Author Archives: Roger Moore

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About Roger Moore

Movie Critic, formerly with McClatchy-Tribune News Service, Orlando Sentinel, published in Spin Magazine, The World and now published here, Orlando Magazine, Autoweek Magazine

Classic Film Review: Welles’ “Othello,” a Masterpiece in Black and White and Blackface

Posted on November 3, 2024 by Roger Moore

The lore and backstory behind Orson Welles‘ years-in-the-making production of “The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice” has come to overwhelm the movie itself. He was so strapped for funds, filming this in Europe as his American directing career … Continue reading →

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Movie Preview: Ben Kingsley makes a scary overture to “William Tell”

Posted on November 2, 2024 by Roger Moore

Switzerland’s mythic hero, subject of a Frederich Schiller play nobody produces and Rossini opera nobody presents and yet whose overture is one of the most famous warhorses (classics everybody knows) in classical music, gets another Swiss “Robin Hood” style film … Continue reading →

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N.C. Symphony concert night, because Cinephiles love Holst

Posted on November 2, 2024 by Roger Moore

There were only eight known planets in the solar system when Gustav Holst composed his orchestral suite, consisting of seven tone poems (leaving out Earth, and before Neil DeGrasse Tyson killed “Pluto”) in the middle of World War I. This … Continue reading →

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Avengers…ASSEMBLE! A reunion?

Posted on November 1, 2024 by Roger Moore

Sure. Well, it’s the actors who STARRED as “The Avengers.” They have a message for America, too.

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Netflixable? Troubled Swedish Family has to “Let Go” to break-up

Posted on November 1, 2024 by Roger Moore

Swedish actress, screenwriter and director Josephine Bornebusch conjures up a downbeat star vehicle for herself with “Let Go,” about a dysfunctional family’s trip to support their sixteen year-old in a pole-dancing competition. Sweden, right? There’s a catatonic grandfather to visit, … Continue reading →

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Movie Preview: Reinventing the Haunted House Genre? “Presence”

Posted on November 1, 2024 by Roger Moore

The trailer is creepy enough, although the hyped quotes pushing this January release seem to be a collective over-reach. But maybe it’s all that. Certainly looks a step or two above your average weekly and ever-so-generic horror offering.

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Movie Review: A “Gump” sized Gimmick in Search of a Movie — “Here”

Posted on November 1, 2024 by Roger Moore

“Here” is such an empty cinematic experience that it summons up everything you ever hated about a Robert Zemeckis movie and the Zemeckis “style.” An Oscar winner with enduring classics scattered across his resume — “Cast Away,” “Back to the … Continue reading →

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Movie Review: Liam in Winter — “Absolution”

Posted on November 1, 2024 by Roger Moore

Any grace notes 70something Liam Neeson brings to his aging and about to become infirm man of action in “Absolution” are pretty much overwhelmed by cliches, loose ends and overreaches in a sloppily pieced-together screenplay. Character motivation and the hasty … Continue reading →

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Movie Review: Church and Politics mix and mingle among the “Godless”

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Roger Moore

“Godless” is a self-serious drama about the collision of politics and faith with a couple of decent moments and solid lead performances by Ana Ortiz and Harry Lennix going for it. Working against it are a static staginess in the … Continue reading →

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Movie Preview: J Lo and Bobby Cannavale raise a teen wrestler to be “Unstoppable”

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Roger Moore

Jharrel Jerome stars as Anthony Robles, an amateur wrestler who fought to fame despite being born with just one leg. Don Cheadle, Mykelti Williamson and Michael Pena also star in this January release from Amazon/MGM.

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