Monthly Archives: May 2021

“The Great War of Archimedes” is World War II history with a twist — several twists. It’s about mathematics, an “Imitation Game” and “Fat Man and Little Boy” tale of a lone genius whose calculations, estimating the “real” cost of … Continue reading →

“Ahead of the Curve” tells us the story of Frances “Franco” Stevens and her founding of the glossy magazine “Curve,” which started life as “Denueve” in 1991. A slick, sexy, hip and politically assertive magazine of the “Cosmo/Vanity Fair/GQ” school, … Continue reading →

Today’s “Around the world with Netflix” adventure is a half-amusing, somewhat brash and certainly chatty, loud and in-your-face Brazilian con-man comedy. “Get the Grift” or “Os Salafrários” is sprinkled with lively moments that translate across cultures, characters and a plot … Continue reading →

The “Maleficent” inspired “Cruella” begins with a murder and settles, eventually, into a tale of revenge. Starring two Oscar winners, each dazzlingly on her game and laboring to make a fun night out of this back-engineered take on how Cruella … Continue reading →

“The Soul” is a murder mystery wrapped in medical sci-fi, with a tragic, prosecutor-dying-of-cancer romance/pregnant cop-wife melodrama thrown in for good measure. It offers up a lot to chew on, but a lot left undigested as well, all served up … Continue reading →

“Port Authority,” a somewhat affecting New York transgender romance, is a little late to the “guy doesn’t realize the performer he’s attracted is transgender” party. “The Crying Game,” and “Victor/Victoria” are ancient history, after all. But writer-director Danielle Lessovitz’s debut … Continue reading →

Coming in October. You had me at “Anya.” And “Edgar.”

The delight of discovery and element of surprise were all used up on “A Quiet Place.” And that’s not just true for viewers. In the sequel’s prologue, the cast gives us the distinct impression that they can’t “unring” that bell, … Continue reading →

Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh, Lena Headey, Carla Gugino and Paul Giamatti also star in this hit woman action comedy. A “Shoot em Up” or “Harley Quinn That doesn’t suck?”

Angelino grandson, a workaholic who toils in finance, is told “Let’s go for a drive” by his grandpa, who takes him out to the desert. He speaks of Old Mexico, or at least the Mexico he left to emigrate to … Continue reading →