Author Archives: Roger Moore

Harry Dean Stanton has classed up many a small role, from “The Rose” to “Alien,” “Escape from New York,” and “Paris, Texas” to “Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada.” Remember his famous line from “Red Dawn?” “AaaahhhhhhVENGE me, boys!” “Lucky” is … Continue reading →

Style points to the makers of “The Sabbatical” for puncturing, once and for all, the stereotype of “nice” Canadians for all of us below the 49th parallel. The film’s perpetually dyspeptic “hero” is cranky enough to put that “They’re just … Continue reading →

It’s not a fatal failing in “The Big Sick” that its star, co-writer and inspiration, Pakistani-American comic Kumail Nanjiani, isn’t the funniest thing in it. He almost is, right up until Holly Hunter and Ray Romano arrive, delivering the seemingly effortless … Continue reading →

Lean and relentless, patient and pitiless, “Killing Ground” is the sort of thriller that gives horror movies a good name. It’s a reminder that the scariest things we see on the screen aren’t necessarily supernatural — they’re dangers we face … Continue reading →

Huge opening weekend for the umpteenth “Spider-Man” movie, “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” Thursday night and Friday numbers point to a $125 opening, per Deadline.com.  A $50 million Friday for the film, adding the webslinger to the Marvel/Avengers universe, points to an opening … Continue reading →

I’ve read enough performing arts memoirs to build a two story house, with a wall of books to fence in the dogs in the back yard. But I can’t recall one that was as laugh-out-loud hilarious as Jimmy Webb’s. Then … Continue reading →

It’s a proven brand, which is why Sony and Marvel keep coming back to “Spider-Man.” Three different incarnations of the franchise in 15 years? He’s Wolverine, with a paper-boy-next-door appeal, no matter who is playing the spider-bitten webslinger this time … Continue reading →

In the “civilized” West, we carp at politicians, take to social media and — if we have the time — pick up a placard and politely march in protest if our government isn’t heeding “the will of the people.” And … Continue reading →

There’s a genre of indie films that once was only recognized by film festival directors and hardcore film festival-goers. A “film festival movie” is just interesting enough — by virtue of cast, location, themes or the occasional “one big scene” … Continue reading →

Journalists love the device we call “the telling anecdote.” It’s a simple quote, gathered for a story, that reveals much about the subject of that story in just a few sentences. For instance, many of us who write about film … Continue reading →