Monthly Archives: September 2024

“Before Dawn” is a World War I saga as uninventive as its title, a flat recreation of the trenches of France and the young men who fought there that adds nothing to the extensive canon of films documenting “The Great … Continue reading →

Over fifty years after its release, Carl Reiner’s cult comedy “Where’s Poppa?” has lost some of its transgressive edge, but not a bit of its ability to make you cringe. A dark 1970 comedy about Jewish sons and Jewish mommas, … Continue reading →

This road trip drama stars Philip Ettinger as the troubled sibling brother Jake (Daniel Diemer) must “evaluate” on the drive back to their demanding or perhaps understanding and wise father (J.K. Simmons). Might Mom (Polly Draper) have a say in … Continue reading →

That’s the good news. “Winner,” starring Emilia Jones as , Zach Galifianakis and Connie Britton, played at Sundance and other festivals this year. Winner, you should recall, was an NSA translator thrown into prison for leaking information about how much … Continue reading →

“The Paragon” is one of those indie film festival darlings that seems to come out of nowhere, with its budget a big part of its legend. Movies from “El Mariachi” and “Clerks” to “Slackers” “The Blair Witch Project” and “Tangerine” … Continue reading →

This major studio reboot — part of Universal’s horror brand and legacy — has attracted a lot of horror genre talent. The cast (Christopher Abbott has the title role) is lesser known. But Leigh Whannel (“The Invisible Man”) directs, so … Continue reading →

It begins, as many indie thrillers do, with great promise. There’s a complicated lead character — wife by day, leather cover-band singer and sex-in-the-club-bathrooms rocker by night, air traffic controller later each night. I know. But stay with me. Pleeeaaase! … Continue reading →

This doc feature about funny friends Will Ferrell and Harper Steele on a road trip will play in theaters to qualify for Oscar consideration, and roll onto Netflix Sept. 27. It’s a doc that gives the lie to the gay/”pronoun” … Continue reading →

Chris Weitz’s “AfrAId” lays out the benefits and perils of entrusting our lives and world to artificial intelligence well enough. A supercomputer-powered gadget that entertains, teaches, takes on research and onerous paperwork and can even diagnose health issues while maintaining … Continue reading →

Nostalgic, whimsically-detailed and production-designed to death, Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is “fan service” with a capital “F.” It reunites Michael Keaton with one of his iconic roles, and with Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara from 1988’s “Beetlejuice” and revives the … Continue reading →