Monthly Archives: August 2024

BOX OFFICE: No “Barbie” vs. “Oppenheimer,” no $4 billion summer — “Reagan” and “Afraid” end the season as bombs

Posted on August 31, 2024 by Roger Moore

Every now and then the last weekend of the summer cinema season produces a movie that lands, even a movie that sticks around to make itself an Oscar contender. The John LeCarre adaptation “The Constant Gardener” is the exception that … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news | Comments Off on BOX OFFICE: No “Barbie” vs. “Oppenheimer,” no $4 billion summer — “Reagan” and “Afraid” end the season as bombs

Movie Preview: Pre WWII Germans wrestle over “The Universal Theory”

Posted on August 30, 2024 by Roger Moore

A Sinister slice of between-the-World Wars sci-fi about German scientists,a ski lodge, jealousy, murder and their version of “The Theory of Everything.” “The Universal Theory” isn’t history, but a thriller about Big Science, Evil Schemes and such. Black and white, … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news | Comments Off on Movie Preview: Pre WWII Germans wrestle over “The Universal Theory”

Movie Review: An LA Riots heist goes fatally wrong in “1992”

Posted on August 30, 2024 by Roger Moore

Lionsgate finally found a place for the 2022 thriller “1992” to be released, the last weekend of summer, traditionally a dumping ground for films that can’t find a theatrical home. But that allows this solid if unsurprising Tyrese Gibson star … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news | Comments Off on Movie Review: An LA Riots heist goes fatally wrong in “1992”

Movie Review: “Reagan” gets another gloss-over in a Conservative Comfort Food Biopic

Posted on August 30, 2024 by Roger Moore

Movies likes “Reagan,” a new screen hagiography of actor turned politician and conservative icon Ronald Reagan, exist in the sort of alternative reality that George Orwell warned us about. It’s a sanitized, whitewashed love letter to “The Man who Brought … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news | Comments Off on Movie Review: “Reagan” gets another gloss-over in a Conservative Comfort Food Biopic

Casinos always look more glamorous in the movies

Posted on August 29, 2024 by Roger Moore

There’s rarely a tuxedo to be seen in your average American casino. The ones a long way from Vegas have a distinctly down market air. The first few I visited on the Ohio River or the Gulf Coast reinforced the … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news | Comments Off on Casinos always look more glamorous in the movies

Movie Review: Father/Son bike racers live for “One Fast Move”

Posted on August 29, 2024 by Roger Moore

“One Fast Move” is several scenes of solid if unspectacular motorcycle racing and stunt driving footage in search of a plot. Actor turned writer-director Kelly Blatz (“Senior Love Triangle”) never rises above banality with a sentimental story of fathers and … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news | Comments Off on Movie Review: Father/Son bike racers live for “One Fast Move”

Movie Preview: “Nature’s revenge” suggests Carrie-Anne Moss and Frank Grillo will “Die Alone”

Posted on August 28, 2024 by Roger Moore

Kind of a woodlands virus zombie movie? Perhaps. Oct. 18.

Posted in Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news | Comments Off on Movie Preview: “Nature’s revenge” suggests Carrie-Anne Moss and Frank Grillo will “Die Alone”

Movie Preview: In a world where no one speaks, everybody is after Samara Weaving — “Azrael”

Posted on August 28, 2024 by Roger Moore

Dystopian sci fi is just the best.

Posted in Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news | Comments Off on Movie Preview: In a world where no one speaks, everybody is after Samara Weaving — “Azrael”

Movie Review: Can Little Leaguers win the Big One for their coach with cancer? “You Gotta Believe”

Posted on August 27, 2024 by Roger Moore

The baseball is sloppy and the sentiments border on maudlin in “You Gotta Believe,” the latest “true story” Texas sports dramedy from director Ty Roberts and writer Lane Garrison. Luke Wilson plays a Little League coach with cancer — he … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news | Comments Off on Movie Review: Can Little Leaguers win the Big One for their coach with cancer? “You Gotta Believe”

Documentary Review: He’s Dying, but “Jack Has a Plan” for how He’ll Bow Out

Posted on August 27, 2024 by Roger Moore

After decades, not just years, of battling brain cancer, San Francisco apartment finder/rental agent Jack Tuller decided to take charge of the one thing he could still control, the way his life ended. Married, pushing 60 and with a circle … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news | Comments Off on Documentary Review: He’s Dying, but “Jack Has a Plan” for how He’ll Bow Out