Monthly Archives: April 2020

Brian Dennehy — A giant among character actors, 1938-2020

“FX” and “First Blood,” “Cocoon” and “Silverado.” Loved that guy. A great gruff villain, a grand grandfatherly sort, hale fellows well met and working men, Brian Dennehy played Clarence Darrow and Bobby Knight, acted in Chekhov and for Terrence Malick. … Continue reading

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Bingeworthy? Teens track treasure on the (not really) “Outer Banks”

I’d lost track of those filmmaking Carolina siblings, Josh and Jonas Pate, since they transitioned from movies (“Deceiver”) to TV (“Surface”). Born in N.C., they’ve made Charleston, S.C. and environs their stomping grounds. So they may title their latest venture … Continue reading

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Netflixable? Might the love of a horse give a teen “A Champion Heart?”

“A Champion Heart” is a bland, harmless little nothing of a “girl and her horse” tale, predictable family-friendly comfort food with little that’ll impress or surprise anybody over the age of eight. Mandy Grace plays Mandy, a teen who’s moved … Continue reading

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Movie Review: Ill, on the road and making amends — “Ulysses & Mona”

  Here’s a French road dramedy that points us in one direction, turns in another and finds a little heart and charm, almost in spite of itself, along the way. “Ulysses & Mona” is about a pretty art student, Mona … Continue reading

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Movie Preview: Tom Hardy is Old Man Al “Capone”

May, direct to streamingLooks better than one might have hoped, but almost certainly not commercial. VOD is not a bad move, all things considered. Sitting on it was not the smart play

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This “Dune” looks like other “Dunes” So?

Timothee Chalamet, in full desert-gear as described by sci-fi pilferer of Bedouin culture Frank Herbert. He looks a LOT like young Kyle MacLachlan. Which fits. Oscar Isaac, as many have suggested, could be in different and a full beard in … Continue reading

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Netflixable? Women revolt, Bedouin style, in “Sand Storm”

The mother’s angry retort to her college-age daughter is accusing, questioning and pleading all at once. “Do you want to leave?” There’s an ironic “all this” missing in that bark. They’re Bedouin, goat farmers, living in Israel. They re-purpose shipping … Continue reading

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Movie Review: “Ouijageist” from Dudley, UK, as awful as it gets

The single mom (Lois Wilkinson) has seen enough — accidents, deaths, a baby imperiled, a Jack Russell terrier alarmed at the spooky noises coming out of this “Witchboard” he dug up in the back yard. Something supernatural is happening in … Continue reading

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Documentary Review: Kids, parents and customers grow up around porn in the “Circus of Books”

The kids had simple instructions growing up. “Don’t look around, look down at the floor” whenever they had to visit Mom and Dad’s business. “Don’t ask a lot of questions.” If other kids or their parents trot out the “So, … Continue reading

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Sam Raimi directing the “Doctor Strange” Sequel

The guy who showed Hollywood and the world all that comic book movies could be, Sam “Evil Dead” Raimi, is stepping back behind the camera for “Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness.” He directed the best of the “Spider-Man” … Continue reading

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