Monthly Archives: February 2018

Hollywood likes to provide lives with closure and chapters in those lives with a sense of resolution. Real life? Not so much. “A Fantastic Woman” follows a transgender Chilean woman through the trauma of the death of her lover. Shock … Continue reading →

Huge Thursday night numbers and a big Friday point to “Black Panther” setting an all-time (4-day) box office record, when all is said and done and the cash is counted Sunday night. Marvel’s long-anticipated African-flavored superhero adaptation, ladled with healthy … Continue reading →

In “Red Sparrow,” Jennifer Lawrence plays a Bolshoi Ballet dancer turned into a sex-is-her-weapon Russian spy. She seduces, flirts and her spy boss (Matthias Schoenaerts) is always remarking how cunning she is, “two steps ahead” in the cross and double-cross … Continue reading →

If you’ve ever wondered what a guy slaying legions of Philistines might look like, “Samson” shows you. And if you’ve ever wondered why there are no “real” Philistines left — not just the metaphoric kind — here’s a movie that … Continue reading →

A little “Avatar,” a little “Iron Giant,” a lot of every YA novel turned movie about Young People who Must Join the Rebellion and Save the Future — “Ready Player One” looks like premium eye-candy, digital video game action built … Continue reading →

plenty Waves of approval are greeting  Marvel’s long-planned Black History Month Valentine to comic book movie fans. Ryan Coogler’s film of the marvelous African, otherwise formulaic Marvel superhero has earned raves in some quarters, general endorsement in most others, and just … Continue reading →

OK, Jordan Peele’s being disingenuous. He’s getting Universal to put his film phenomenon of last spring into theaters for one night only to gin up more Oscar momentum. But it’s to “celebrate” and “thank” fans who made his sharp little … Continue reading →

A digitized genetically altered ape co-stars in this. Dwayne Johnson’s just starred in a global “Jumanji” blockbuster. a movie that outlasted “The Last Jedi” on movie screens over this long winter. And he’s got the “Skyscraper” “Die Hard” variation and … Continue reading →

Africa saves “Black Panther,” Marvel’s Black History Month gift to Afro-centric fangirl and fanboydom. Africanness defines it and sets it apart from the many comic book adaptations that preceded it. And that’s a necessary distinction, because these Marvel marvels aren’t … Continue reading →

Yeah, it feels like an epic episode of “Broad City,” or maybe “Portlandia.” A “Saturday Night Live” sketch run amok. But this comedy from New Zealand has maybe four out-loud laughs, JUST in the trailer. The folks who brought us … Continue reading →