Review: “How to Build a Girl”

The coming-of-age story is a familiar one in film, but rarely does the protagonist go through as many incarnations as Johanna Morrigan does in “How to Build a Girl.” The new movie from IFC Films, which is directed by Coky Giedroyc with a screenplay by Caitlin Moran adapted from her novel of the same name, […]

Review: “Bad Education”

In light of the 2019 college admissions scandal, “Bad Education” feels like a very timely movie. But it’s actually based on a true event that occurred in the early 2000s. Set in the small Long Island town of Roslyn, it explores the largest public school embezzlement scandal in American history. Directed by Cory Finley and […]

Review: “My Darling Vivian”

The romance between Johnny Cash and June Carter is the stuff of legend; theirs is one of the most enduring and beloved modern love stories. But not many people think to consider another part of the story: that of Vivian Liberto, Cash’s first wife and mother of their four daughters. “My Darling Vivian,” a documentary […]

Review: “The Wretched”

“Fun” is not a word I’d use to describe a lot of modern horror movies. But fun is exactly what “The Wretched,”—a new horror movie from IFC Midnight written and directed by brothers Brett and Drew T. Pierce—is. “The Wretched” followed Ben (John-Paul Howard), a teenager grappling with his parents’ separation who goes to spend […]

Streaming Recap: April 2020

How long have we been in isolation now? I don’t really remember myself, and I know I, like surely most of my readers, really miss being able to go to the movie theater. Fortunately, there have been plenty of new movies released on streaming services this month to keep us entertained, including some films that […]

Review: “Trolls World Tour”

2.5 out of 5 stars. If you’re currently bored in isolation, one of Dreamworks Animation’s “Trolls” movies should jolt you out of your slumber—for better or for worse. Forgoing a standard theatrical release and heading straight to home video due to the coronavirus pandemic, “Trolls World Tour”—the sequel to the 2016 hit “Trolls” that was […]

Streaming Recap: December 2019

Adam Driver, festive royal families, and dogs: here’s a series of mini reviews of movies released on streaming services in December. THE REPORT (AMAZON) Okay, technically “The Report” was a November release, but it came in at the end of the month so I’m going to let it slide. Scott Z. Burns’ film, which I […]

Review: “Frozen II”

3.5 out of 5 stars. You’d be hard-pressed to match the critical and commercial success of Walt Disney Animation’s 2013 film “Frozen.” Success isn’t even the right word; the movie, its characters, and its songs all became a worldwide phenomena, the likes of which Disney hadn’t seen in years. But with “Frozen II,” Disney attempts […]

Review: “Charlie’s Angels” (2019)

3 out of 5 stars. It’s always great to see more movies written, directed by, and starring women, particularly in genres that are generally male-dominated. But “Charlie’s Angels” is cringey from the opening scene, where it becomes apparent that the movie’s take on feminism is more pandering than empowering. This new “Charlie’s Angels” is both […]

Review: “Ford v Ferrari”

3.5 out of 5 stars A racing movie can be a hard sell for people who aren’t in to the sport. But “Ford v Ferrari” takes its subject and turns it into an underdog story with heroes who are easy to root for, that doesn’t get mired in technicalities. Based on a true story, this […]