Gwen movie review: a frisson of fright on the farm
Atmospheric mood — this is a dour nightmare in the stark gloom of 19th-century Wales — and a striking performance by Eleanor Worthington-Cox aren’t quite enough to sustain this near-horror film.
Month: August 2019
Brian Banks movie review: calling out corruption, mildly
There’s plenty injustice here to enrage the thinking, feeling citizen, but despite a passionate performance by charismatic Aldis Hodge, this docudrama is nowhere near incensed enough on his behalf.
The Angry Birds Movie 2 movie review: seeing red seeing Red
Painfully stupid faux-woke slapstick that wants to have its idiot male hero and its nods to feminism at the same time. Kids are listening, they are absorbing this garbage, and they deserve better. (now with a brief review of short “Hair Love”)
curated: going to the theater sounds as bad as going to the movies these days…
I’m flabbergasted. But not really, either.
Good Boys movie review: the razor edge of innocence
Much more sweet than raunchy, and surprisingly innocent. Genuinely kind to its young protagonists as they try to navigate a culture that doesn’t much care to protect them from growing up too soon.
movies by or about women opening US/Can Aug 09
Andrea Berloff writes and directs The Kitchen, starring Elisabeth Moss, Melissa McCarthy, and Tiffany Haddish; more… [This post is for Patreon patrons only for the first month.]
movies by or about women opening UK/Ire Aug 09
Ry Russo-Young directs romantic drama The Sun Is Also a Star, costarring Yara Shahidi; more… [This post is for Patreon patrons only for the first month.]
Blinded by the Light movie review: bend it like The Boss
Seriously adorkable teen is saved, in 1987, by the rock poetry of Bruce Springsteen. The Boss is still relevant today, as is, alas, the harsh political and economic setting of Thatcher’s Britain.
Dora and the Lost City of Gold movie review: archeology is her religion
Raiders of the Lost Ark lite for kids, but juvenile humor and a derivative plot limit its appeal for adults. Teen Dora is really cool, though, and a great role model for girls and boys alike.
Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw movie review: everything wrong with the world today
A stew of “hilarious” toxic masculinity and nonstop violence as the solution to all problems. Sexist, stupid nonsense, tediously familiar and wholly predictable. Even the cartoonish action falls flat.
