Monthly Archives: June 2025

Movie Review: All that stands Between a Black family and Starvation (and being Eaten)? “40 Acres”

Our apocalyptic times are summoning cinema that reflects a survivalist bent, be it faith-based preppers ready for societal collapse (“Homestead”), America’s open political wounds resulting in “Civil War” or the umpteenth iteration of End Times brought on by zombies (“28 … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Movie Review: All that stands Between a Black family and Starvation (and being Eaten)? “40 Acres”

Movie Review: An Indian Woman stands up to a “Pinch,” and Faces the Consequences

Uttera Singh’s “Pinch” is a picture that runs on outrage. It shows us a sex crime and demonstrates how hard it is to get anyone — including women, her own mother and even herself — to take it seriously in … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Movie Review: An Indian Woman stands up to a “Pinch,” and Faces the Consequences

Netflixable? A Monstrous Hit-man takes on Masked Mass Murderers in Japan’s “Demon City”

Movies like “Demon City” are why we pay extra attention to that one credit in an action picture’s production — “action choreographer” or “stunt coordinator.” More that one actor I’ve interviewed over the years has mentioned he or she took … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Netflixable? A Monstrous Hit-man takes on Masked Mass Murderers in Japan’s “Demon City”

Classic Film Review: A Brit Baby Boomer lost in His Own World — “Billy Liar” (1963)

Falling into “Billy Liar” is no easy feat, even for a film buff, over sixty years after it was released. It’s been included in more than one list of “the 100 Best British Films Ever Made,” albeit in the bottom … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Classic Film Review: A Brit Baby Boomer lost in His Own World — “Billy Liar” (1963)

Movie Review: Julianne, Sydney and Domhnall know what goes down in “Echo Valley”

The questions pop to mind early and somewhat often in the new thriller “Echo Valley.” Wait, how did that tiny young woman lift…Her 60something mother chose what to dump a body in a lake…So did the ex-husband take up with … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Movie Review: Julianne, Sydney and Domhnall know what goes down in “Echo Valley”

Netflixable? Brazilians look for Grandma in Israel — “Cheers to Life” (“Vida a Vida”)

You can see, hear and feel the strain in the Brazilian comedy “Cheers to Life (Vida a Vida),” the great effort expended to achieve “cute.” It’s sweet enough, and sweetly sentimental. But for a “finding your (living) roots” story that … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news | Comments Off on Netflixable? Brazilians look for Grandma in Israel — “Cheers to Life” (“Vida a Vida”)

Movie Review: Mating Rituals of “Materialists” leave Little Room for Romance

There’s a bracing cynicism to “Materialists,” the latest anti-rom-com from the writer-director of “Past Lives,” Celine Song. “Dating is a risk,” her heroine, the professional matchmaker Lucy declares. And marriage? “Marriage is a business deal. And it always has been.” … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news | Comments Off on Movie Review: Mating Rituals of “Materialists” leave Little Room for Romance

Movie Review: A B-Western with a Couple of A-Listers, Brosnan and Jackson and “The Unholy Trinity”

Pierce Brosnan and Samuel L. Jackson seem delighted at the prospect of filming a B-Western together in “The Unholy Trinity,” a mediocre genre piece with the occasional entertaining sequence or moment. Well, I’m pretty sure they share the frame together … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news | Comments Off on Movie Review: A B-Western with a Couple of A-Listers, Brosnan and Jackson and “The Unholy Trinity”

Movie Review: To be Pretty, Young and Italian, Figuring It Out at “Diciannove”

Giovanni Tortorici’s “Diciannove” is a dreamy, drifting odyssey into a time in youth when one discovers the meaning of “the world’s your oyster.” It’s about a young Italian with choices at an age when you know it all and you … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Movie Review: To be Pretty, Young and Italian, Figuring It Out at “Diciannove”

Documentary Review: A Young Woman “Prime Minister” steers New Zealand Through its Darkest Hours

There’s cold comfort for American and international audiences taking in “Prime Minister,” a new documentary about New Zealand’s first female prime minister, the woman who led the country through a horrific mass shooting hate crime, a volcanic erruption, COVID and … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Documentary Review: A Young Woman “Prime Minister” steers New Zealand Through its Darkest Hours