Monthly Archives: April 2023

Stop me if you’ve heard this one. A serf, a samurai and a Jew walk into an oligarch’s Ukranian manor house… “Once Upon a Time in Ukraine” is a Syrnyky Western, a Slavic stroll down Sergio Leone Lane. It’s just … Continue reading →

“Sweethurt” is a scruffy, fitfully-amusing Aussie indie that’s basically a soundtrack in search of a better rom-com. It’s a post-breakup farce set to the music of The Skategoats, Midimachine, The Struts, Better Luck Next Time and Third Eye Blind. Yeah, … Continue reading →

“Mafia Mama,” long review short? “Vino, Vespas, violence and vulgarisms.” Sadly, if we’re staying alliterative and offering value judgements on this Toni Collette “validation” star vehicle, we can’t leave out “vapid.” But who doesn’t adore Toni C? Even if the … Continue reading →

There’s this event our Oscar winning King of the “Just Keep Living (JK Livin’) ethos is promoting. This trailer or commercial for it gets at the essence of Matthew McConaughey — laid back, cocksure, shirtless if he needs to be, … Continue reading →

Let it never be said that Nicolas Cage doesn’t deliver fair value every time he pops up on screen. Challenging indie dramedy, chewy support in an A-picture or straight-up vamping as some devilish variation of himself in everything else, he … Continue reading →

“De humani corporis fabrica” is a cinematic med school anatomy quiz, one which doesn’t necessarily provide direct answers to what it is we see being probed, sliced, removed, straightened or examined under a microscope. We can guess. Usually. If the … Continue reading →

“Country Gold” is a pulled-punch satire of country music stardom, a Garth Brooks send-up that arrives about 20 years too late to land. But give director, co-writer and star Mickey Reece credit for ambition. The Oklahoman Reece (“Anges” and “Corgis … Continue reading →

An American summoned to Italy to be “The Boss” of “The Family.” Toni Collette has the title role, Monica Bellucci is her rival/advisor, etc. Atsa gotta be cute, capisce?

Get past the sometimes cool and properly sinister effects and “The 9th Precinct” is a very stupid movie — or at least a seriously silly one — trying to pass itself off as a serious thriller. A tale of ghosts … Continue reading →

Any doubt that the Chinese invented noodles is utterly erased in Donnie Yen‘s martial arts actioner, “Sakra.” He takes this sword-and-sorcery saga straight into Spaghetti Eastern — or Ramen Noodles Western, if you prefer — territory from the first bit … Continue reading →