Thursday, June 8, 2023
'Daliland' takes infamous painter to different and strange places
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Anyone for a new 'Spider-Man' or, perhaps, dazzling dozens of 'em?
Of course, if that's too many Spiders in one sentence, then please know you ain't seen nothin' yet! I mean, brilliant high-schooler Miles Morales (again with the committed voice of Shameik Moore) might be "the only Spider-Man in Brooklyn" but . . . uh, you'll catch the drift when you see it -- from an instantaneous visit to Legoland, to a nice chat with a pregnant Spider-Woman, and a full assortment of look quick or you might miss a few under, over and all around.
Glimpses of real faces spot the cool landscape, and a few voices might be recognized, too, in a creatively artistic -- and occasionally draining -- mix. (The biggest blotch likely will arrive only for those of us who may get bummed by cliffhanger endings.)
Meanwhile, the evolving stories of the gifted Morales, quibbling with sparkling parents (Brian Tyree Henry and Luna Lauren Velez), and courageous friend/soulmate/heroine Gwen Stacey (Hailee Steinfeld), ever dealing with her solid cop father (Shea Whigham), among other issues, nicely help shake off any and all of the action cobwebs.
One warning: Only the deepest kids under 10 or so might understand much of it. But better news, the villain of the piece (Jason Schwartzman) never really goes batspit evil.
Rated "PG" by MPAA: animated action violence, some language, and thematic elements: 2:20; $ $ $ $ and 1/2 out of $5
Also new Friday in theaters: "The Bogeyman," "Sanctuary, and "The Starling Girl." Streaming: "Shooting Stars" (only on Peacock).
Thursday, May 25, 2023
'The Little Mermaid' sings, swims away with Disney live-action honors
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In fact, led by big-screen newcomer Halle Bailey, as the nicely "little" Ariel with a magically huge voice, and the expert villainy of Melissa McCarthy, a water witch-worthy successor to the vocal antics of the late, great Pat Carroll from the 1989 original, this swimmingly new version just might be the best of Disney's live-action do overs so far.
It also says here that mighty McCarthy's dazzling replay of "Poor Unfortunate Souls" could be counted as the real musical showstopper, despite the top-notch array of other standard "Mermaid" tunes updated for the remake, including Oscar-winning Best Song "Under the Sea," Ariel's ever-yearning "Part of Your World," and the fun-loving "Kiss the Girl."
Note, too, how the latter ditty becomes a sparkling vehicle to show off some serious chemistry between Mermaid Bailey and hunky landlubber Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King) while once again warbled by Sebastian the Crab. The loyal crustacean gets voiced this time by Daveed Diggs but remains a frazzled spy for Ariel's dad (King Triton, regally and professionally portrayed -- what else would we expect? -- by Javier Bardem).
Standout moments surrounding new vocals, co-written by Lin-Manuel Miranda with Disney wunderkind Alan Menken, feature the fitting "Wild Uncharted Waters" (strongly performed by Hauer-King) and a uniquely wacky "Scuttlebutt" (rap-voiced by the busy Awkwafina, on board here as Scuttle Seagull).
No surprise really, then, that the such a merry mix of cool choreography, music and a little movie magic comes along with helming by dancer-turned director Rob Marshall ("Chicago," a 2013 Best Picture winner). Looks like a summer hit.
Rated "PG" by MPAA: action/peril and some scary images; 2:15; $ $ $ $ out of $5
Thursday, May 11, 2023
Not much truly deep in 'The Next Chapter,' but Fox doc 'Still' reveals
Well, apparently simply much of the same stuff many of us did to get ourselves through the scary world pandemic, that is, before this not-so-quiet film quartet decided to trade Zoom chats for Italian wines and the latest zany adventures now documented in their new "Book Club: The Next Chapter."
You see, one of the four golden-age besties has decided to get married -- and if you can't guess the actual bride in the first 30 minutes, you simply haven't seen enough mediocre movies -- so let's do the bachelorette party in Tuscany. (By the way, book readers may care that "The Alchemist" becomes the sequel's minimally discussed tome of choice in replacing the original's "Fifty Shades of Grey.")
And what better way for fate to intervene in dream-chasing than to let hotel magnate Vivian (Jane Fonda, still perhaps the cast knockout at 85), restaurateur Carol (Mary Steenburgen), federal judge Sharon (Candice Bergen), and widowed fashion plate Diane (Diane Keaton) enjoy lifelong pursuits in Rome and Venice while wearing designer clothing and dropping naughty, eye-rolling jokes.
As in the first "Club," Bergen's tart-tongued jurist steals the show in the laughs department by, among other things, forming a mutual admonition society with a police chief marvelously portrayed by Giancarlo Giannini. The legal-authority horseplay also allows the legendary latter to walk away with interesting old-man acting honors over Don Johnson, Andy Garcia and Craig T. Nelson, the American trio back again in their same nice-guy roles. Antonioni or Fellini, though, are nowhere in sight.
Rated "PG-13" by MPAA: some strong language and suggestive material; 1:47; $ $ and 1/2 out of $5 (Opening Friday in theaters just about everywhere.)
Despite the clever title, "Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie" is actually a damn good documentary from director Davis Guggenheim ("Waiting for Superman" and the Oscar-worthy "An Inconvenient Truth").
Other films opening Friday theatrically: "Blackberry," "Fool's Paradise," "Hypnotic," and "Knights of the Zodiac"; Streaming only: "Crater" (on Disney+) and "The Mother" (Netflix).
Thursday, May 4, 2023
Raucous 'Guardians' get to go out warmly; 'Discontinued' lives in AI
Friday, April 28, 2023
'Margaret' grows up sweetly; 'Peter Pan & Wendy' not so memorably
Friday, April 21, 2023
'The Covenant' soars, 'Quasi' backs into laughs, 'Ghosted' disappears
Rated "PG-13" by MPAA: sequences of strong violence/action, brief strong language, and some sexual content; 1:56; $ $ out of $5
Among films opening Friday in theaters: "Beau is Afraid," "Chevalier," "Evil Dead Rise," "How to Blow Up a Pipeline," and "Somewhere in Queens." Streaming only: Judy Blume Forever (exclusively on Prime Video).
Thursday, April 13, 2023
A pair of talented Nics gives goofy and violent screen life to 'Renfield'
(Also opening Friday in theaters: "Nefarious," "Mafia Mamma," "The Pope's Exorcist," "Suzume," and "Sweetwater." Meanwhile, "The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die" can be found streaming on Netflix.)
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Fresh 'AIR' the best of '23 so far; Colorful 'Mario Bros.' plumbs for plot
Thursday, March 30, 2023
You'll 'Like Movies' on CIFF closing night; 'Spinning Gold' turns oddly
Thursday, March 23, 2023
'Lost King' tries to rule, but even Flo Pugh can't carry 'Good Person'
It's a Debbie Downer of a movie, with Pugh, who remains marvelous in all she does, playing an opioid addict, and Freeman, as a recovering alcoholic himself, portraying the solemn ex-cop that almost became her father-in-law.
The lengthy whys and wherefores, offered up in another behind-the-camera effort from comic actor-turned director and writer Zach Braff, should be seen and likely judged by others who have not watched dozens of similar recovery dramas previously.
I must have looked at my watch at least that many times in the last half-hour alone.
Rated "R" by MPAA: drug abuse, language throughout and some sexual references; 2:09; $ $ and 1/2 out of $5
(Also opening Friday exclusively in theaters: the long-awaited John Wick: Chapter 4. Meanwhile, and speaking of cinematic showcases such as TIFF, our own 47th annual Cleveland International Film Festival, or CIFF, is boasting a full array of product -- 121 features and 199 more shorts -- now through April 1. And wouldn't you know, CIFF's closing night film will be another TIFF46 world premiere, the Canadian comedy "I Like Movies." Return here next week for a review.)