Monthly Archives: September 2020

One thing becomes obvious in this ambitious, star-studded yet staid version of France’s infamous “Dreyfus Affair.” The officious, patriotic family man this scandal centered around was far from being the most fascinating character in his own tragedy. If the great … Continue reading →

Liam, playing yet another man “with very particular skills?” Even he should be tired of this by now. Still, he always gives fair value, even in plots as far fetched as this one. Oct. 9 “Honest Thief” opens.

The mystery and the guilt associated with it drives the cryptic Israeli drama “God of the Piano,” a movie that gives away so little that the viewer is invited to fill in around the edges, early and often. Anat (Naama … Continue reading →

“Lara and the Beat” is a shiny bauble of a Nigerian comeuppance comedy, a romp through Lagos affluence, pop stardom, conspicuous consumption and losing it all in a flash. Well, that’s how it begins. It doesn’t go wholly wrong all … Continue reading →

Real life has precious little to do with the latest frights from Blumhouse. The demons we battle come from within, the “haunting” of a house spins out of the stresses, betrayals and failings of those who live in it. “The … Continue reading →

Gonzo rube comedy from Down Under. Kiwiland, I think. Sept 29 this streams/opens. You KNOW I will be reviewing this one.

The very definition of “midnight movie” includes transgression. “Bad taste?” Sometimes. “Out there?” Ditto. “Offensive?” Almost a given. So there’s no sense in holding “12 Hour Shift” accountable for the misfortune of its timing. A movie about a lethally corrupt … Continue reading →

Novelist Donald Ray Pollock narrates the film of his “hillbilly Gothic” saga, “The Devil All the Time,” from start to finish — and all points in between. His is an authentic Appalachian voice, and when I pick up the book, … Continue reading →

This one comes out Oct. 6.

“Spiral” is a cleverly-conceived riff on familiar horror themes, an attempt to make a gay “Get Out.” A same-sex couple moves to suburban Illinois with one partner’s teen daughter, and weird, scary things begin to happen. But this film, not … Continue reading →