Monthly Archives: July 2017

You’re going to see this hyped/fanboy-girl pandering poster in theater lobbies all across America this weekend. Don’t you believe it. I’ve seen “The Movie of the Summer.” It doesn’t have digital apes in it. Or Chris Pratt. Or a kid … Continue reading →

Memories of many a cinematic spook tale waft through David Lowery’s “A Ghost Story,” a haunting, meditative and cryptic variation of age-old themes. It’s about love’s link to the afterlife, more Tibetan Book of the Dead than its warm and … Continue reading →

A teen discovers a magical Chinese Wish Pot, makes a few wishes and is slow to grasp or accept responsibility for the consequences of her actions in “Wish Upon.” Yeah, that’s a worn plot device and the movie has the … Continue reading →

As its all-encompassing title suggests, “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets” is a vast sci-fi cornucopia. It is an eye-popping encore from the director of “The Fifth Element,” a densely packed screen that overwhelms you with sights unseen … Continue reading →

Love that Luc Besson, or as he likes to refer to himself, “Monsieur Luc.” As in, “I prefer to produce. Zat way, when dinner time comes, I say to the director, ‘Bon chance,’ and he says, ‘Leaving, Monsieur Luc? But … Continue reading →

“Battle Scars” wraps itself in the flag, the Corps, the Purple Heart and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. But really, it’s just a lowdown and dirty B-thriller set in the underworld of any city in America that Johnny comes marching home … Continue reading →

Here’s a ferocious little gangland thriller with a Persian twist. “The Persian Connection” is a gangster picture set among Iranian ex-pats living, loving and dallying in the dark side of LA as they grapple with their tortured past. Reza Sixo … Continue reading →

The mean, miserly curmudgeon whom arthritic Maudie has come to work for lays down the law in the cruelest terms. “Let me tell you how it is around here,” Everett bellows. “There’s ME. There’s them dogs. Them chickens. Then YOU.” … Continue reading →

A little mid-summer horror is headed our way this weekend. Curious to see this one, and if it has more suspense and harrowing emotions than the indie Aussie thriller “Killing Ground.” I tend to roll my eyes at supernatural horror … Continue reading →

Harry Dean Stanton has classed up many a small role, from “The Rose” to “Alien,” “Escape from New York,” and “Paris, Texas” to “Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada.” Remember his famous line from “Red Dawn?” “AaaahhhhhhVENGE me, boys!” “Lucky” is … Continue reading →