Monthly Archives: February 2024

Netflix International’s economy of scale scheme that sees the streamer financing remakes of films that were a success in one culture in another country continues with the new Polish comedy, “Kill Me If You Dare.” “Zabij mnie, kochanie,” as it … Continue reading →

There’s a laugh-out-loud meltdown in the third act of “Five Blind Dates” that makes up for some of the tedium that’s come before and almost atones for all that doesn’t amuse or charm about the finale to come. It’s a … Continue reading →

Oscar contender Bening is the wife and mom who goes missing from her country club set family, alarming the adult kids and casting suspicion on her husband (Neill). It’s based on a novel by Liane Moriarty of “Big Little Lies,” … Continue reading →

A hitman with brain cancer, “like a curtain coming down.” Unfinished business, threats, and blowback. The usual stuff you face when you murder people for a living. James Marsden and Joanna Kulig are also in the cast of this thriller, … Continue reading →

In the mood for a “Shaolin Soccer/Kung Fu Hustle” martial arts comedy, a Soviet era period piece reminding the world of the Bad Old Days when Russia was even more repressive than it is today? Well, so was I. But … Continue reading →

Kaiju away,  Lizard King and Ape Emperor. Normal sized Rebecca Hall and Dan Bennett also star. Mar. 29.

“Players” is a pre-#MeToo rom-com sitcom masquerading as a feature length comedy. It’s a leering, light but never funny and rarely charming throwback about a group of friends who run “plays” to help each other score one-night stands. They get … Continue reading →

The quiet inscrutability of the movies of Flemish filmmaker Bas Devos can be gleaned from their reviews, filled with vague appreciations and words like “unassuming” and “placidity.” Which is the viewer’s clue that the drama depicted is subtle in the … Continue reading →

Ten years after Harmony Korine gave us the downside of becoming “Spring Breakers,” a UK writer-director has given us the subtitled British version. Writer-director Molly Manning Walker’s “How to Have Sex” follows three hedonistic teens on their quest for the … Continue reading →

Dakota Johnson is so miscast, so “off” in the title role of Sony/Marvel’s latest superhero movie that even her side-eyes seems affected, studied and practiced in front of the mirror before anybody yelled “Action!” But co-star Tahir Rahim is so … Continue reading →