movies by or about women opening UK/Ire Dec 06
Lisa Barros D’Sa codirects and Lesley Manville costars in Ordinary Love; more… [This post is for Patreon patrons only for the first month.]
The Whistleblower movie review: action drama with a big cultural barrier to overcome
Chinese film is coming for Western audiences, but this ludicrous thriller, full of coincidence and contrivance, ain’t it. Still, nice to see a global story that doesn’t center the US or Europe.
Playmobil: The Movie movie review: a cheap ad disguised as a movie (barely)
This plastic horror — horrifically, it’s a musical — is a head-smackingly dumb exercise in corporate filmmaking and mercenary marketing. So crass it makes me rethink my love of the toys themselves.
Frozen II movie review: the thaw sets in
There’s magic here, and elemental spirits, but no magic and nothing elemental, metaphorically speaking. Rote and smaller than its predecessor. Even the songs are bland and forgettable.
movies by or about women opening US/Can Nov 27–29
Melina Matsoukas directs and Lena Waithe cowrites Queen & Slim, costarring Jodie Turner-Smith; more… [This post is for Patreon patrons only for the first month.]
movies by or about women opening UK/Ire Nov 27–29
Elizabeth Banks cowrites and directs Charlie’s Angels, starring Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Ella Balinska; more… [This post is for Patreon patrons only for the first month.]
2019’s films ranked (a teaser as we head into the awards-season final stretch)
My on-the-fly, as-I-see-movies ranking of the new theatrical releases of 2019 is shaping up nicely as we head into the home stretch of the awards season. I still have a few major contenders to see, but here are all of my five-star movies at the moment.
Knives Out movie review: catch your death of fun (LFF 2019)
An entirely entertaining murder-mystery jape; dryly funny, deliciously retro yet decidedly modern. Whenever you think you’ve got it figured out, it trips you up again… and you love it for doing so.
movies by or about women opening US/Can Nov 22
Jennifer Lee codirects and cowrites Frozen II, starring Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel; more… [This post is for Patreon patrons only for the first month.]
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood movie review: the importance of radical kindness (LFF 2019)
This wonder of a film wrecked me. In the best possible way. It directly confronts cynicism and misanthropy, and asks us to let them go if we can. I really needed its message. The whole world does now.
