Monthly Archives: December 2022

Noirish thrillers aren’t wholly unknown in mainland China, but so few have been exported over the years that they’re still unicorns. This is Xiaofeng Li‘s follow up to “Ash,” which covered similar genre territory. Jan 17, it’s available in the … Continue reading →

A moment, if you please, for one last bow and sword-sweeping flourish from Antonio Banderas in the guise of perhaps his greatest screen creation, that swashbuckling catnip-to-the-kitties and the kiddies, Puss-in Boots. The star of “Puss-in-Boots: The Last Wish” is … Continue reading →

When it comes to Byzantine scheming and plots, those ancient Eastern Roman Imperialists had nothing on the Japanese yakuza. The back-stabbing, front-stabbing, neck-snapping, hit-man/hit-woman intrigues of the new thriller “Hell Dogs” bears that out. It’s a movie of huge, murderous … Continue reading →

The early 20th century Austrian novelist Stefan Zweig has had a pretty good run when it comes to adaptations of his work into film. His novella, “Letter from an Unknown Woman” became one of the great screen romances and one … Continue reading →

All those small to practically cut-out-of-the-film sized roles Nolan gave to Cillian Murphy pay off for the “Peaky Blinders” star in his chance to headline a blockbuster torn from the pages of history. This is the trailer attached to “Avatar: … Continue reading →

I love the voice acting in these kid comedies. Banderas really REALLY brings it. I mean, Oscar worthy voice acting. Salma and Ray Winstone SINGS and Florence Pugh and Oscar winner Olivia Colman and John Mulaney and Da’Vine Joy Randolph … Continue reading →

Vietnamese American filmmaker Victor Vu has made dramas that Vietnam has submitted as Best International Feature Oscar contenders — “Dreamy Eyes” and “Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass.” But his latest is a straight-up B-movie, a sci-fi action pic about … Continue reading →

Just Cruise being Cruise, thanking “Top Gun” ticket buyers and doing his own badass stunt.

Of all the projects Netflix hurled a ton of money at “for your consideration” this awards season, “Blonde” has to be the most troubling misfire. And thanks to Netflix’s deep pockets and lax supervision, it had plenty of competition. I’ve … Continue reading →

“The Stranger” is an Australian mystery that peels away its layers slowly and ever-so-deliberately. A film of sad, gloomy foreboding, it makes the viewer reach for details and wait for answers in the most elegantly calculated way. The sense of … Continue reading →