Category Archives: Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news

Murky to the point of sleep-inducing, “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” is a lot like watching an entire Wizarding World movie through Newt Scamander’s tumbling red forelock. A parade of back stories involving familiar surnames (Lestrange, Dumbledore), endless exposition … Continue reading →

Warners is a bit late showing this in my market, so there are reviews aplenty already out there for this J.K. Rowling sequel. Will I be the one to tip the Johnny Depp “Potterworld” picture into positive or negative territory? … Continue reading →

Motoring the canals of Greater London provides a charming backdrop to “Anchor and Hope,” a generally pedestrian romance about a lesbian couple’s struggles to have a baby. Carlos Marques-Marcet (“10,000 Km”_ has lovely locations and a good cast that you … Continue reading →

Imogen Poots never disappoints. Whatever role she takes, whichever indie film project engages her passion, her signing on the dotted line always makes for a fascinating peek into an gritty world beyond most of our experience. “Mobile Homes” joins “Sweet … Continue reading →

Mark Wahlberg knows better than to do star comedies built around whatever character he’s playing. Buddy comedies are what work for him, mostly ones co-starring Will Ferrell. It takes the right “buddy” to get him wound up, antic and funny. … Continue reading →

It wouldn’t be the holidays without a mildly inappropriate Mark Wahlberg “family” comedy. And this year, there’s no Will Ferrell to cover for him. So Mark has to bring his manic A-game. “Instant Family” is about adoption, so a lot … Continue reading →

Galit Tsuk prepares dinner as her youngest daughter looks on. And in the bathroom down the hall of their flat in the small Israeli coastal city of Nahariya, Amit Tsuk puts on jewelry and makeup. She brought their four children … Continue reading →

It’s a fangirl/fanboy magnet based on a graphic novel/manga, just in time for Valentine’s day. So naturally the digital teen girl created for it has “big anime eyes.” Rose Salazar voice-acted (and motion captured?) the title role. With Oscar winners … Continue reading →

“The Office” actor wasn’t a star on a series that produced several of them, but Paul Lieberstein is following in John Krasinski’s footsteps by writing, directed and starring in his own vehicle. “Song of Back and Neck” has Lieberstein playing … Continue reading →

Ansel Elgort makes subtle work of Every Actor’s Dream, the chance to play two characters in the same movie, in “Jonathan.” It’s a downbeat and curious sci-fi drama about a young man whose identical twin wasn’t so much in the … Continue reading →