Monthly Archives: November 2022

Every filmmaker hopes to get a rise out of her or his audience, to provoke us in some way or other, push our buttons. So writer-director Zach Koepp can take a bow for achieving that, at least, with his debut … Continue reading →

“Bar Fight!” is an 84 minute long break-up “Who gets custody of ‘our‘ regular bar?” comedy that hits the wall at about the 30 minute mark. Writer-director Jim Mahoney did the offbeat friends playing-a-game comedy “Gatlopp,” sort of “Jumanji” for … Continue reading →

Sure, it’s more juvenile. Some of the comedy’s a bit broader. And heaven knows, that star Millie Bobby Brown takes a few extra “fourth wall” moments — staring, puzzled, amused, alarmed or self-satisfied at the camera. But “Enola Homes 2” … Continue reading →

Sweet, slow and unassuming, “Sam & Kate” is a romantic melodrama that came into being because two Oscar winners relished the chance to act on screen with their acting progeny. So whatever sparks Sissy Spacek and Dustin Hoffman set off … Continue reading →

“The Takeover” is a brisk-enough but seriously formulaic Dutch thriller about a hacker being chased by villains she’s crossed and hunted for a murder she’s been framed for but didn’t commit. So it’s a little like a lot of “coder/hacker” … Continue reading →

There wasn’t much point in filming another version of Eric Maria Remaraque’s classic anti-war novel “All Quiet on the Western Front.” There are other films of it out there, each worthwhile in its own way. And we’ve had “1917,” “The … Continue reading →

The first mystery of “Stars at Noon” is just who and what this character, Trish Johnson really is? She tells one and all she’s a “periodista,” a journalist. Since she’s paying for her drinks with cordobas, we can guess she’s … Continue reading →

The folks releasing “Resistance 1942” should have kept this WWII thriller’s original title “Burning at Both Ends,” for starters. That’s not only more poetic, but retitling without re-editing the picture you’ve decided to distribute can get you into trouble, too. … Continue reading →

Unicorns, for those who missed the memo, have joined magical reindeer, jolly elves and Tim Allen as fixtures in “The Magic of Christmas.” Which is what explains “A Unicorn for Christmas,” a Hallmark Lite kids’ movie that found its way … Continue reading →