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2.5/4
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Wish
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
Despite the imaginative limitations of the movie, "Wish" nevertheless succeeds where it counts the most. If we feel like we’ve seen this journey before, we have, but not necessarily with these exact details.
Posted Nov 21, 2023
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3/4
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Rustin
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
Flaws and all, it draws us in, and we emerge entertained, satisfied and deeply moved.
Posted Nov 16, 2023
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|
|
The Gravity
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
With vibrant social commentary mixed with a touch of the fantastic, Ito examines what happens when so-called civilization leaves the vulnerable to fend for themselves.
Posted Nov 14, 2023
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2/4
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The Holdovers
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
The result mixes charm and smarm in equal measure, never quite resolving into a meaningful exercise, despite the strenuous efforts of all involved.
Posted Nov 08, 2023
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3/4
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Nyad
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
It’s a genuinely fun affair, predictability notwithstanding. Take a deep breath, therefore, and dive in. The journey is worth it.
Posted Nov 03, 2023
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4/4
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Thunder
(2022)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
By the end, even if Elisabeth and her playmates run smack against the intractability of tradition, we’ve experienced the joy of watching them attempt to find heaven on earth.
Posted Oct 31, 2023
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3/4
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Divinity
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
Even as motivations and resolutions sometimes defy strict dramatic logic, the joy is in the mystery, as well as the raw beauty of what is on screen. Divinity lies, as always, within these small details.
Posted Oct 30, 2023
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1.5/4
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Priscilla
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
The big mystery, throughout, remains the question of why "Priscilla" adopts such an episodic approach to the narrative, one short scene following the next, separated by gentle fades to black.
Posted Oct 28, 2023
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1.5/4
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Saltburn
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
What remains is the sensation of loss one experiences when all that has come before has led to naught. It’s salt in our wounds, and burns mightily.
Posted Oct 26, 2023
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2.5/4
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Dream Scenario
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
Ersatz Kaufman is better than no Kaufman at all, however. And Cage fully commits to the part, elevating what doesn’t quite work through sheer force of will.
Posted Oct 24, 2023
|
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3/4
|
The Taste of Things
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
Though not all portions are equally nourishing, there is bliss in every dish.
Posted Oct 23, 2023
|
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2/4
|
The Zone of Interest
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
Perhaps it would have worked better as a short.
Posted Oct 22, 2023
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|
2.5/4
|
The Burial
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
The end result is a warm, fuzzy feeling, marred only by the nagging thought of how much better it all could have been.
Posted Oct 12, 2023
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2.5/4
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Totally Killer
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
And though the movie has its share of problems—including the usual ones that plague time-travel stories—it still manages to prove entertaining for most of its runtime.
Posted Oct 06, 2023
|
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4/4
|
Past Lives
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
Taking her time to develop characters and relationships, Song deftly brings the audience deep into the narrative until we are fully invested in the eventual outcome.
Posted Oct 04, 2023
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|
|
The Creator
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
The more the filmmakers strive to pull on our heartstrings, the less we care, so flimsy is the setup and so one-dimensional the protagonists.
Posted Sep 28, 2023
|
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3/4
|
Cassandro
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
The ultimate takeaway is one of joy and triumph. Cassandro is a winner.
Posted Sep 22, 2023
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3/4
|
Summer Qamp
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
The film beautifully showcases the power of such a place to make a difference. The majestic scenery of the region forms a wonderful visual backdrop, as well.
Posted Sep 17, 2023
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3.5/4
|
La Chimera
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
Not all elements are here created equal, and the plot sometimes weaves in and out of perfect cohesion, but what proves most appealing is that very imperfection, the jagged edges scratching into our consciousness and remaining there long afterwards
Posted Sep 16, 2023
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3/4
|
Remembering Every Night
(2022)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
Though the plot appears minimal, by the end the director has managed to insert some impressive dramatic beats.
Posted Sep 15, 2023
|
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3/4
|
Evil Does Not Exist
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
Hamaguchi here dissects both the evils of capitalist systems and the intricate ways that personal interactions can still matter in a universe where money so often counts more than anything.
Posted Sep 12, 2023
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3.5/4
|
Woman of the Hour
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
This is a powerful work, even if some of the shifts in tone clash in their combination. Both script and mise-en-scène complement each other, condemning a world where the words—and lives—of women are secondary to male privilege.
Posted Sep 11, 2023
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3/4
|
The Dead Don't Hurt
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
The scenes between Mortensen and Krieps are lovely, filled with tenderness and humor. Best of all, the dialogue rarely tells the full scope of things, more done with subtle glances and body language than anything else.
Posted Sep 09, 2023
|
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2/4
|
Gonzo Girl
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
Unfortunately, though I don’t think it was anyone’s intention here, the very spirit that animates the movie defangs any venom it might spit at the system.
Posted Sep 09, 2023
|
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3/4
|
Carpet Cowboys
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
Keep rollin’, rollin’, rollin’, cowboys, and may the carpets follow wherever you go.
Posted Aug 22, 2023
|
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1.5/4
|
Strays
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
None of it is particularly novel, and there are better antecedents to revisit rather than watching this. Time to call the SPCA.
Posted Aug 18, 2023
|
|
3/4
|
Blue Beetle
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
Not only does BLUE BEETLE offer great Latinx representation, but it dives deep into the values of family and community. There’s a lot of love onscreen, and it proves quite poignant.
Posted Aug 16, 2023
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4/4
|
King Coal
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
As a work of cinema, King Coal proves aesthetically stunning, while also holding our attention as cultural anthropology.
Posted Aug 11, 2023
|
|
1/4
|
Sympathy for the Devil
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
The film is simultaneously riddled with clichés and its own unique mess. It’s hard to have much sympathy for this devil.
Posted Jul 27, 2023
|
|
1.5/4
|
Barbie
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
The cast is game, but the script is lame. That doggerel about sums it up.
Posted Jul 20, 2023
|
|
1.5/4
|
The Miracle Club
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
This “miracle club” is very much in need of its own cinematic, if not actually divine, intervention.
Posted Jul 13, 2023
|
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2.5/4
|
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
The film is far from a masterpiece, but it contains plenty of entertainment value and many thrills (if violent ones). It’s a good place to end. I think we can let Indy go now.
Posted Jun 29, 2023
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3.5/4
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Revoir Paris
(2022)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
It’s a marvelous study of a vital topic, anchored by a brilliant actress.
Posted Jun 22, 2023
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3.5/4
|
Asteroid City
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
It’s a film about finding connections and meaning through the power of scripted drama and storytelling.
Posted Jun 22, 2023
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|
|
Maestra
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
Watching people dear to us not make it can be heartbreaking, but by the end the movie proves a paean to the resilience and hard work of this vibrant collection of brilliant musicians. They all deserve a standing ovation.
Posted Jun 21, 2023
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3/4
|
Every Body
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
"Every Body" is as much celebration as anything, delivering a vibrant portrait of the best among us. Be strong, and be yourself. And always, love.
Posted Jun 19, 2023
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3.5/4
|
Rather
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
Ultimately, "Rather" is a cinematic tribute to a true American patriot and icon, and should be required viewing for anyone interested in history, journalism, and the history of journalism.
Posted Jun 16, 2023
|
|
2.5/4
|
The Blackening
(2022)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
And even if the scares are almost nonexistent, the humor improves enough throughout that we can count on having more good times than bad. Still, one cannot help but wish that the whole thing were sharper. These Black characters deserve more.
Posted Jun 16, 2023
|
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2.5/4
|
Maggie Moore(s)
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
While there is therefore little mystery, the easygoing charm and occasional thrills are often enough.
Posted Jun 14, 2023
|
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3/4
|
The Gullspång Miracle
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
One thing is guaranteed, however: you will debate the enigma of "The Gullspång Miracle" long after it is over.
Posted Jun 12, 2023
|
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3/4
|
Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
It’s cinema as catharsis in the best possible way.
Posted Jun 10, 2023
|
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2/4
|
Simulant
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
All the actors do their best, and offer fine performances. The totality of it all never feels fresh, though. Rarely has a title so perfectly prophesied content.
Posted Jun 02, 2023
|
|
2/4
|
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
In visual terms, the new Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse proves wildly inventive and stunning in a variety of ways. It just can’t get out of its own way.
Posted May 31, 2023
|
|
2.5/4
|
The Little Mermaid
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
So maybe this "The Little Mermaid" has more to recommend it than I initially thought. If only it were cut down and sped up.
Posted May 24, 2023
|
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3.5/4
|
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
In the film, Guggenheim both presents Fox as he is today, hampered but not imprisoned by the ravages of illness, and as he was in yesteryear, courtesy of generous sampling of his many performances.
Posted May 12, 2023
|
|
3/4
|
Anxious Nation
(2022)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
Where the documentary absolutely shines is in its exploration of what to do in the face of these elevated rates of anxiety.
Posted May 05, 2023
|
|
3.5/4
|
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
Here, the script delivers (and then some), and we end on a satisfying note that promises (maybe) more interesting stories to follow. And it’s all courtesy of a talking raccoon.
Posted May 04, 2023
|
|
2/4
|
Beau Is Afraid
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
It’s depressing, at the end, to realize how much ado has been made about so little new.
Posted Apr 20, 2023
|
|
|
Starring Jerry As Himself
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
So much of this is recreation, in fact, that it begs the question of whether this really qualifies as a documentary. Nevertheless, it’s engrossing.
Posted Apr 18, 2023
|
|
2.5/4
|
Renfield
(2023)
|
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
|
In short, this comic splatterfest is enjoyable enough, and before the summer movie season begins its rollout next month, it should whet one’s appetite, whether for action, comedy, both … or hemoglobin.
Posted Apr 13, 2023
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