Monthly Archives: February 2020

A Black History Month tribute to a forgotten hero of “Star Wars”

Not talking about James Earl Jones or Billy Dee Williams, here. No, this is the marketing whiz who figured out how to market the quirky, pricey Fox release so that it would dominate the summer of ’77. Ashley Boone was … Continue reading

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Book Review: “Sidney Lumet: A Life” of directing “Dog Day Afternoon,” “The Verdict,” Twelve Angry Men” and “Network”

  “Network” is one of those movies that I cannot channel surf past without stopping. If I’m lucky, I catch it from the very beginning because like all movies, it casts its spell in the opening moments, this one more … Continue reading

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Documentary Review: “The Times of Bill Cunningham”

When “street fashion” photographer Bill Cunningham died in 2016, he was New York Famous for being the photographer who documented what the stylish wore on the city’s streets, for decades, for The New York Times. He’d been honored in Paris … Continue reading

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Movie Preview: “Dead Sound”

The horror of a boat trip to Hell. Oh yes. “Dead Sound”comes to theaters/streaming March 3.

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Next interview — Questions for “Wendy” director Benh Zeitlin?

I interviewed Benh Z. when his Oscar-nominated indie marvel, “Beasts of the Southern Wild” came out. That was eight years ago. He obviously has a knack for working with kids, and an interest in telling stories with a child’s eye … Continue reading

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Movie Review: Can “Birds of Prey” make us forget “Suicide Squad?”

What to make of this burlesque in blood, “Birds of Prey?” All these fights, all that fight choreography, all that bloody violence and mildly-amusing mayhem should ensure another hit, cementing Warners’ command of their R-rated comic book adaptation niche. But … Continue reading

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Movie Review: Elijah Wood heeds the horrific call, “Come to Daddy”

  Elijah Wood plays a DJ, music producer and pop impresario WAY out of his depth in “Come to Daddy,” a gonzo, gory and goofball B-movie about fathers, sons and killing or being killed. It doesn’t stand up to much … Continue reading

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Movie Preview: Young Gru needs some underlings, and some music by The Stones in “Minions: The Rise of Gru”

Big slam-bang action beats dominate the first half of this trailer. Then the Minions take over, and things get cute. “The Rise of Gru” is a summer release. As of now, they haven’t announced the other villain voices, so we … Continue reading

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Netflixable? Faith-based dance romance “Faith, Hope & Love” misses a step or three

A common gripe about faith-based movies is how they’re so far sanitized that they’re removed from reality — real people in real situations having real conversations. A romantic comedy about two people thrown together for a dance competition isn’t going … Continue reading

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Movie Preview: Chris Rock and Samuel L., caught in “Spiral”

SOMEbody is targeting cops. SOMEbody (Chris Rock) is a veteran detective, rolling up on crime scenes in a vintage Camaro. SOMEbody is his new partner (Max Minghella). And somebody is a little foul-mouthed and a little murderous. A little “Saw?” … Continue reading

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