Holiday Classics: “Bell, Book and Candle” (1958)

There’s a perpetual debate as to whether or not “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie (personally I fluctuate too much on the matter and just watch it for Thanksgiving), and the same question could be extended to the 1958 comedy “Bell, Book and Candle,” based on the stage play […]

Review: “West Side Story” (2021)

The 1961 film version of the 1957 Broadway musical “West Side Story” may be legendary, but it’s the rare movie that practically begs to be remade. The movie, based on the musical with book by Arthur Laurents, music and lyrics by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, and choreography by Jerome Robbins, is delightful in some […]

Holiday Classics: “The Great Rupert” (1950)

Much of one’s enjoyment of “The Great Rupert” will likely depend on their tolerance for schmaltz, and for Jimmy Durante appearing in a leading role. But both of those things feel just right for this strange but charming family comedy set over Christmas, in which the fortunes of a down-on-their-luck family are turned around by […]

Holiday Classics: “The Lemon Drop Kid” (1951)

Bob Hope appeared in many, many movies over his long life and career. And yet, he’s remembered more as an entertainer than an actor, his most recognizable films being the “Road” comedies he starred in opposite Bing Crosby beginning in 1940 and into the 1950s. But that doesn’t meant that Hope’s filmography is entirely unremarkable. […]

Holiday Classics: “We’re No Angels” (1955)

“We’re No Angels” was a bit of a departure for director and star Michael Curtiz and Humphrey Bogart. The light holiday comedy was their fourth collaboration, their previous projects including the gritty 1938 gangster drama “Angels with Dirty Faces” and the soon to be iconic drama “Casablanca.” But just because “We’re No Angels” was outside […]

Review: “The Power of the Dog”

“This is Phil. You’ll meet Benedict later.” That’s the way that Jane Campion, writer and director of “The Power of the Dog,” purportedly introduced the star of her movie to the rest of the cast and crew. Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays sadistic Montana rancher Phil Burbank, apparently remained in character for the entire shoot, and […]

Holiday Classics: “Miracle on 34th Street” (1947)

“Miracle on 34th Street,” which opens during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and concludes on Christmas day, this the perfect movie to kick off the holiday season. So it’s a little surprising that when it debuted in 1947, it was released in theaters at the beginning of May. That was the doing of 20th Century […]

Holiday Classics: “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946)

Director Frank Capra once said that he never viewed his film “It’s a Wonderful Life” as a Christmas story when he took the project on—he just liked the story. But that story had roots in the quintessential Christmas story: Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Writer Phillip Van Doren Stern wrote a short story titled The […]

Review: “Encanto”

“Encanto” doesn’t see its heroine leave home on some grand quest. It doesn’t have a villain, or an action-packed climax. The 60th feature film from Walt Disney Animation is one of its most intimate, rarely leaving the area surrounding the sprawling, magical Colombian home of the Madrigal family, and barely interacting with any characters outside […]

Streaming Movie Reviews

Thanksgiving may have only just passed, but we’re already knee-deep into both awards season and holiday movie season. A lot of big movies have been released in November, and I’m running through some of the month’s new streaming releases below: four Netflix films, including an exciting western, the streamer’s biggest action movie to date, and […]