Category Archives: Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news

About the nicest thing one can say about “Elvis from Outer Space” is that it’s no “Bubba Ho-Tep.” I mean, if you’re gonna vamp “The King,” you need more than a title and a premise, that Fat Elvis was rescued … Continue reading →

  “The Outpost” is a straight-no-chaser account of a real-life battle during America’s Afghan War. Cinematically, it’s “Zulu” or “The Green Berets,” with a heavy dose of the Afghan War documentary “Restrepo” for realism. It is chaotic, noisy and bloody, … Continue reading →

It’s often said “I’d rather watch an interesting failure by (name a famous filmmaker here) than passable entertainment from anybody else.” That motto earns another workout — after misfires by Scorsese and Spike — with Atom Egoyan’s latest. “Guest of … Continue reading →

I like the way this trailer plays to the #Blacklivesmatter moment. Two Oscar winners — Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker — with Marlon Wayans and this clever bit of casting, Marc Maron as the pushy/charming producer and genius-BEHIND-the-genius Jerry Wexler — … Continue reading →

Whatever the craftsmanship, the skill with which the story is told, a documentary is only as riveting as its subject — be it some odd business or hobby, or a character it’s built around. And that holds true for mockumentaries, … Continue reading →

Yeah, we could all totally see her as this, right? Jacki Weaver also stars.

It’s a common theme in fantasy fiction stories that deal with immortality, the idea that living forever isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. But you don’t have to add the supernatural to learn that lesson. Just live long enough, … Continue reading →

Old Rule — any movie or TV show in the horror genre that uses an electronic harpsichord in its score MUST be a comedy. “The Addams Family” and “The Munsters” forever made it so. New Rule — All zombie movies … Continue reading →

The recent release of “Mr. Jones,” a drama about the Welsh reporter who broke the story of the man-made famine Stalin imposed on Ukraine in the 1930s, is framed by journalist, critic and novelist George Orwell’s writing of “Animal Farm,” … Continue reading →

“Umrika” is a dark commentary on the varied reasons for immigration and its human cost wrapped in a sunny, traditional “coming to America” package. This Sundance Audience award winner is a fascinating film to get around to in post-Trump America, … Continue reading →