Commanding women stir dark 'Strangler' and lighter 'Moving On'

Friday, March 17, 2023

Commanding women stir dark 'Strangler' and lighter 'Moving On'

Except for the infamous string of murders and the botched investigation into them, "Boston Strangler" has little connection to the 1968 film "The Boston Strangler."

In fact, the two movies take on the grisly deaths of 13 women in the early '60s from entirely different perspectives, with the new one exploring how the case was so thoroughly covered by a pair of female newspaper reporters, themselves dealing with incessant sexism from bosses and cops while possibly putting their own lives at risk.

Writer/director Matt Ruskin ("Crown Heights") firmly details how their work way back then helped up the ante of attention to the murder probe, beginning with the similar killings of "just four nobodies" and turning the "Strangler" killer into one of the nation's most notorious criminals ever.

It also becomes some very scary stuff when Loretta McLaughlin (a smartly offbeat role for Keira Knightley) and Jean Cole (Copley, Ohio's own Carrie Coon) connect the dots on a couple of potential copycat murders along the way.

By the end, let's just call it another well-done showcase for the kind of tough, investigative journalism that rarely exists today, even if the entire film is not quite on par with last year's "She Said."

That one, of course, told how a more modern group of women reporters helped nail the monstrous Harvey Weinstein and, sadly, failed miserably at the box office. Perhaps that is why "Boston Strangler" lives only exclusively on Hulu today and not in theaters.

Rated "R" by MPAA: some violent content and language; 1:56; $ $ $ and 1/2 out of $5

Ironically, two more strong gals, Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda, try to turn the tables on another Weinstein type in "Moving On," a revenge comedy with certainly a little less than a heart of gold.

The bad man (treacherously portrayed by always alarming Malcolm McDowell) is a new widower, whose late wife was a college roommate of alienated friends (Tomlin and Fonda) now reuniting at the funeral.

I'd love to report that madcap chaos ensues, but such is not the case. There are a few laughs, some melodrama, a twist ending, very nice supporting work from Richard Roundtree, and an odd subplot resolution you can even see coming from Ohio (where Fonda's character resides).

Truthfully, if you want to watch more sparkling use of its two enduring stars, simply find the classic "9 to 5" somewhere, or just about any episode of their seven-year hitch on "Grace and Frankie."

("Moving On," which world-premiered at last fall's 46th annual Toronto International Film Festival, is now playing in theaters.)

Rated "R" by MPAA: for language; 1:25; $ $ and 1/2 out of $5

Also opening today only in theaters: "Inside," "Shazam! Fury of the Gods," which was not previewed for critics in northeast Ohio, and "A Snowy Day in Oakland."

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2022's TOP 10 MOVIES
All My Puny Sorrows (mini review below); Avatar: The Way of Water; The Banshees of Inisherin; Cha Cha Real Smooth; Elvis; Emily the Criminal; Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues (mini review below); She Said; TÁR; Triangle of Sadness

REVIEWS ARE ON A SCALE OF ($ to $ $ $ $ $)

The Lost King ($ $ $)

A Good Person ($ $ and 1/2)

Boston Strangler ($ $ $ and 1/2)

Moving On ($ $ and 1/2)

Champions ($ $ $ and 1/2)

Scream VI ($ $ $)

Creed III ($ $ and 1/2) "Director/star Jordan hits hard; Screenplay still needs more punch."

Cocaine Bear ($ $) "Love the wild title predator, not the movie."

Ant-Man and the Wasp ($ $) "Crawls instead of buzzes."

Sharper ($ $ $) "Not bad, but shoulda been, uh, even sharper."

MINI-REVIEW: Knock at the Cabin ($ $ and 1/2) "This alleged thriller from noted supernaturalist M. Night Shyamalan, a man famous for movies with plot surprises, can boast an original twist of its own even before the projector begins to work. That's because it is only the second screenplay director Shyamalan has not penned alone, here joining forces with a couple of first-time feature writers in adapting a Paul Tremblay novel ("The Cabin at the End of the World") for the big screen. Maybe that's why 'Knock' becomes more of a slow burner than a persistently riveting take, despite a quartet of home invaders, led by a nice-guy (and occasionally creepy) schoolteacher portrayed by big Dave Bautista. Their chilling message to the cabin-dwelling family of three: Please help us save the world by killing one of your own. Unsettling? Yes, of course it is. A thoroughly engaging watch? Not in this Anthropocene."

Living ($ $ $ $)

The Son ($ $)

Women Talking ($ $ $ and 1/2)

M3GAN ($ $ $)

A Man Called Otto ($ $ $ and 1/2)

The Pale Blue Eye ($ $ $ and 1/2)

I Wanna Dance with Somebody ($ $ and 1/2)

Corsage ($ $ $ $)
Babylon ($ $ $)

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish ($ $ $ and 1/2)
The Whale ($ $ $ and 1/2)

Avatar: The Way of Water ($ $ $ $)

Nanny ($ $ and 1/2)

Empire of Light ($ $ and 1/2)

Emancipation ($ $ and 1/2)
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio ($ $ $ $)
White Noise ($ $ and 1/2)
The Inspection ($ $ $ and 1/2)

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special ($ $ $ $)

The Swimmers ($ $ $)

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery ($ $)
The Fabelmans ($ $ $ and 1/2)

Spirited ($ $ and 1/2)

Devotion ($ $ $ and 1/2)
She Said ($ $ $ $ and 1/2)

The Menu ($ $ and 1/2)

The Wonder ($ $ $ $)
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ($ $ $)
Good Night Oppy ($ $ $ and 1/2)

MINI-REVIEW: Causeway ($ $ $ $) "Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry knock it out of the park as a pair of wounded souls looking for peace and contentment in the Big Easy. Finding anything close to such security, of course, appears rather difficult considering the pains of personal experience each has been confronting. Two-time Oscar-winner Lawrence speaks volumes here even when she's not saying much, while Tony- and Emmy-Award nominee Henry soars in the role of newfound therapeutic friend trying to heal himself. The little treasure from first-time feature director Lila Neugebauer is streaming exclusively now on AppleTV+."

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story ($ $ and 1/2)

The Return of Tanya Tucker ($ $ $ and 1/2)

The Banshees of Inisherin ($ $ $ $ and 1/2)

MINI-REVIEW: Armageddon Time ($ $) "If not for the performance of Anthony Hopkins, as a smart and loving grandfather, this alleged '80s-era memoir from writer/director James Gray would disgrace parents, teachers and just about every adult surrounding the major brat it centers upon. That would be a creepy 12-year-old (Banks Repeta), who simply becomes dreadfully unlikable, thanks to each malfeasant move he makes. Talk about revisionist history, "Armageddon" also creates an assortment of fictitious moments -- such as bringing in two apparent members of the Trump family -- simply to pin blame on events occurring then for the political meanderings going on now. Yeah, right."

The Retaliators ($ $ $ and 1/2)

Ask Me to Dance ($ $ $)

Everybody Dance ($ $ $ $)

MINI-REVIEW: Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues ($ $ $ $ and 1/2) "This latest 'Jammie' from director Sacha Jenkins practically takes the fabled jazz musician and all-around showman from cradle to grave with a fascinating assortment of personal letters and revealing audio recordings left by the performer himself. Of course, those of a certain age might recall seeing the personable trumpeter all over the place. My parents loved the man called 'Satchmo' and, so then, did I. In fact, his week as co-host of the daily 'Mike Douglas Show' made for truly classic television, and a bit of that stint is sprinkled throughout this doc. Anyway, it's all meaningful viewing, starting Oct. 28 only on AppleTV+ (after world-premiering at last month's 47th annual Toronto International Film Festival)."

My Policeman ($ $ $)

Raymond & Ray ($ $ $)

Ticket to Paradise ($ $ and 1/2)

Halloween Ends ($ $ $)

Rosaline ($ $ $ and 1/2)
TÁR ($ $ $ $)

Werewolf By Night ($ $ $ and 1/2)

Triangle of Sadness ($ $ $ $)

Mr. Harrigan's Phone ($ $ $)

Hellraiser ($ $)

Amsterdam ($ $ and 1/2)

The Greatest Beer Run Ever ($ $ $)

The Good House ($ $ $)

Blonde ($ $ $ and 1/2)

Sidney ($ $ $)
Don't Worry Darling ($ $ and 1/2)

The Woman King ($ $ $)

Forbearance ($ $ $)

Take the Night ($ $ $ and1/2)

A Love Song ($ $ $ and 1/2)

Love in Kilnerry ($ $ $ and 1/2)

Emily the Criminal ($ $ $ $)

BodiesBodieBodies ($ $ $)

Easter Sunday ($ and 1/2)

Bullet Train ($ $)

Prey ($ $ $)

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Nope ($ $ $)

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Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris ($ $ $ and 1/2)

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Minions: The Rise of Gru ($ $ and 1/2)

Facing Nolan ($ $ $ and 1/2)

Stalker ($ $ $)

The Black Phone ($ $ $ and 1/2)

Elvis ($ $ $ $ and 1/2)

The Phantom of the Open ($ $ $ $)

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande ($ $ $ $)

Lightyear ($ $ $)
Cha Cha Real Smooth ($ $ $ $ and 1/2)

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Petite Maman ($ $ $ and 1/2)

The Duke ($ $ $ $)

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MINI-REVIEW: All My Puny Sorrows ($ $ $ $ and 1/2) "This small Canadian indie will make you laugh and cry with its intelligent and touching story of a family now mostly consisting of five women trying to avoid one more tragedy in their lives. Famous sisters played by Sarah Gadon (as a world-class pianist) and the exceptional Alison Pill (a novelist) are at the center of it all, along with always-solid Mare Winningham, as their roll with the punches mom. Michael McGowan's direction and script -- particularly filled with brilliant dialogue -- offer plenty to ponder, as well."

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The Worst Person in the World ($ $ $ $)
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A Hero ($ $ $ $ and 1/2)
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A Journal for Jordan ($ $ and 1/2)
The Matrix Resurrections ($ $ and 1/2)
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Sing 2 ($ $ $)
The Novice ($ $ $ $)
Mother/Android ($ $)
The Lost Daughter ($ $ $ $ and 1/2)
Swan Song ($ $ $)
Spider-Man: No Way Home ($ $ $ $)
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Don't Look Up ($ $ $)
West Side Story ($ $ $ $ and 1/2)
Being the Ricardos ($ $ $)
National Champions ($ $ and 1/2)
Labyrnth of Cinema ($ $ $ $)
Wolf ($ $ $)
The Hand of God ($ $ $ $)
Encounter ($ $ and 1/2)
Benedetta ($ $ $)
C'mon C'mon ($ $ $ $)
Bruised ($ $ and 1/2)
Encanto ($ $ and 1/2)
House of Gucci ($ $)
Julia ($ $ $)
The Power of the Dog ($ $ $)
Ghostbusters: Afterlife ($ $ $)
King Richard ($ $ $ and 1/2)
tick, tick . . . Boom ($ $ $)
Belfast ($ $ $ $ $)
Violet ($ $ $ and 1/2)
Passing ($ $ $ and 1/2)
Spencer ($ $ and 1/2)
Finch ($ $ $)
Eternals ($ $)
Last Night in Soho ($ $ and 1/2)
The French Dispatch ($ $ $ $)
This is Not a War Story ($ $ $ and 1/2)
The Electrical Life of Louis Wain ($ $ $)
Becoming Cousteau ($ $ $)
Dune ($ $ $)
Halloween Kills ($ $)
The Rescue ($ $ $ $ $)
The Velvet Underground ($ $ $ $)
No Time to Die ($ $ $ $)
I'm Your Man ($ $ $ and 1/2)
Lamb ($ $ $ and 1/2)
Titane ($ $ $)
The Many Saints of Newark ($ $ $ and 1/2)
The Starling ($ $)
Dear Evan Hansen ($ $ $)
The Mad Women's Ball ($ $ $ $)
The Eyes of Tammy Faye ($ $ and 1/2)
The Card Counter ($ $ $ and 1/2)
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings ($ $ $)
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Candyman ($ $ $)
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The Night House ($ $ $ and 1/2)
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The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It ($ $ $)
The Suicide Squad ($ $ $ and 1/2)
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The Woman Who Ran ($ $ $ and 1/2)

Black Widow ($ $ and 1/2)

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Summer of Soul ($ $ $ $ and 1/2)

The Boss Baby: Family Business ($ $)

The Forever Purge ($ $ and 1/2)

Marathon ($ $ $ and 1/2)

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The Sparks Brothers ($ $ $ $)

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Holler ($ $ $ and 1/2)

Spirit Untamed ($ $)
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Cruella ($ $ and 1/2)

Dream Horse ($ $ $ and 1/2)

Those Who Wish Me Dead ($ $ $)

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In Action ($ $ $)

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The Truffle Hunters ($ $ $ $ $)

Tom Clancy's Without Remorse ($ $)

Together Together ($ $ $ and 1/2)

Touch ($ $ $)

Vanquish ($ and 1/2)

Thunder Force ($ $)

Concrete Cowboy ($ $ and 1/2)

French Exit ($ $ and 1/2)

Godzilla vs. Kong ($ $ and 1/2)

Nobody ($ $ $ and 1/2)

The Courier ($ $ $ and 1/2)

The Father ($ $ $ $ and 1/2)

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Coming 2 America ($ $ $)

Cherry ($ $ and 1/2)

The United States vs. Billie Holiday ($ $ $)

Nomadland ($ $ $ $ and 1/2)

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The Mauritanian ($ $ and 1/2)

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Two of Us ($ $ $ $)

Falling ($ $ $ and 1/2)
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Malcolm & Marie ($ $ $)

Palmer ($ $ $)

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Our Friend ($ $ $ and 1/2)

Minor Premise ($ $ $ and 1/2)

One Night in Miami ($ $ $)

Herself ($ $ $ and 1/2)

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Shadow in the Cloud ($ $ $ and 1/2)

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Soul ($ $ $ $)
The Midnight Sky ($ $ $ $)

Greenland ($ $ $ and 1/2)

I'm Your Woman ($ $ $)

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Ma Rainey's Black Bottom ($ $ $)

Black Bear ($ $ $ $)

Dear Santa ($ $ $ $)

The Croods: A New Age ($ $ $)

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Mank ($ $ $ and 1/2)

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Fatman ($ $ $)

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On the Rocks ($ $ $)
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Time ($ $ $ $)
The War with Grandpa ($ $ and 1/2)

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North America's largest film showcase begins Sept. 8

2021 Top 10 movies (in alphabetical order): Belfast, Coda, Cyrano, A Hero, Jockey, Licorice Pizza, The Lost Daughter, The Rescue, The Tragedy of Macbeth, West Side Story

No Top 10 films in 2020 (Covid pandemic)

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