Monthly Archives: April 2023

Pretty much every movie that comes out has me going, “Why isn’t Shailene Woodley in this?” It’s been a while since we’ve seen that villain’s villain Ben Mendelsohn on the big screen, too. Maybe he was tired of playing bad … Continue reading →

There’s a lot more editing in the stunts — jumps, tumbles, fights, mounting and dismounting a horse. For the first time in his movies, we can guess where we’re seeing the stunt man and when we’re seeing the “star.” Yes, … Continue reading →

“Praise This” is a cheerful Gospel music “praise team” variation on every singing and/or dancing competition movie, from “Bring it On” to “Pitch Perfect.” It’s a star vehicle built around Georgia singer, composer and actress Chlöe, aka Chloe Bailey, and … Continue reading →

Whatever “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” does at the box office, and it’s projected to open big, Illumination wants to tease us into getting ready for their big holiday cartoon. “Migration.” Not enough here to see how good it might … Continue reading →

He’s officially waaaaaay past “boyish,” and he no longer has that cop show set in Hawaii. But here is high mileage Scott Caan, Hawaiian shirt open to show off his still cut abs, playing a first time hit man in … Continue reading →

The plastic kiddie toy production design, the cheesy innocence, the embracing and mocking of all the different races/looks with the same name and vapid personality — “Barbies” all — except for the gender neutral “Kens” — the winking innuendo, Greta … Continue reading →

“Paint” is a deadpan comedy that takes its best shot at sending up the magic, the mellowness and the messiness of a PBS icon. Mister Rogers was the only true rival to Bob Ross as a mainstay of early public … Continue reading →

Manuela Martelli goes “Hitchcockian?” May 5, limited release.

I have loved a lot of the anarchic and ever-so-colorful animation to come out of Illumination, Universal’s cartoonworks of choice. Have I mentioned how much I adored the anarchy of “Minion: The Rise of Gru” last year? Unadulterated Tex Avery-era … Continue reading →

You’ve got to be careful about the liberties you take with the facts when you’re making a film about an infamous terrorist incident. Especially if you’re an Indian production and the movie you’re making is about an Islamist attack in … Continue reading →