Monthly Archives: May 2017

“The sniper film” is an almost irresistible brand of thriller that straddles genres. Simple in construction, primal, it’s the ultimate “kill-or-be-killed” drama. Snipers promise the viewer that “first person shooter” video game rush of dealing death with little chance of … Continue reading →

The thing that has made most every trailer for this mid-summer’s fictionalized account of the rescue of the British Expeditionary Force at Dunkirk is the presence of Oscar winner “Bridge of Spies” star Mark Rylance. Playing one of the small … Continue reading →

Marvel/Disney can crow and declare victory with “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” but for those who play the expectations game, they left a lot of money on the table this opening weekend. Projections were that the picture, a sequel … Continue reading →

There are a lot of old standbys in New York “businessman” and “consultant” Norman Oppenheimer’s vocabulary. “How can I help you?” he’ll plead, when what he’s really worried about is how you’ll help him. He name-drops, shamelessly, with great exaggeration. … Continue reading →

“No good deed goes unpunished,” the old joke goes. And that certainly crosses the mind of Dr. Tom Seymour during the course of his interactions with young Ian. Not when he’s pulling him out of the river where Tom (Josh … Continue reading →

We know it’s going to own May, maybe a chunk of June, depending on the pent-up “Let’s see if an alien actually pops out of somebody’s chest in ‘Alien’ this time” demand. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” is going … Continue reading →

August used to be home to movies that weren’t quite muscular enough to hold their own against prime summer cinema competition. Then “Signs” came along. And “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Blockbusters can break out of August as easily as most … Continue reading →

I caught “The Circle” after the tepid heat of its weak opening weekend, after the first wave of overwhelmingly negative reviews. And I didn’t have to read those reviews to pick up on what turned people off to this ambitious, … Continue reading →

“Sleight” is a prestidigitation thriller that lives up to its title only if you misspell it. It’s a smart kid drug-dealer trying to “get out” tale, slight in its ambitions, blessed by a charming cast but sorely lacking the magic … Continue reading →

The surprise success of the middling but good-hearted and “immigrant” topical parenting comedy “Instructions Not Included” was enough to convince Hollywood that it should be in the Eugenio Derbez business, and quickly, before the 50something Mexican funnyman aged out of … Continue reading →