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A Haunting in Venice
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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A dark and stormy post WWII Venice, a frightening vibe, plus a collection of favorite stars from vastly different genres, make Kenneth Branagh's most recent Agatha Christie adaptation a compelling watch.
Posted Sep 12, 2023
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Blue Beetle
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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Yes, this is but another CGI heavy superhero origin story about a young guy accidentally acquiring superpowers and awkwardly learning how to deal with them. But the refreshing spirit to be found in this young guy's family redeems the whole movie.
Posted Aug 19, 2023
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Strays
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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This is not the best in show when it comes to dog movies, but it may be the most raucous. If you command your inhibitions to sit and stay, you're sure to get a treat.
Posted Aug 18, 2023
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The Last Voyage of the Demeter
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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André Øvredal directs, and while his palette is dark and murky and it’s often hard to discern who’s doing what to whom, he makes some terrifying choices that leave you wrecked, defying tired horror movie tropes.
Posted Aug 11, 2023
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Meg 2: The Trench
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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If the special effects aren’t quite up to gazillion dollar standards, Meg 2 can be forgiven. In fact, that’s part of the fun. The film has no pretensions. Watching giant CGI tentacles burrito wrap terrified tourists is highly entertaining.
Posted Aug 05, 2023
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Barbie
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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Just enjoy the performances by fine actors having a ball in fabulous costumes on outrageous sets. And if you or your little sisters come away with some meaty food for thought, more power to it. It can be many things to many people. That's the glory of it.
Posted Jul 30, 2023
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Oppenheimer
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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This is a film that requires your full attention—an exercise for the for the mind and heart, that will doubtless be followed by one of the most erudite conversations you've had in ages.
Posted Jul 21, 2023
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Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, Part One
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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The villain is not your basic evil genius with a UFA (unidentifiable foreign accent) or an omnipotent alien/god. This particular threat is much more real, pervasive and frightening to the world as we know it, which provides ultimate intrigue.
Posted Jul 14, 2023
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Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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Signature DreamWorks Animation’s visuals are gorgeous and imaginative, not to mention just plain fun. The krakens in all their glory look like a cross between disco queens and Mayan goddesses. I predict a lot of kraken Halloween costumes in our future.
Posted Jun 30, 2023
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Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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At this point in my life, I'm thrilled to see that a septuagenarian can still be a kick-ass action hero—he just takes a little longer these days.
Posted Jun 29, 2023
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Wonderwell
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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A well-made, thought-provoking fantasy spectacle that is sure to score points among Fisher fans, who will not only enjoy her feisty, straight-talking character but will be reminded of her intrinsic beauty and talent.
Posted Jun 27, 2023
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Asteroid City
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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Anderson's bone dry, monotone delivery is not for everyone, but for those who are game to go with his flow, Asteroid City is a real treat.
Posted Jun 25, 2023
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Elemental
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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The talented Pixar team, lead by director Peter Sohn, has created a world that's visually stunning and all kinds of fun, with crazy vehicles, creative sports, and clever ethnic/elemental-specific foods, customs and character traits. Maybe that’s enough.
Posted Jun 22, 2023
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No Hard Feelings
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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It's a tale that could have taken place any time in the last 40 years, give or take a few details, hence Boomers, Millennials, Gen Z, etc. can relate to it and laugh at it.
Posted Jun 22, 2023
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The Flash
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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The question for me was whether or not I could endure an entire film that starts out with The Flash popping a baby in a microwave oven and slamming the door on it. Director Andy Muschietti clearly dropped the baby, er, ball, on this one.
Posted Jun 14, 2023
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The Little Mermaid
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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There is comfort to be found here, and pure childlike delight. We can set the burdens of the world aside for a few hours and immerse ourselves in a world of creativity, color, music and imagination. There are far worse ways to escape.
Posted May 26, 2023
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Fast X
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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When you stage a car chase scene in the beginning that involves a flaming giant bowling ball bomb smashing through Rome, it's exhausting trying to sustain that type of velocity through the entire film. But Jason Momoa's fabulous villain makes it worth it.
Posted May 19, 2023
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Book Club: The Next Chapter
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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Surely you weren’t expecting Academy Award worthy performances from a lighthearted comedy about a group of 65+ besties on a roadtrip to Italy? What you can expect is a great excuse for a girls’ night out and a craving for pasta and Prosecco.
Posted May 11, 2023
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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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With just the right amount of comedy, drama, sentiment, action and a soundtrack full of well-placed rock classics, writer/director James Gunn has reached a cosmic balance.
Posted May 05, 2023
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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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Although coming of age has changed inconceivably over the 50 years since the book was published, a film reminding us that this too shall pass, and that kindness is always the right choice, is needed now more than ever. This movie is a gift to all ages.
Posted Apr 26, 2023
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Renfield
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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Sure, the plot could have been stronger and less Swiss cheesy, but most movie goers will be grateful that it’s just 93 minutes in length. Director Chris McKay seems to have a firm grasp on how much an audience can take without being overly engorged.
Posted Apr 13, 2023
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Air
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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It’s safe to say Ben Affleck has once again proven himself to be one helluva director.
And he did it without using flashy special effects, breathless action scenes, jump scares or dragons. Air is simply a good story well told.
Posted Apr 07, 2023
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Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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A Monty Python meets Game of Thrones mashup that draws you in and keeps you laughing, regardless of the fact that you have had no idea who all those D&D super fans in the audience next to you are dressed like.
Posted Mar 30, 2023
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A Good Person
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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Director Zach Braff had the advantage of recruiting the transcendent Florence Pugh and all time great Morgan Freeman to tell his story. If they couldn't give his film weight, nothing could. Nothing did.
Posted Mar 24, 2023
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John Wick: Chapter 4
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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It seems director Chad Stahelski has infused this film with balletic but brutal choreography, bone dry humor and savvy style. That, plus Keanu Reeves et al cast a surprisingly scintillating cinematic spell.
Posted Mar 22, 2023
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Shazam! Fury of the Gods
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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No one wants to see the venerable Dame Helen Mirren get body slammed.
Posted Mar 18, 2023
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Creed III
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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Jordan is responsible for the film’s trials as well as its triumphs. While he unapologetically embraces myriad cinematic cliches, he also stages scintillating boxing matches, which is not easy when the audience knows full well who’s going to win.
Posted Mar 03, 2023
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Cocaine Bear
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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It's far from the outrageous horror comedy viewers anticipated, but it's not unbearable.
Posted Feb 26, 2023
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Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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This is the film that's supposed to usher in the next phase in the Marvel Universe? It's a weak attempt to establish Kang the Conquerer (Jonathan Majors) as the next super villain of Thanos-sized proportions. Kang (and Majors) deserve a better launch.
Posted Feb 17, 2023
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Magic Mike's Last Dance
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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It isn't the most profound plot ever conceived, and character development is at a frustrating minimum. But is that what we’re looking for in a Magic Mike movie? What we’re after is thrusting, gyrating masculine pulchritude, is it not?
Posted Feb 17, 2023
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80 for Brady
(2023)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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The women are at their best, and if Brady seems a bit out of his league, that's okay. In real life, would you expect a superlative pro football player to be in his element surrounded by four lusty grannies?
Posted Feb 03, 2023
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Lonesome
(2022)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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Lonesome is an experimental mash-up using the 20s as its canvass for the occasional dip into 40’s musicals and 60’s New Wave. It’s a clunky but charming “meet cute” movie that, at just an hour long, is worth a look for hopeful romantics.
Posted Jan 18, 2023
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M3GAN
(2022)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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Readers of Kazuo Ishiguro's brilliant Klara and the Sun will wonder if director Gerard Johnstone used it for inspiration, then added amusing social commentary and big laughs. There's nothing wrong with that.
Posted Jan 08, 2023
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Avatar: The Way of Water
(2022)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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Cameron is one of the few directors who can hold an audience for over three hours. The world he’s created is lovelier, livelier and more vivid every minute. The plot has enough twists, turns, themes and action to keep you captivated throughout.
Posted Dec 17, 2022
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Babylon
(2022)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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Just in time for the holidays! A relentless barrage of defecation, urination, regurgitation, ejaculation, fornication, asphyxiation, masturbation, exploitation, humiliation and overstimulation.
Posted Dec 16, 2022
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Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
(2022)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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There are few franchises where the followup exceeds the original, but director Rian Johnson seems to be getting better with franchise age. The multilayered Glass Onion is more fabulous and even more fun than its predecessor.
Posted Nov 25, 2022
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The Fabelmans
(2022)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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Without depending on flashy special effects, extreme violence or major shock value, The Fabelmans is already a classic, relying on superlative storytelling and master movie craftsmanship.
Posted Nov 25, 2022
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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
(2022)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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The weight of the story is unfairly placed on the narrow shoulders of T'Challa's brainy little sister Shuri, played by Letitia Wright, who just doesn’t have the gravitas to sustain the movie for its unwieldy two-hours and 41 minutes.
Posted Nov 11, 2022
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Black Adam
(2022)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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Characters and audiences are relentlessly pummeled by lightning bolts, fiery jolts and villainous dolts with such intense abandon that thumbs start subconsciously twitching for a fast forward button.
Posted Oct 24, 2022
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Ticket to Paradise
(2022)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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Together Roberts and Clooney just manage to pull off a romcom coup—the wattage from the stars’ charm alone could melt Vladimir Putin’s icy heart. It’s more than enough to overcome a painfully predictable plot.
Posted Oct 21, 2022
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Amsterdam
(2022)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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Amsterdam is a quirky, convoluted, comedic thriller with a game cast of A-listers, most of them giving intriguing performances that are refreshingly unlike anything we've seen from them before.
Posted Oct 07, 2022
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Don't Worry Darling
(2022)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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It’s a riveting psychological thriller in lovely, lush and lascivious wrapping. Regardless of the noise surrounding it, Don't Worry Darling stands firmly on its own shapely legs.
Posted Sep 23, 2022
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Blonde
(2022)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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This two hour, 46 minute long film is the cinematic equivalent of the 748 page novel upon which it is based: both contain a mercilessly prevaricated chain of violence, abuse and assault, reducing Marilyn to little more than a tragic victim. Why?
Posted Sep 18, 2022
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Confess, Fletch
(2022)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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Confess, Fletch comes across as mildly amusing rather than uproariously funny. In fact, it comes across as mildly just about everything. And that’s not quite enough in this age of constant content barrage.
Posted Sep 15, 2022
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The Woman King
(2022)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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A bold film that defies stereotypes and cliches, circumventing the obvious and giving us surprises and plot twists. Flawed human heroes without supernatural gifts, fighting evil and their own shortcomings to achieve a common goal—what a concept!
Posted Sep 12, 2022
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Three Thousand Years of Longing
(2022)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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The plot is simple, without being caked up with complicated characters and plot points you’ll never fully grasp unless you’ve read the trilogy or graphic novels. It's a a beautiful bedtime story for grownups.
Posted Aug 26, 2022
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Beast
(2022)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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Not even the mighty Idris Elba can fight off the attack of a silly script and sloppy storytelling.
Posted Aug 22, 2022
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The Gray Man
(2022)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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It's impossible not to be highly entertained by the super star cast clearly having the time of their lives, the explosive action scenes and the savvy directing skills of the Russo Brothers.
Posted Jul 23, 2022
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Nope
(2022)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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If you're into strong performances and creepy images masterfully shot, this is your film. But if you're looking for suspense, jump scares, a coherent plot and motivation that involves more than an Oprah money shot, will you find it here? Nope.
Posted Jul 22, 2022
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Take the Night
(2022)
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Lisa Johnson Mandell
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Take the Night is less a thriller and more a crime caper that delves deeper into both sides of the equation and family dynamics. No one’s motives are mysterious but it’s still a gripping enough story to keep your attention.
Posted Jul 17, 2022
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