Monthly Archives: February 2023

Series Review: The Kvetch is Back — Mel Brooks’ “History of the World: Part II”

God, I miss “Drunk History.” But Hulu talked Mel Brooks into bringing “History of the World” back, which has a similar sketch-comedy spin on history format — without, alas, the hilarious application of alcohol. So I guess this’ll have to … Continue reading

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Netflixable? A Malayali man wakes up in a Tamil “Twilight Zone” — “Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam”

Nobody should watch the latest from Indian filmmaker Lijo Jose Pellissery without at least glancing over a review. The director of “Churuli” and “Angamaly Diaries” has a reputation for not playing by the rules, for not overexplaining or even explaining … Continue reading

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Documentary Review: Archiving, Restoring “Film, the Living Record of Our Memory”

If you’ve ever bought a pass to an entire film festival just to see the restored Fritz Lang masterpiece “Metropolis” or Abel Gance’s “Napoleon,” ever driven across state lines just to catch the post-restoration re-release of “Lawrence of Arabia,” or … Continue reading

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Movie Preview: The Adults are Gone, Kids run Murderously Amok in “The Park”

The Advertising has a Disney World after the apocalypse vibe. Not seeing a lot of that in the trailer. Sure looks as if it was filmed in Florida or its equally swampy sisterlands, Louisiana or Georgia. “Coming soon?”

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Movie Preview: About “Sisu,” I have a question

So the Finns fought Russian invaders early in World War II, and sided with the Germans in besieging Leningrad during their invasion of the USSR. And this avenging, John Wick-ish Finnish gold miner is killing Germans? Only Germans? Yes, it … Continue reading

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Movie Review: How they became “Children of the Corn”

You’d think even Stephen King would be tired of “Children of the Corn” remakes by now. But as he’s having another “moment,” in which everything he ever wrote is potential fodder for a new franchise reboot, here we are with … Continue reading

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Next screening? “Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre” with Jason Statham, Aubrey Plaza, Bugzy Malone and Hugh Grant in Guy RitchieLand

A Bond Lite/Not Quite Impossible Mission action comedy might be in Mr. Ritchie’s wheelhouse. Love that cast. Hugh as a cockney villain with posh pretentions? This bugger opens Friday.

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Netflixable? “Call Me Chihiro” follows a former Sex Worker through an Existential Crisis

“Call Me Chihiro” is a soapy, static Japanese melodrama that drifts through the months after a sex worker has given up “the life.” It’s true to its source material as it captures the brooding, interior world quality of some of … Continue reading

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Classic Film Review: A “Romeo and Juliet” (1968) Shakespeare Could have Called his Own

It was a hit when it was first released and nominated for four Oscars, winning two. But Franco Zeffirelli’s lavish, period-perfect and bracingly young “Romeo and Juliet” wasn’t universally loved. Critics decried its “bowdlerized” Shakespeare, the dewy inexperience of its … Continue reading

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Movie Preview: Gerard Butler just wants to get out of “Kandahar”

This May 26, a distributor called VVS (?) releases this good-looking action vehicle for our lad Gerry, who might be entitled to higher profile offerings after the success of “Plane,” but work is work.

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