Monthly Archives: May 2020

Movie Review: To have a “close encounter,” you need “Proximity”

“Proximity” is an alien abduction thriller that’s more about the time travel. The look, the paranoid vibe and the music scream “late ’80s,” and seeing as how it’s from a guy whose visual effects credits include “Tron: Legacy” and “Stranger … Continue reading

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“Capone” is winning the streaming box office wars

A little moving picture history was made this week. Tiny little also-ran independent Vertical Entertainment, which won the Tom Hardy/Linda Cardellini/Matt Dillon”Capone” biopic pretty much by default, is at the top of the current iteration of The Box Office. It’s … Continue reading

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Movie Review: “The Grey Fox” returns, restored, robbing trains again

The star had been a stunt man for most of his career, and an occasional bit player. The rest of the cast was the very definition of “unheralded” at least in Hollywood. The screenwriter is mostly forgotten, with no other … Continue reading

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Movie Review: Bening and Bill Nighy can’t bridge their “Hope Gap”

A truism at the heart of any affair or breakup is that inevitably one person makes the decision to move on and the other is shocked they weren’t “consulted.” No matter how long the warning signs have been there, no … Continue reading

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Movie Review: Hostage thriller lacks the tension it takes to get “A Clear Shot”

As a lifelong Mario Van Peebles fan, let me take a little license as I take issue with his turn as the star of the hostage thriller, “A Clear Shot.” There’s a difference between acting the line “I’m getting too … Continue reading

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Newly Restored “Grey Fox” to virtual screen May 29

Classics, international and esoteric film distributor Kino Lorber restored this 1982 Western adventure starring Richard Farnsworth. A 4K makeover for one of the best Canadian films ever.    

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Netflixable? “Love is Blind” in this twee romance

A young opthamologist-in-training is coveted by a suicidal demolition contractor while both are treated by an on-the-spectrum therapist whom the young woman pretends to lust after in “Love is Blind,” a romantic comedy that could not be more “twee” if … Continue reading

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Next screening? “The Aerialist”

Dreya Weber of “The Gymnast” moves on to aerial work in this romantic drama, coming to video in a couple of weeks.  

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Movie Review: “Union Bridge,” a still-life passed off as a “motion” picture

A few striking images stand out in “Union Bridge,” the debut mystery thriller of writer-director Brian Levin. And he ensures we have lots of time to consider them. We soak up atmosphere on endless, pointless walks along the railroad tracks, … Continue reading

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Movie Preview: Kevin James tortures Joel McHale — only “Becky” can save him

Bit of a different look for both James and McHale, a horror revenge thriller. There’s not a lot of wit or menace in this first trailer to “Becky,” which stars Lulu Wilson as the 13 year old who is more … Continue reading

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