Monthly Archives: December 2017

The perfunctory predictability of “The Force Awakens” is mostly-abandoned for Rian Johnson’s venture into that “galaxy, far far away.” His sentimental sequel, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” starts with laughs and finishes with a somewhat heartfelt flourish. He’s too smart … Continue reading →

Yes, even billionaire moguls who usually just make Oscar bait like to get paid. This is one dazzling bit of VR/inside the game “rebellion” movie eye candy from the guy who all but invented that term. “Ready Player One” is … Continue reading →

Genre pictures are, by definition, less demanding — of the cast, who are playing archetypes, and of the audience, who share their knowledge of the conventions and tropes these films traffic in , with the filmmakers. But because crime thrillers, … Continue reading →

A few winters ago, and a couple of “Star Wars” away, “The Force Awakens” opened. J.J. Abrams’ take on George Lucas’s creation made its billion and got absurdly undiscriminating, fawning praise from a lot of “Let’s get on this bandwagon” … Continue reading →

This Christmas musical (Dec. 20 release) is a screen original, based on the same subject as “Barnum,” but with new relevance and topicality and new tunes. It’s about acceptance and diversity and finding your showbiz tribe and seems especially timely … Continue reading →

We get old, the AARP come-on arrives in the mail, we settle into retirement communities. And old, if not-quite-over-the-hill movie stars make movies about retirement communities. Old directors? They direct them. Thus Ron “Bull Durham” Shelton follows Amy “Clueless” Heckerling, … Continue reading →

A lot of us grew up with the Disney cartoon about the bull who didn’t want to fight. He lived to just smell the flowers, and no mere matador could provoke him to do otherwise. If you missed it, here’s … Continue reading →

Pixar’s “Coco” is doing quite well on its last weekend without significant box office competition. It is adding anther $19 million to climb toward $140 (by Tuesday, Wed. at the latest). Next weekend it’ll have animated competition from “Ferdinand,” and … Continue reading →

Jeff Goldblum shows up and chases Bryce Dallas “The Dull Redhead” Howard and Chris “Wisecracker” Pratt right off the screen in this trailer that gives, well, we’re assuming, the whole movie away. “Fallen Kingdom” opens June 22 and will make … Continue reading →

Dakota Fanning plays our heroine, a San Fran Cinnebon seller whose rigidly scheduled life includes dreaming and typing up spectacular “Star Trek” adventures, which she then wants to enter in a “Script a New ‘Star Trek’” contest. Alice Eve plays … Continue reading →