Monthly Archives: June 2025

Movie Review: A Twee Parable for the Age of the Oligarch — “The Phoenician Scheme”

Posted on June 6, 2025 by Roger Moore

When he’s “on,” Wes Anderson’s films are giddy, deadpan delights, sparkling with wit and touching in the vulnerable and comically absurd human foibles they celebrate. But when he’s “off,” brace yourself for 100 minutes of production-designed preciousness, airless laughs that … Continue reading →

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Movie Review: Pull your punches, Tiny Dancer — “From the World of John Wick: Ballerina”

Posted on June 6, 2025 by Roger Moore

Lionsgate has spent a couple of years making damned sure we knew their “Ballerina” Ana de Armas action vehicle was a John Wick spinoff. All those trailers and commercials, hyping this thing — that cumbersome to the point of desperate … Continue reading →

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Series Review: Owen Wilson Saunters down the Back Nine as “Stick”

Posted on June 4, 2025 by Roger Moore

Golf is a middle-aged white man’s sport and “Stick” is a series tailor made for the TaylorMade set — and Owen Wilson. It’s a sentimental, easygoing comedy about “a good walk spoiled,” a show that grabs the gimmes and leans … Continue reading →

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Netflixable? “The Heart Knows,” a sentimental transplant romance from Argentina

Posted on June 4, 2025 by Roger Moore

“The Heart Knows” is a bland and sentimental serving of cinematic romance comfort food from Argentina. No, that’s not much an endorsement until you remember that “comfort food” is comforting for a reason. It plays sweetly and goes down easily … Continue reading →

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Classic Film Review: A Merry Hitchcockian Chase, but that “Young and Innocent” Ending! (1937)

Posted on June 3, 2025 by Roger Moore

In the mind, at least, one can envision the three credited screenwriters of Hitchcock’s “Young and Innocent” pacing a smoke-filled room, belting back cups of tea like they were bourbon. They were in a pickle. They’ve reached the climax of … Continue reading →

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Movie Review: Teen Seeks Answers about the Murderer of his dreams — “Soul Reaper”

Posted on June 3, 2025 by Roger Moore

It’s not just ghost stories from the Indonesian cinema that make their to the West. But of all the genre thrillers, romances, histories and action pix bought for distribution, financed by Netflix or however they’re exported, it strikes me that … Continue reading →

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Netflixable? Spanish cops match wits with “La viuda negra” in “A Widow’s Game”

Posted on June 3, 2025 by Roger Moore

“A Widow’s Game” is a Spanish “true crime” thriller that’s as dry as your average episode of “Law & Order” or its many spin-offs, and as about as thrilling. What makes it intriguing enough to stick with is a sexually … Continue reading →

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Movie Review: A Civil War Suicide Squad does Battle with the Supernatural — “Resurrection Road”

Posted on June 2, 2025 by Roger Moore

“Resurrection Road” is a mediocre Civil War B-movie that lapses into a seriously bad supernatural C-picture for the third act. That’s also when Michael Madsen, King of the C-movies, makes his mark. There’s a little promise in the premise — … Continue reading →

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Movie Review: “Raise Your Hand” if think Writing a Play will Get You Out of Hard Luck High

Posted on June 2, 2025 by Roger Moore

“Raise Your Hand” is an earnest, well-acted indie drama seriously undercut by coarseness, cliches and stereotypes. Writer-director Jessica Rae’s debut feature is about coming of age and finding your voice. The stakes are pretty high for a high school story … Continue reading →

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Movie Review: “Bring Her Back” — Horror One Suffers Through rather than Relishes

Posted on June 2, 2025 by Roger Moore

It’s not a blanket condemnation to say I could not wait for “Bring Her Back,” the excruciating new film from the co-directors of “Talk to Me,” to come to an end. One can recognize its unflinching, grisly details and unsparing … Continue reading →

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