Category Archives: Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news

Documentary Review: He’s Dying, but “Jack Has a Plan” for how He’ll Bow Out

After decades, not just years, of battling brain cancer, San Francisco apartment finder/rental agent Jack Tuller decided to take charge of the one thing he could still control, the way his life ended. Married, pushing 60 and with a circle … Continue reading

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Movie Preview: An artist reconnects with his addict-father, “Exhibiting Forgiveness”

Andre Taylor, John Earl Jelks, Andra Day and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor star in the debut feature of writer-director Titus Kaphar, a taste of the African American experience that touches on parents and children and trying to learn from the mistakes of … Continue reading

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Movie Preview: An heiress, a “your own blood” arrangement, a murderous family history — “Lies We Tell”

This lovely, moody Irish period piece from Quiver stars Agnes O’Casey, David Wilmot and is based on a 19th century novel by Sheridan Le Fanu, who wrote an early “Vampyr” novel and other fiction that has been adapted for the … Continue reading

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Classic Film Review: Marvin and Angie and Boorman go hard-boiled — “Point Blank” (1967)

The great British filmmaker John Boorman announced his presence in Hollywood with authority with 1967’s “Point Blank,” a brutal, blunt-instrument of a thriller starring Lee Marvin. “Deliverance,” “Zardoz,” “Excalibur” and “Hope and Glory” were to come. But here was a … Continue reading

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Netflixable? Rude and Raunchy “Incoming” freshmen party hearty, with teacher Bobby Cannavale

The ever-devolving horny teen party comedy continues its progression from “Sixteen Candles” to “Just Can’t Wait” to “American Pie,” “Superbad” and beyond with “Incoming,” a rough and tumble cut and pasting from every teen movie to precede it. Nepo baby … Continue reading

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Movie Preview: August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson” earns Netflix awards season treatment

One of the reasons I always regarded journalism as the ultimate continuing education job was what you learn about, by necessity, to cover your beat. For me that could mean reporting on Native American arts and cultural affairs in Alaska … Continue reading

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Classic Film Review: “The Story of G.I. Joe” (1945) raised the bar on combat films and launched Mitchum to stardom

One thing that makes a film a “classic” is how modern it feels, no matter what decade produced it. By that measure, William Wellman’s “The Story of G.I. Joe” (1945) is the “Citizen Kane” of combat dramas, the “Saving Private … Continue reading

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BOX OFFICE: The Dead Days of August see “Alien” win against a weak field — “Blink Twice” and “Crow” collapse

Every cinema is its own microcosm of your typical weekend at the box office. If you catch a lot of films on opening night — Thursdays, most of the year, thanks to Marvel pushing “previews” into the mainstream — you … Continue reading

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Movie Preview: Young Siblings “Lost on a Mountain in Maine”

Dad wants them to be “men,” “tough,” ready for a world that won’t cut them any breaks. “When things get tough, press on.” The tween/teen brothers take that seriously. Too seriously. This period piece “true story” features Caitlin Fitzgerald and … Continue reading

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Movie Review: “Blink Twice” before you “Get Out”

“Blink Twice” is the “Get Out” of “Believe women.” Actress turned director and co-writer Zoë Kravitz aims high with this savage satire of women imperiled not just by murderously brutish men, but by their own false sense of safety in … Continue reading

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