Monthly Archives: August 2020

A layer of “icky” hangs over the French drama “An Easy Girl (Une fille facile)” that highlights the truism that “The French are different from us.” That French reluctance to “tsk tsk” predatory older men hooking up with very young … Continue reading →

Whoa. Did not see THAT coming. A comedy series that began life as a cute (ish), lame (ish) NBC promo package to entice American viewers into watching British soccer? A show that tries to turn Jason Sudeikis, who has spent … Continue reading →

Abortion comedies — dramedies by definition — are rare. “Obvious Child” comes to mind. Here’s one in road comedy form (Love the Trans Am) with Haley Lu Richardson, Barbie Ferriera and Giancarlo Esposito. “Unpregnant” comes to HBO Max on September … Continue reading →

It opens America’s movie theaters — the biggest chains, anyway — next weekend. A little Russell Crowe “Unhinged” it is, then.

Donald Ray Pollock’s eccentric post WWII novel parks the two Brits on Ohio in a psychological thriller. Lots of atmosphere, amIright? Pattinson is showing more range with every passing year. Damned convincing fire and brimstone preacher here.  Coming soon, and … Continue reading →

How do you feel about Ethan Hawke, playing the mistreated inventor Nikola Tesla in a hoarse, unaccented whisper, stepping up to the mike and covering the Tears for Fears hit, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World?” We’ve already seen the … Continue reading →

Ariela is 16, looks 14, and is all about risk and rebellion. We meet her (Shira Haas) as she’s recklessly riding, strapped to the roll bar of a fellow Israeli teen’s pickup. They roll up at a construction site rave, … Continue reading →

Aug. 20, one week from today, brace yourself for a movie theater mob scene. AMC is calling it “1920 prices” as a way of luring folks back into Cinemas. One Twitter wag noted that “1918 prices” would have been “too … Continue reading →

“The Driftless Area” is as good a representation of Anton Yelchin’s acting and role selection as you’re going to find. A mystical, moody and cryptic dramatic thriller with wry touches, it was “Indie” with capital “I,” so obscure as to … Continue reading →

“Around the Sun” is a simple, talky two-hander — just two actors, a lovely location, a little charm and lots and lots of words.  It’s a courtship of the mind with dashes of wit, dollops of melodrama and drops of … Continue reading →