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B+
|
Fast Charlie
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
Brosnan brings his brand of sly, flirtatious, reluctant heroism to the role. He and Baccarin make a good May/December pairing. Caan's last film.
Posted Dec 08, 2023
|
|
A-
|
Merry Little Batman
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
Maybe the best DC effort yet. This is going to become a Christmas tradition for many.
Posted Dec 08, 2023
|
|
B+
|
Silent Night
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
The silence in Silent Night is only vebal. We hear everything else, bullets, engines, grunts and punches.
Posted Dec 01, 2023
|
|
B-
|
Maestro
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
Director and co-writer Bradley Cooper leads a great cast in Maestro, but makes a common, biopic mistake in depicting the great artist.
Posted Dec 01, 2023
|
|
B+
|
Candy Cane Lane
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
The great Eddie Murphy leads fine cast in funTwilight Zone-like Xmas tale.
Posted Dec 01, 2023
|
|
B
|
Family Switch
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
Not great, but cast, including Emma Myers of "Wednesday" fame, makes it fun.
Posted Dec 01, 2023
|
|
A-
|
Leo
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
Much better than Disney's Wish. an enormous success.
Posted Nov 24, 2023
|
|
A-
|
Napoleon
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
The canon should be nominated for an Aacademy Award. A brilliant spectacle.
Posted Nov 24, 2023
|
|
A-
|
Leave the World Behind
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
Hang on. A great end of the world thriller.
Posted Nov 24, 2023
|
|
C+
|
In the Court of the Crimson King: King Crimson at 50
(2022)
|
James Verniere
|
Fripp's dyspepsia spoils the experience. That and the lack of King Crimson music.
Posted Nov 17, 2023
|
|
C
|
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
Completely unnecessary and mostly lifeless prequel. Davis is only saving grace.
Posted Nov 17, 2023
|
|
B
|
Dream Scenario
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
The captain of the crazy ship is back with fitfully compelling "Dream Scenario."
Posted Nov 17, 2023
|
|
B
|
May December
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
An interesting exercise, but lacking in Haynes' magic.
Posted Nov 17, 2023
|
|
B+
|
Rustin
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
Colman Domingo owns this movie: triumphant performance.
Posted Nov 10, 2023
|
|
B-
|
The Marvels
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
Not as dire as feared. The plot is a stinker. But standouts are Vellani and Shroff.
Posted Nov 10, 2023
|
|
C+
|
Kane
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
There is so much driving, I got car sick.
Posted Nov 10, 2023
|
|
A-
|
The Stones and Brian Jones
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
A brilliant exploration of the tortured soul of the founder of the Rolling Stones.
Posted Nov 07, 2023
|
|
B+
|
Quiz Lady
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
Awkwafina and Sandra Oh are a hoot in Quiz Lady.
Posted Nov 03, 2023
|
|
B-
|
Priscilla
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
Bravura filmmaking wasted on a one-note, miscast effort.
Posted Nov 03, 2023
|
|
A-
|
The Holdovers
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
With novelistic detail, Alexander Payne, leading man Paul Giamatti and supporting actors Dominic Sessa and Da'Vine Joy Randoolph make us fall in love with some damaged miscreants at a boarding school near 1970 Boston.
Posted Nov 03, 2023
|
|
|
Radical
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
Derbez, one of the most well-known Hispanic actors in the world and a secret ingredient in CODA, lets us see the demons that torment Sergio and dwell right inside his head, but also drive him to greatness as a human being.
Posted Nov 02, 2023
|
|
B-
|
The Killer
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
Brilliant filmmaking without a heartbeat. The eponymous killer is a big nobody.
Posted Oct 27, 2023
|
|
A-
|
The Persian Version
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
A multi-layered, comic, coming-of-age Persian-style.
Posted Oct 26, 2023
|
|
A-
|
Anatomy of a Fall
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
Sandra Huller in dazzling quicksilver turn.
Posted Oct 26, 2023
|
|
B+
|
The Canterville Ghost
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
The voice cast is remarkable.
Posted Oct 20, 2023
|
|
A-
|
Nyad
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
The friendship between Diana and Bonnie (Bening and Foster) is the beating heart of this wonderful film.
Posted Oct 20, 2023
|
|
A-
|
Killers of the Flower Moon
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
A profoundly American tale of Faustian dimensions. This is cinema of the highest order.
Posted Oct 19, 2023
|
|
B
|
The Road Dance
(2021)
|
James Verniere
|
Scottish Gothic-romantic entry boasts fine lead turn by Hermione Corfield and sweeping novelistic detail.
Posted Oct 13, 2023
|
|
B
|
Dangerous Waters
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
We've seen this before, but the cast is fun, and it's a fun, violent ride on the high seas. Liotta died while making it. His role is truncated.
Posted Oct 13, 2023
|
|
B
|
Joan Baez I Am a Noise
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
Baez remains mystery. But she made history as a musician.
Posted Oct 13, 2023
|
|
A-
|
The Burial
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
Fellow Texans Foxx and Jones have chemistry to spare. Cast is superb.
Posted Oct 13, 2023
|
|
A-
|
The Storms of Jeremy Thomas
(2021)
|
James Verniere
|
He was born into cinema privilege. But he has impeccable taste and has worked devilishly.
Posted Oct 06, 2023
|
|
|
Strange Way of Life
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
Pascal and Hawke make a fine team. But why is there so much linen?
Posted Oct 06, 2023
|
|
A_
|
The Royal Hotel
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
Garner and Henwick make a great pair. Alice in Aussie Toxic Male-land.
Posted Oct 06, 2023
|
|
C
|
The Exorcist: Believer
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
The original film was a revelation. This new one is a messy waste of time.
Posted Oct 05, 2023
|
|
A-
|
Flora and Son
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
John Carney ("Once") does it again. Hewson is glorious in title role.
Posted Sep 29, 2023
|
|
B-
|
PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
Not torture for adults. PAW patrollers receive superpowers, of course.
Posted Sep 29, 2023
|
|
B+
|
Speed Is Expensive: Philip Vincent and the Million Dollar Motorcycle
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
Fans of the Vincent Black Lightning, Richard Thompson included, will want to see this.
Posted Sep 29, 2023
|
|
B+
|
Fremont
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
A personality emerges from a long, dark night. A small gem.
Posted Sep 22, 2023
|
|
B
|
Expend4bles
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
As a super-violent action film comedy, "Expend4bles has its merits, Stallone being one, even though he is absent for much of the time.
Posted Sep 22, 2023
|
|
B+
|
It Lives Inside
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
Derivative, but skillful and culturally unique.
Posted Sep 22, 2023
|
|
B+
|
Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
I'd like to see a streamer pick up a series about the Holmesian Fodor. Pegg and Driver make a fun team of investigators. Weird, based on a true (?) story.
Posted Sep 22, 2023
|
|
B-
|
A Haunting in Venice
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
Poirot goes into his super-intelligent, human bloodhound mode yet again, mustache bristling, if not barking. Passable and atmospheric, but oddly dull.
Posted Sep 14, 2023
|
|
B+
|
American: An Odyssey to 1947
(2022)
|
James Verniere
|
Somewhat convoluted, but nonetheless valuable "odyssey."
Posted Sep 08, 2023
|
|
C+
|
The Nun II
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
This happens. Then, that happens. Do they even know their demon nun resembles Alice Cooper?
Posted Sep 08, 2023
|
|
B
|
Bottoms
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
Not great, but quirky and funny.
Posted Sep 01, 2023
|
|
A-
|
Between Two Worlds
(2021)
|
James Verniere
|
An unflinching look at the exploitation of the weakest in a Western culture.
Posted Sep 01, 2023
|
|
A-
|
The Good Mother
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
Most of the character are dirty or damaged or both.
Posted Sep 01, 2023
|
|
B+
|
The Equalizer 3
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
Denzel back as Robert McCall with Antoine on the Amalfi Coast. Spells fun. Italian cast is a standout.
Posted Sep 01, 2023
|
|
D+
|
Retribution
(2023)
|
James Verniere
|
Talk about being taken for a ride.
Posted Aug 25, 2023
|
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