10 Best Movies of 2017

Better late than never—with January 2018 fast approaching its conclusion, and with this week’s Oscar nominations placing the spotlight on many great films from last year, here are my picks for the 10 best movies I saw in 2017. Click the links to read my full review of each film. “Phantom Thread”: Paul Thomas Anderson’s […]

Predicting the 2018 Oscar Nominees and Winners

That time is already upon us. With the SAG, Golden Globes, and Critics Choice Awards already behind us, now is the time to look ahead to the Oscars. The 90th Academy Awards will take place on March 4, but the nominees will be announced tomorrow morning. For most of this awards season there really hasn’t […]

Review: “The Commuter”

2.5 out of 5 stars. From the director who gave us Liam Neeson punching people on a plane, we now get Liam Neeson punching people on a train. “The Commuter” marks the fourth collaboration between director Jaume Collet-Serra and Neeson, having worked together before on films like “Run All Night,” “Unknown,” and the aforementioned “Non-Stop.” […]

Review: “The Post”

3.5 out of 5 stars. The year is 2018, not 1971, and most of us get our news from the internet, not from newspapers. Yet Steven Spielberg’s new drama “The Post” is as timely as ever, raising questions about the first amendment, about a woman’s ability to be a leader in a male-dominated industry, about […]

Review: “Paddington 2”

5 out of 5 stars. If you’re looking to learn what makes a great family film, look no further than “Paddington 2.” It’s the rare sequel that is every bit as innovative, clever, heartwarming, and fun as its predecessor, a modern yet faithful adaptation of writer Michael Bond’s creation, and a true delight for all […]

Review: “Phantom Thread”

5 out of 5 stars. Let me preface my review of Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film “Phantom Thread” by saying that my thoughts here will likely be incomplete. That is because “Phantom Thread” is the sort of film that will require multiple viewings to fully grasp, with the prior knowledge of where the story and […]

Review: “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle”

3.5 out of 5 stars. It seems like Hollywood runs on brand recognition nowadays. Connecting a movie to an existing franchise, no matter what it is, is view as a necessary ingredient for success. Take “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” a stand alone sequel/reboot of the 1995 adventure film starring Robin Williams. While the film […]

Review: “Pitch Perfect 3”

2.5 out of 5 stars. “Pitch Perfect” really didn’t need to turn into a trilogy. And chances are, it was probably never meant to be one. The 2012 comedy about an all-girls a capella group was a surprise hit, a super quirky, edgier version of “Glee” that both teens and adults could enjoy. It is, […]

Review: “The Shape of Water”

5 out of 5 stars. If you love movies and don’t love “The Shape of Water,” then I really don’t know what to tell you. Writer (along with Vanessa Taylor) and director Guillermo del Toro’s latest film is the type of gorgeous adult fairy tale he’s known for, imbued with an extra dose of love […]

Review: “Call Me by Your Name”

5 out of 5 stars. “Call Me by Your Name” is set in rural Italy in the summer of 1983. Seventeen-year-old Elio (Timothee Chalamet) lives there with his parents; his mom (Amira Casar) is a translator, and his father (Michael Stuhlbarg) is an archaeology professor. Elio, who spends much of his time reading and writing […]