Author Archives: Roger Moore

The road to the “Free State of Jones” is paved with good intentions. Ambitious, with a vivid turn by Matthew McConaughey in the lead role, its also timely, a story worth telling and remembering. But the film woven out of … Continue reading →

Blake Lively, a swimsuit and a shark — that’s all the titillation and terror most of us will ever want. “The Shallows” turns out to be just what the summer cinema needed, a little reminder to be afraid to go … Continue reading →

An important, hot-button topic gets an amusing, convincing if cursory treatment in “Can We Take a Joke?”, a documentary about the war on free speech in America. It’s not a film about government censorship or old-school State Sponsored Religion restrictions … Continue reading →

It happened for John Wayne the first time John Ford tracked in on him,close-up, in “Stagecoach.” Steven Spielberg made sure it happened for Harrison Ford when he copied that shot in “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” And it just might … Continue reading →

“Nuts!” is a comical documentary exploration of Americana, a piece of Great Depression history playfully related with animation and tongue planted firmly in cheek. It’s about a Great American, a visionary almost forgotten today, Dr. John Romulus Brinkley, whose impotence … Continue reading →

Sensitive child actor turned sensitive character player and leading man Anton Yelchin is the latest celebrity death in the grim gallery of 2016. Pinned against a wall by his own car, apparently. It was a Jeep Grand Cherokee, under a … Continue reading →

Some movies, and almost all popcorn pictures, don’t need to be previewed for critics. They’re “brands” more than movies. They have a built-in constituency, and the only things do for that constituency is rile them up if some of us … Continue reading →

Pixar’s magic touch has never been more magical. “Finding Dory,” the “Finding Nemo” sequel, is on pace to set the opening weekend box office record for animated films. $134 million, per Deadline.com. The most beloved Pixar (Disney Pixar) title to … Continue reading →

    Pervy, titillating and deeply disturbing, the one word you’d never use to describe the documentary “Tickled” is funny. An expose of the Internet phenomenon of “Competitive Endurance Tickling,” it’s one of those “sports” you hear DJs talk about … Continue reading →

OK, so now they’re three weeks into “Top Gear: TNG.” How’s it doing? “Still gaining acceptance?” Don’t know about that. Wouldn’t be prudent to make a judgment. Yet. Maybe everybody made up their minds about post-May/Hammond/Clarkson TG with the premiere … Continue reading →