Review: “The Two Popes”

3.5 out of 5 stars. “The Two Popes” is the story of two men at an intellectual and spiritual crossroads. Adapted by Anthony McCarten from his play “The Pope” and directed by Fernando Meirelles, the film maintains the intimacy of a stage production with some added cinematic flourishes, and is anchored by fantastic performances by […]

Review: “Bombshell”

2.5 out of 5 stars. “Bombshell,” one of the first big movies to be based on some of the events that spurred the Me Too movement, is simultaneously shocking, and shockingly tame. Directed by Jay Roach, the film revolves around the sexual harassment scandal at Fox News, in which several women exposed CEO Roger Ailes, […]

Review: “Star Wars Episode XI: The Rise of Skywalker”

3 out of 5 stars. How does one even begin to end the greatest cinematic franchise of all time, one that has been going for 42 years strong? It’s a herculean task, but it’s one that with “Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker,” director and co-writer J.J. Abrams approaches more with the intent […]

Review: “Jumanji: The Next Level”

3.5 out of 5 stars. 2017’s “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” was a surprisingly imaginative reboot of the 1995 film. But it wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect that its sequel, “Jumanji: The Next Level,” wouldn’t have anything new and exciting to offer. While it does retain a lot of the same elements that made the […]

Review: “Marriage Story”

4.5 out of 5 stars. Contrary to its title, writer and director Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story” drops the viewer into the story of a marriage that it at its end. But even though we don’t see the couple at the heart of the story falling in love, we get a complete sense of what their […]

Review: “The Report”

3.5 out of 5 stars. “The Report” is the rare movie based on a true stories that doesn’t focus on bending facts to fit a more entertaining narrative; in fact, it frequently does just the opposite. Written and directed by Scott Z. Burns, the film tells the story of an investigation led by Senate staffer […]

Streaming Recap: November 2019

With the holiday season in full swing, tons of movies were released on streaming services in November, from Christmas comedies to awards season contenders. You can read my capsule reviews of new movies released on Netflix and Disney Plus in November below. HOLIDAY IN THE WILD (NETFLIX) “Holiday in the Wild,” directed by Ernie Barbarash, […]

Review: “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”

3 out of 5 stars. “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” isn’t what most viewers will go in to expecting or wanting, but it may end up being just what they needed. In these times where hate is prevalent everywhere, Mister Rogers has experienced a bit of a resurgence these last couple years, first with […]

Review: “Knives Out”

4 out of 5 stars. On the surface, “Knives Out” looks like your typical murder mystery. But it only takes a few minutes for it to become apparent that this film is anything but. Both an affectionate homage and a twist on well-known tropes, “Knives Out,” written and directed by Rian Johnson, is a wildly […]

Review: “The Irishman”

4.5 out of 5 stars. Everybody talking about “The Irishman” can’t seem to do so without bringing up its runtime, which at just shy of three and a half hours, is exceptionally long. But director Martin Scorsese doesn’t waste a second of it, delivering an epic crime movie that initially just seems clever and entertaining, […]