Yearly Archives: 2023

Darin Scott directed, co-wrote and cast himself as the pre-Joseph Smith prophet Moroni from Smith’s “Book of Mormon” in a fourth century tale of white chosen people settling Pre-Colombian America, part of Smith’s 19th century religious text and historical thesis. … Continue reading →

A cast of aces, a playful turn by Jamie Foxx, Bill Camp‘s volcanic villainy and the mere presence of Tommy Lee Jones make “The Burial” a courtroom drama well worth your time. A true-ish account of a battle with everybody’s … Continue reading →

Theater managers I chat with on a regular basis had their fingers crossed and their eyes wide in expectant riches over the big Taylor Swift concert film that they knew was coming. Fall has been mostly a bust. Advance ticket … Continue reading →

“Desperation Road” is a Southern Gothic tale of blood, family, a debt that may never be repaid and the debtor who is determined to change that. Actress turned director Nadine Crocker’s cast gets the little things right as their director … Continue reading →

Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Blues fan Martin Scorsese must have had fun selecting the string band music, jazz and blues for his long period piece about the nearly erased history of “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Some of the … Continue reading →

The odd lovely moment slips into “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Martin Scorsese’s grim and epic treatment of a systemic mass murder of Osage Indians for oil rights in 1920s Oklahoma. But then, when you’re Martin Scorsese and you put … Continue reading →

You can’t really call it a preview when it’s the night before opening. But I missed it on the festival circuit and had to see it in a theater, no matter what my kidneys might say. Three hours and 24 … Continue reading →

The Czech and Slovak joint production “Nightsiren” is a witchy tale about superstition, ritual and the function of witchcraft in an age-old patriarchy. Director and co-writer Tereza Nvotová has conjured up an obscure, opaque thriller of symbolism and violence, old … Continue reading →

“Open” is an “open marriage melodrama complete with “rules” that are broken, celebrity, an unplanned pregnancy and stalking. But the hook here is that writer, director and co-star Miles Doleac imagines our heroine, played by his wife and co-star Lindsay … Continue reading →

I counted one legit laugh in the Danish pregnancy comedy “Maybe Baby (Bytte bytte baby),” a film about two couples of differing ages experiencing the (scientific) miracle of childbirth. They have a joint baby shower, and the holisitic “hippy” couple’s … Continue reading →