Monthly Archives: January 2020

Movie Preview: “Gretel & Hansel”

Not going to name names or anything, but SOME of us remember when Alice Krige made her first big splash on screen as the title character, a young woman accidentally killed by callous young men who are later haunted by … Continue reading

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Movie Preview; “The Gentlemen” trailer #2

The thing that stands out about the second trailer for this Guy Ritchie/STX action comedy (Jan. 24) is how canny Henry Golding’s agent was for talking him into this gig. A somewhat fey romantic lead in his recent films, let’s … Continue reading

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Movie Review: “The Grudge” never goes away

A very accomplished cast can’t prevent “The Grudge” reboot from being the first dog of 2020, a well-acted but incompetently-plotted tale of a curse that transfers like a deed — a haunted house that crosses hemispheres. A gaunt Andrea Riseborough, … Continue reading

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Netflixable? Does the Stoner Comedy have a future? “How High 2”

Even if you’re old enough to remember “How High,” you probably don’t remember how sloppy and generally unfunny it was. Because the whole point of watching it back in pre-legalized 2001 was to be a little buzzed during the experience. … Continue reading

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Netflixable? Pacific rugby player turns “Mercenary” in France

“The meek shall inherit the Earth,” Jesus preached in his “Sermon on the Mount.” By that ethos, Soane Tokelau should be landed gentry on his native Wallis Island in French Polynesia. He doesn’t look it, a Polynesian hulk of 120 kilos … Continue reading

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First screening of 2020? “The Grudge”

Screen Gems is the “We don’t preview these for critics” (generally) division of Sony. So this Sam Raimi-produced, Jackie Weaver horror take with an over familiar title becomes a pig in a poke, and the first wide release of a … Continue reading

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Netflixable? “The Ruthless (Lo Spietato)” takes us inside the Milan Mafia

The tropes, story arc, violence and stereotypes of mob movies are so ingrained that it’s nigh on impossible to do anything new with the genre. The only novelty in the “true story” variant served up in “The Irishman” by Martin … Continue reading

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Preview: “A Quiet Place Part II”

Still “quiet,” still creepy. Emily Blunt? Still fierce.

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Netflixable? “Jarhead: Law of Return”

One great thing about the rise of Netflix streaming is its contribution to the general public’s knowledge of film history. For instance, while you probably remember the Jake Gyllenhaal/Sam Mendes stresses-of-combat classic “Jarhead” from 2005, who knew there have been … Continue reading

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