Yearly Archives: 2018

Preview, The search for a winning rom-com brings us to “Wanderland”

I recognized a Hemingway and Harris Yulin, but the stars? Tate Ellington, Tara Summers, Victoria Clark. Another Long Island weekend getaway comedy. You know the tropes. Oddly, “Wanderland” did not hit its April 20 release date, according to Box Office … Continue reading

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Netflixable? What happens in “Ibiza” stays in “Ibiza?”

How much longer is that nasal, New York princess drawled “Yaaaaaaas” going to be funny? Just in terms of cultural currency? It’s an essential comic component of the latest “Bridesmaids/Girl’s Trip” variation, “Ibiza,” now on Netflix. As in, the screenwriter … Continue reading

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Preview, “The King” uses Elvis as a Metaphor for the fat, addicted redneck slob America has become

Here’s a documentary/personal essay of the “Roger & Me” variety, a cross-country trip collecting interviews about Elvis, his place in the culture, and the America his rise and fall foresaw. Eugene Jarecki directed it, Alec Baldwin and Chuck D are … Continue reading

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Preview, So what accent is Jonathan Rhys Meyers slinging in “The Aspern Papers?”

It’s a period piece based on a Henry James story, so it’s about an American among the ancient money/nobility of Europe. Pairing Joely Richardson and Vanessa Redgrave usually pays off. The ingenues here include Poppy Delevinge and a Polanski daughter. … Continue reading

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Preview, “Christopher Robin” gives us The Disney Version of the boy who inspired the Pooh books

Ewan McGregor seems an odd choice to be the adult overworked and losing the thread of life Christopher Robin, the son of A.A. Milne who needs to get back to Pooh, Piglet, Tigger and Eeyore when grownup life becomes too … Continue reading

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Critics are Shrugging off “Solo,” You?

Nothing dazzling about the Metacritic scores for “Solo: A Star Wars Story.” A 63 is “meh,” and I find it a tad generous.  Of course, Rottentomatoes, where fanboys find legitimacy, is registering a more (meh) robust 71. With “Deadpool 2” … Continue reading

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Movie Review: Austin hipsters wrestle with being “Social Animals”

It’s a common knock on comedies that they “try too hard.” But not comedies set in laid-back, chillin’ and slackin’, South by Southwestin’ Austin, Texas. Not since “Slacker.” Just park your romantic comedy in “The People’s Republic of Austin,” where … Continue reading

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Movie Review: A Heist goes wrong for “American Animals”

It’s always looks so easy in the movies, “the Big Score,” the “heist.” “Oceans 11,” Oceans 12,” “Oceans 13,” “Oceans 8” or even the woebegone “Logan Lucky” go off like clockwork. The “team” of smart, smooth career criminals with “special … Continue reading

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Preview, Joaquin Phoenix and John C. Reilly are Old West killers in “The Sisters Brothers”

The title “The Sisters Brothers” tells you the tone they’re going for — darkly comic, bloody. Jake Gyllenhaal and flavor-of-the-moment Rami Malek also star in this comic horse opera. And Rutger Hauer. Who plays the Sisters Brothers’ mama? Carol Kane. … Continue reading

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Preview, So who killed Tupac and Biggie? Johnny Depp may know, in “City of Lies”

Forest Whitaker is the journalist trying to find the truth. Johnny Depp is the cop who may not know who shot Biggie, but has an idea why he DOESN’T know, in this trailer for the Sept. 7 release. A favorite … Continue reading

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