The Wizard of the Kremlin
‘Wizard’ chronicles Putin’s rise to Russian dictator Condensing 22 years of Russian history into one 136-minute film is a big ask, and one that co-writer-director Olivier Assayas doesn’t quite pull off. But there’s still plenty to like about his adaptation of Giuliano da Empoli’s novel, “The Wizard of the Kremlin.” And much of that […]
Magic Hour (2025)
Sugary ‘Magic Hour’ far from to die for With the exasperating “Magic Hour,” the multi-hyphenate Katie Aselton continues her facile fascination with elements of fantasy and the supernatural. And she somewhat smartly heads off at the pass any criticism by making the picture so rife with potential spoilers that it’s nearly rendered review-proof. I […]
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Sally Field supplies most of ‘Creature’s’ comforts If you’re looking for octopi to occupy your time, you could do a lot worse than “Remarkably Bright Creatures.” After all, the Netflix feature features one of Sally Field’s finest performances, refuting the old showbiz adage of never acting opposite a critter, especially a sage cephalopod sporting […]
Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Delightful ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ returns to theaters This is a reprint of my review that ran in The Patriot Ledger in 2018. In Singapore, the term shiok represents a feeling of sheer happiness and pleasure. And I can’t think of a better description for “Crazy Rich Asians,” the funniest, most joyous movie of the […]
Blue Heron (2025)
Mental illness fractures a family in ‘Blue Heron’ Effusive praise is being heaped upon “Blue Heron,” Sophy Romvari’s semi-autobiographical tale of growing up with a mentally challenged brother. But I’ll be damned if I know why. It’s precariously slight in almost every phase, from its detached tone and haphazard structure to its vanilla cast. […]
Silent Friend (2025)
Riveting ‘Silent Friend’ captures nature’s eroticism Given all the sexual heat and imagery on display in Ildikó Enyedi’s sumptuous “Silent Friend,” you’d expect it to garner an NC-17 rating if it weren’t about, er, plants. Yes, plants! Replete with full-floral nudity and testees subjected to the kind of erotic experiments that might make Masters […]
Affection (2025)
It’s difficult to fully respond to ‘Affection’ Imagine waking up one morning, discovering you’re sharing a bed with a man claiming to be your husband in a house you don’t recognize in the middle of nowhere. You know your name is Sarah, but your spouse insists on calling you Ellie. And you’re certain you […]
One Spoon of Chocolate (2025)
All ‘Get Out’: Raz’s ‘Chocolate’ is cheap immitation When your film opens with the notation “Quentin Tarantino presents …,” you’d like to think the folks behind the camera would strive to earn that lofty endorsement. But not the RZA. His insipid “One Spoon of Chocolate” does anything but, embarrassing himself with a lazy, discombobulated […]
Deep Water (2026)
You can’t get much shallower than ‘Deep Water’ It stands to reason that sharks and airplanes don’t mix. True, both have protruding fins, and they DO fill their bellies with people. But that’s where the similarities end. But don’t tell Renny Harlin that. He and a stable of four imaginative writers have devised a way to blend sea and sky by upgrading […]
Power to the People (2026)
John & Yoko prove they have the ‘Power’ If you had the pleasure of seeing last year’s wonderful “One to One: John and Yoko,” you might want to skip its repetitive follow-up, “Power to the People: John & Yoko Live in NYC.” There’s simply too much overlap and not nearly enough context to help […]