Scream 6 (2023 | USA | 123 minutes | Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett ) The original 1996 meta-horror classic Scream earned …
Palm Trees and Power Lines attempts a cautionary tale, but becomes a twisted how-to
First and foremost there should be a trauma warning on this film. Young Lea is lost and floating in a vast sea of loneliness. She tries to find solace in her best friend and by attempting a shallow physical relationship with a boy, but nothing really brings her happiness. With an absent single mom who only shows adoration when there’s no boyfriend to distract her, Lea has no one to show her what a strong, positive relationship looks like. Then enters Tom.
Guy Ritchie is back with another fast-paced action flick in Operation Fortune
At any given point throughout the almost-two hour run time, I don’t think I could satisfactorily explain what exactly is going on. It’s a taut, fast-paced heist movie, but it can be hard to follow at times. I also don’t care. Last time Guy Ritchie and Jason Statham teamed up, in 2021, I wrote, “I’m a simple man and sometimes I just need to watch Jason Statham beat the shit out of some bad guys. Ya know?” Nothing has changed: I got what I wanted then, and I’m getting what I want now.
One Fine Morning finds the profound in pedestrian rhythms of life
One Fine Morning witnesses a key disappearance play out in the the grinding rhythms of real life.
Michael B. Jordan gets back into the ring with Creed III
The only bad part about heading into a new installation of the reliably entertaining Creed movie franchise is the grim realization that you’re about to watch some big dudes mess up Michael B. Jordan. It’s the cost of doing business in a boxing drama, but he has such a nice mug it’s a shame to see it smashed up. Stepping behind the camera to take over the series from Ryan Coogler, though, Jordan gives himself more of a break from the pummeling of the ring while giving his audience another compelling chapter in a big-hearted boxing saga.
Cocaine Bear is exactly what you think it is
It’s an unlikely (and quite disturbing) story and now it’s the starting point for a new movie, called, appropriately enough, Cocaine Bear. The plot of this movie (uhh) bears little resemblance to the history, and that’s kind of the point. It’s a meme movie, not a biopic, and every generation gets the Snakes on a Plane it deserves.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania dutifully ushers in a new villain for Marvel’s next phase
I’d found myself pretty gloomy about the state of Marvel over the recent muddle of Phase Four, particularly with the soggy storytelling of Thor, Doctor Strange, and even Wakanda Forever. The latest Ant-Man installation makes small gestures toward levity and a modest leap toward introducing the Next Big Threat for earth’s mightiest heroes to assemble around.
Oscar-nominated Close is a tragedy of teenage masculinity
In his follow-up to Girl, Lukas Dhont presents a tragedy of toxic masculinity and its insidious effects on a teenage friendship in rural Belgium.
Tom Brady is a loathsome, arrogant, cheating weasel, but 80 for Brady is very funny
The first time I saw a trailer for the new movie 80 for Brady, about four of the world’s most cherished legendary actresses scheming to watch Tom Brady in the Super Bowl, I thought it was a blatant example of elder abuse. If anyone has earned the right not to play Tom Brady fans, it’s Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, and Sally Field. Yet somehow here we are.
Sundance 2023 Notebook: Updating Throughout the Festival
Capsule reviews, quick thoughts, and instant reactions on this year’s festival films.