Monthly Archives: April 2017

Dry, unemotional and — considering the subject matter — uninspiring, Lee Strobel’s “The Case for Christ” is a faith-based drama about one atheist’s research-driven conversion to Christianity. It’s got a great hook. An accomplished, skeptical journalist investigates the “case” for … Continue reading →

The formula for movies about “special” kids is given a clever flip on its head with “Gifted,” a cuter-than-cute comedy about a very smart child and the people wrestling over control of her future. Usually, the parent figure is over-matched, … Continue reading →

An interesting thought experiment I apply to every animated film I see is “Did they NEED to animate this story to tell it?” What justifies telling the story this way? The vast majority of animated movies pass that test. But … Continue reading →

Billy Joel says he remembers three things about 1969. “Led Zeppelin’s first album. Woodstock. And Joe Cocker.” And why did he fight the traffic, the crowds, the mud and an endless succession of earlier acts to go to Woodstock? “Joe … Continue reading →

I like to think Kenneth Branagh, who directed the lighthearted first film, and Chris Hemsworth set the tone, here. But that decision was made higher up, to be sure. Different director, but Marvel had to see that light is what … Continue reading →

“Diamond Cartel” bills itself as “The final film of Peter O’Toole.” There are worse ways to draw interest to your blood-soaked, nonsensical Kazakhstan-filmed war between warlords debacle. Probably. But there is no worse way for an actor to make his … Continue reading →

Noomi Rapace is an old hand at making us fear for her, root for her to escape dire circumstances and keep the faith that whoever she’s playing, the woman is intrepid and not to be under-estimated. The one and only … Continue reading →

April is shaping up as its usual placeholder in terms of the Hollywood box office. Big summer movies are just a week or so away, animation and kids’ fare is dominating, and the older audience was thrown a bone this … Continue reading →

Channel surfing any service that specializes in classic films, your eye can’t help but be seized by the merest flash of a film by Max Ophüls. A master of mise en scene and a filmmaker who single-handedly expanded the boundaries … Continue reading →

  Tomás didn’t want to make the trip. But he knew if he didn’t visit his old friend, Julián, “I’d regret it later.” Julián (Ricardo Darín) is an Argentine actor who has made his life in Madrid. And now, that … Continue reading →