Monthly Archives: July 2022

“John Wick” and “Kick Ass” folks are behind this amped up foul-mouthed action dramedy. Aug 12, y’all.

A Spanish Civil War action comedy with nationalist fascists, anti-fascists, Nazis and zombies, “Valley of the Dead” is the epitome of “high concept,” a movie so simple you can sum up its plot and/or potential appeal in a single line. … Continue reading →

What a tricky, twisted thriller in a minor key “Gone in the Night” turns out to be. Well-cast and toying with a tetchy, testy subtext, its virtues tend to suck the life right out of its shortcomings. Ostensibly about an … Continue reading →

I’m sure fans of the character-actor/gourmand Stanley Tucci can be forgiven for starting his new food-and-film memoir by flipping back to the 20th and final chapter to the “news hook” of the book. He had a mid-COVID battle with cancer, … Continue reading →

A couple of old friends — one of whom never outgrew their laser tag champions past — are all that stand between Norway and the light-sensitive alien zombies who would infect the country, from fjord to shining fjord, in “Blasted.” … Continue reading →

You don’t need to wait for the next season of “The Handmaid’s Tale” or the future it foretells to get a taste of what the global right wing patriarchy has in mind for women. Plunge into the “honor killing” Islamic … Continue reading →

Plaza always gives off the “maybe don’t mess with me” vibe. Usually with a wink.

A solid, straightforward narrative — heavy on the history, light in melodrama — is the best recommendation for “A Call to Spy,” a true story of World War II and an American woman who joined British agents to do perform … Continue reading →

It wasn’t hard to track down a still shot from “Hello, Goodbye and Everything in Between” that captures how bland it is. And I needed that shot to make a point that this endless pop music montage masquerading as a … Continue reading →

Amazon is releasing, what, a “teaser” a week for this new prequel series (I think I have that right) to J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy fiction epic? Another one is due July 14, so they say. Not a bad strategy. What do … Continue reading →