I had hoped that Jason Reitman would steer his new political satire in the direction of “Wag the Dog” or “Primary Colors.” Surprisingly it’s closer to last years “The Post” (with quite a few scenes at Washington Post), and that’s a problem. “The Front Runner” (already taking flack for being “anything but”) is an exhaustively talkative movie that […]
The Farrelly Brothers have plagued film critics with stupid comedies like Dumb & Dumber To, Hall Pass and Stuck on You for years. In his first solo venture, Peter Farrelly gives drama a go and the results couldn’t be more rewarding. Green Book slid into the 2018 Toronto Film Festival as an afterthought, but emerged
I didn’t know what to expect from Danish director Bille August’s medical court drama. With no poster, no trailer, no US distribution, it was a gamble to see this one at TIFF. That gamble paid off, as 55 Steps boasts two phenomenal performances, one of which might garner a golden statue. Screenwriter Mark Bruce Rosin
Enjoy this one for what it is, a well-made heist flick. “Widows” is the first film from Oscar-nominated director Steve McQueen since taking best picture for “12 Years a Slave.” It is also the first McQueen film without muse Michael Fassbender. From the unforgettable opening moments (the first of many expertly edited sequences) “Widows” introduces
It’s pretty impressive what actor turned director Paul Dano (“Little Miss Sunshine,” “There Will Be Blood”) has accomplished in this his directorial debut. He gives Oscar-nominated Carey Mulligan one of her best roles in a script co-written with his partner Zoe Kazan (“The Big Sick”). “Wildlife” is a sobering often difficult film about family, marriage,
Calling “Boy Erased” an emotional or powerful film doesn’t do it justice. Actor, writer, director, and producer Joel Edgerton (“The Gift,” “Loving”) delivers the type of film that can permanently change lives. “Boy Erased” takes a devastating look at conversion therapy as a “cure” for homosexuality. It’s a hard film to watch, but the remarkable
There are a lot of great heartfelt moments in Elizabeth Chomko’s directorial debut, including the opening scene where the musical score and images really settle you into your seat. What follows is an intimate look at Alzheimer’s through the eyes of the children dealing with their mother. Oscar winner Hilary Swank is mounting a slow
The title of Melissa McCarthy’s new film could also be a question to critics and audiences who have watched her career dive bomb in the last couple of years. She’s gone downhill since blasting onto the film scene with “Bridesmaids,” the introduction to her one-note comedy routine that earned her an Oscar nomination. “Can You
Jean-Marc Vallée’s “Wild” is the best comparison for what to expect with Belgium director Felix Van Groeningen’s “Beautiful Boy.” Both films focus on the struggle with addiction and despair. “Beautiful Boy” based on two novels, one from the point of view of the father, the other from the son. It is a gripping and thoroughly
It’s puzzling to understand what interest French actress turned director Mélanie Laurent (“Operation Finale”) had in adapting Nic Pizzolatto’s (“True Crime”) first novel to film. She wasn’t the first choice for director, and Ben Foster replaced European Matthias Schoenaerts, the first choice for the lead role. The biggest gaffe here, not only is a film