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Tony Medley
Tomatometer-approved critic
http://www.tonymedley.com
Movies reviews only
| Rating | T-Meter | Title | Year | Review |
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Napoleon (2023) |
There are so many things wrong with this revisionist, historically inaccurate look at Napoleon starting with Chubby 50-year-old Phoenix playing vibrant 30-year-old Napoleon, his comically absurd return from Elba, etc. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Nov 23, 2023
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The Burial (2023) |
Jamie Foxx whitewashes a case that should be known for its notoriety, not praised. It was widely criticized for its unfairness and biased judge. Unfortunately because of the power of Hollywood, most people will wrongly believe that justice was done. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Oct 06, 2023
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The Equalizer 3 (2023) |
...makes no sense...old, overweight Washington unbelievable as a man of action...the denouement is so utterly absurd that what came before just validates the idea that Fuqua really didn’t have any idea where to go with this, so he just winged it. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Sep 02, 2023
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Madeleine Collins (2021) |
Highlighted by a bravura performance by Virginie Efira, this is a compelling tale that tracks her impossibly complex life as it slowly falls off the rails. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Aug 17, 2023
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Oppenheimer (2023) |
The left is gonna love this unnecessarily nonlinear film so it will probably be the subject of breathlessly adulatory reviews and up for multitudes of awards, but I found it slow, disjointed, manipulative, and more predispositional than objective. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Jul 24, 2023
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Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, Part One (2023) |
A reasonably good story, highlighted by spectacular stunts performed by Tom Cruise and cinematography of beautiful locations, I can’t imagine anyone not enjoying this. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Jul 12, 2023
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Squaring the Circle (The Story of Hipgnosis) (2022) |
a captivating, behind-the-scenes, esoteric tale of rock music to which most people don’t give a second thought. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Jun 27, 2023
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Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) |
this is of a genre whose theme is to make the same movie over and over again with just a change of McGuffins...Despite Ford and Williams' music it is a half hour longer than the previous films, which were already too long; wake me when it’s over.
- The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Jun 26, 2023
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To Catch a Killer (2023) |
It's a tenuous proposition and it leads to a denouement that challenges reason, given the sociopathy of the killer. Worse, it treats the vicious cold-blooded killer with surprising and blatantly unjustified sympathy and understanding. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted May 02, 2023
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Mafia Mamma (2023) |
...a silly screwball comedy attempt with Toni Collette giving an inept Lucille Ball imitation...Even with talent, it would take a thaumaturge to make something of this bunkum. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted May 02, 2023
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Air (2023) |
...an homage to Nike's Sonny Vaccaro who was a man for all seasons as he saw the future and gambled al to fight for it despite daunting odds. Matt Damon gives an award-quality performance, along with Viola Davis as Jordan's strong mother. - tonymedley.com
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| Posted Apr 03, 2023
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The Tutor (2023) |
This is a terrific little thriller that is involving up to the end.
- The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Mar 31, 2023
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Cocaine Bear (2023) |
This bear is amazing. II you want an escape from what’s going on in the world today, don’t miss this one because it is a delight. In fact, I’m still laughing. There were several scenes that put me into convulsions. - CWEB.com
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| Posted Feb 24, 2023
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Downwind (2023) |
Finally, a film that indicts the U.S. government for the arguably criminal acts of detonating 928 nuclear bombs on American soil for 40 years, killing legions of Americans and the lies it told to justify it. This is a heartbreaking movie not to be missed. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Jan 19, 2023
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Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) |
The story lacks tension and reason. It is slow, even boring. The dialogue is uninspiring. The denouement is ridiculous and unfulfilling. If Benoit was the “world’s greatest detective” before, now he isn’t in the top 100. Hercule Poirot needn't worry. - tonymedley.com
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| Posted Dec 25, 2022
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Babylon (2022) |
The first hour is atrocious...convoluted, meaningless, ridiculous. Worse, the sound is horrendous, deafening...a bloated orgiastic phantasmagoria, despite fine performances by Margot Robbie and Jean Smart - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Dec 19, 2022
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Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) |
The Special Effects are terrific; the best 3D ever filmed; the story is so ridiculous it's laughable and far too long. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Dec 19, 2022
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I Am D.B. Cooper (2022) |
Is he really the fugitive DB Cooper? For people old enough to have lived through the story of his hijacking a plane in 1971, bailing out and disappearing, that dominated the headlines for several weeks, if not months, it’s an interesting supposition. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Dec 13, 2022
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War on the Diamond (2021) |
Whether you are a baseball fan or not, this is a little known, but compelling, poignant, story, well told. I never knew what a great guy Ray Chapman was! - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Dec 02, 2022
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American Murderer (2022) |
...a spot-on presentation of a charming con man sociopath, disturbingly played by Tom Pelphrey "based on" a true story. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Nov 03, 2022
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Ticket to Paradise (2022) |
a trifling, inept fruitless attempt at a screwball comedy, despite a sterling performance by Kaitlyn Dever, marred by Julia Roberts, whose phony Kamala Harris-cackling laugh is one of the more annoying things on celluloid. We miss you, Alan Dwan! - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Oct 25, 2022
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Catherine Called Birdy (2022) |
Glaring in its absurdity is cowing to presentism by picturing innumerable Africans as prominent members of society, even members of Royalty and members of bi-racial marriages. In 1290 England? That needs to be exposed and rejected in defense of honesty. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Sep 30, 2022
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Bullet Train (2022) |
Convoluted and annoying from the start, it's nothing but quisiquilious tarradiddle filled with graphic violence played for laughs...Lots of people are out to kill other people but they deal with each other in an oh, so friendly and joking manner; ugh! - CWEB.com
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| Posted Aug 05, 2022
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Where the Crawdads Sing (2022) |
I was on the verge of tears throughout the first half hour. As the film progressed, I just kept getting deeper. And deeper. totally immersed...a murder mystery wrapped in a thriller surrounded by romance...This is, truly, a movie for all seasons. - CWEB.com
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| Posted Jul 14, 2022
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It Ain't Over (2022) |
...the greatest clutch hitter in World Series history...a truly, really nice guy with a keen common-sense intelligence, and this comes across clearly...You don’t have to be a baseball fan to enjoy this American success story. - tonymedley.com
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| Posted Jun 16, 2022
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West Side Story (2021) |
Rita Moreno singing 'Somewhere' alone? Spielberg would probably have Kathryn Grayson sing 'Ol' Man River' if he remade 'Showboat.' I score this Robert Wise 1, Spielberg 0. - RobinHood News
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| Posted Dec 04, 2021
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Only the Animals (2019) |
...an ingenious look at how things can have devastating unintended consequences in today's world. - RobinHood News
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| Posted Oct 31, 2021
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Spencer (2021) |
This is admittedly total fiction with real people doing nothing they ever did. Despite fine performances by Spall and Stewart, it's akin to Shakespeare's hit job on Richard III - RobinHood News
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| Posted Oct 28, 2021
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Cry Macho (2021) |
This is compelling in its simplicity and underlying moral decency. Despite the disparity in their ages, the charisma between Clint and Natalia Traven is palpable. - CWEB.com
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| Posted Sep 30, 2021
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Fauci (2021) |
...a fawning no-warts paean to Fauci in which never is heard a discouraging word. Ignored is any criticism from anyone about anything. No documentary, It's biased agitprop. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Sep 09, 2021
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The Phantom (2021) |
...an indictment of attorneys, and they deserve it...makes a pretty persuasive case for Deluna's innocence...truth that could have been discovered with a little diligence. - CWEB.com
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| Posted Jul 03, 2021
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Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It (2021) |
While it tells the story of her struggle to succeed, it is overwhelmed by scenes that are not positive to her character, even though they are not intended as such. - CWEB.com
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| Posted Jun 29, 2021
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Lansky (2021) |
Despite inaccurate Hollywood flourishes this is an entertaining and interesting movie capturing the cold-hearted evil that was present in this outwardly mild-mannered man. - CWEB.com
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| Posted Jun 23, 2021
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Wolfgang (2021) |
A complex , fascinating tale of a brilliant and charismatic chef rising from abject poverty to become one of the most well-known people in the world. - CWEB.com
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| Posted Jun 19, 2021
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Cruella (2021) |
The delights of this movie are the over-the-top performances of the Emmas Stone and Thompson, both overacting with a vengeance that it seems both enjoy. - CWEB.com
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| Posted May 29, 2021
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The Mauritanian (2021) |
...everything in the movie actually happened, and the torture is severe...One can't help feeling a sense of admiration for his attitude and character after all he suffered. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted May 10, 2021
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Queen Marie (2019) |
This is a movie! Roxanna Lupo gives a performance for the ages. From what I know you can take most of this to the bank which is unusual for a biopic. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Apr 30, 2021
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Dateline: Saigon (2016) |
...young newspaper correspondents were voices crying in the wilderness as they wrote the truth to the lies of the army and the government about what was going on in Vietnam - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Apr 20, 2021
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The Courier (2020) |
...a terrific tense and dramatic story that has begged to be told for more than a half century. Oleg Penkovsky was a true Cold War hero as was Greville Wynne. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Mar 20, 2021
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Nomadland (2020) |
This story of a woman living out a life of quiet desperation is depressing and slow, teeming with shots of Frances McDormand thinking. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Feb 28, 2021
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MAFIA INC (2019) |
...a disappointing pale imitation of The Godfather. While violent as required by the genre, it is too long, talky, and derivative to be involving. - tonymedley.com
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| Posted Feb 28, 2021
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I Care a Lot (2020) |
a film without a protagonist to cheer burdened by a dubious premise and glaring reality-challenged plotholes. While adequately suspenseful its morally deficient ending fizzles. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Feb 28, 2021
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Sin (2019) |
...a brilliant job of recreating Michelangelo and what life must have been really like 500 years ago in Rome and Florence. It was dirty; people lived in squalor. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Feb 28, 2021
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The Little Things (2021) |
...quirky performance by Rami Malek as a troubled fellow cop, and a scintillating, award-quality performance by main suspect Jerod Leto, even though it's 30 minutes too long. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Feb 28, 2021
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The Dig (2021) |
Both Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes give moving performances in this true story. The early WWII ambience is very well recreated. Mulligan rarely disappoints. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Feb 28, 2021
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Crisis (2021) |
This is a high tension, slam bang story of the development of an opioid drug involving vicious drug dealers, corrupt corporations, and more, with fine performances. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Feb 28, 2021
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Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) |
It is even more absurd than the first one that grossly distorted history. Gal Gadot's delivery makes Tony Curtis', "Yonda Lies Da Castle of My Fodda," seem Shakespearean. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Feb 22, 2021
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Wild Mountain Thyme (2020) |
...gorgeous Irish countryside, outstanding cinematography, wonderful music, romance, terrific acting by Blunt, Donran, Walken and the rest of the cast; how can you go wrong? - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Dec 16, 2020
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Mank (2020) |
Fincher wanted the film to look as if it had been made in the '30s, and he succeeded. It's boring, uninvolving, grainy, bleached out, and the audio stinks. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Dec 11, 2020
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Belushi (2020) |
Sans many SNL and film clips, this is a soporific, overly psychological, tale of an unhappy drug addict with a talent he over-rated and that misconception destroyed him. - The Larchmont Chronicle
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| Posted Nov 21, 2020
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