NEW
THE IDEA OF YOU
New on Prime Video: Nothing sensational here, just an effective, cute love story with good performances by the two leads
UNFROSTED
New on Netflix: Considering the talent on display, it is a huge disappointment, cheerful but with few laughs
PRESSURE POINT
New on Swedish TV: This raw, searing examination maintains a clear focus, while also leaving room for a debate on the possibility of redemption
RECENT
THE SETTLERS
A gruesome tale, somewhat episodic, with absurd moments and characterizations, but the locations, intense music score and authentic ambition help
RETRIBUTION
The identity of the bad guy is obvious from the start, but there’s a decent amount of tension as Liam Neeson tries to get out of his hot seat
WONKA
A fun, playful film with a superb cast and lovely technical details
OLDER
RED DESERT (1964)
The vastness of industrialism is used to great effect in several scenes, and Monica Vitti is good, but ultimately the film feels empty
TEEN WOLF (1985)
Michael J. Fox’s charm isn’t enough to compensate; this one needed a better sense of humor, or a dark streak
A SIMPLE FAVOR (2018)
The two leads match each other nicely, one timid and the other totally unhinged; they make the dialogue wicked and fun
LONGER REVIEWS
FITZCARRALDO (1982)
We can smell the jungle, the sweat and the wood, and feel the tension in the air
CIVIL WAR
New in Global Theaters: When Alex Garland, who’s British, wrote the script for this film, he intended it as a warning to the United States. It’s a horrifyingly effective one.
CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM (2000-2011, 2017-2024)
May have repeated itself too much over the years, but it had a way of getting at the truth of things that we might hesitate to bring up in polite society