women who did the math before … Continue reading →

It’s been a desultory fall at the movies, no doubt about it. “Doctor Strange” was a welcome critical darling and box office hit. But for the most part, we’ve been treated to “awards season” misfires and science fiction too smart … Continue reading →

It’s an easy comparison, as “The Edge of Seventeen” was plainly inspired by the iconic ’80s teen comedy “Sixteen Candles.” There’s a hapless, cute and ignored teenage girl, crushing on a guy who doesn’t know she exists. A scandalously-misplaced sexual … Continue reading →

Stick around through the credits of “The Take.” Yeah, that’s Idris Elba, the film’s star, crooning the title tune — “The Road Less Traveled.” “We’re running the city down,” he growls. And before one runs his movie down, a pause, … Continue reading →

Disney’s latest animated musical “Moana” is so good it could prompt a new catchphrase in the Burbank HQ of The Mouse. “Pixar who?” A moving, hilarious and stunningly-animated adventure epic, it’s about remembering who you are, living up to your … Continue reading →

Bad movies aren’t bad by intent. The team making “Shut In” had the Oscar-nominated star of “The Ring,” Naomi Watts, a big, creepy violent kids, a remote, old and creaky house isolated by a winter storm and menace from spooky … Continue reading →

The wonders never cease in J.K. Rowling’s “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” Or maybe it just feels that way. Two hours and thirteen minutes of Rowling’s endless introductions of new critters, new magic tricks and new wizarding world … Continue reading →

The first question of any chess movie, as with any chess match, is “How will this surprise us?” “Magnus,” about “The Mozart of Chess,” Norwegian prodigy Magnus Carlsen, asks “Why bother?” If you haven’t heard of him, didn’t read the … Continue reading →