Return to Sender movie review: yes, return to sender
For almost the entire running time of this movie, we have no idea what it is about. What is it trying to say? What sort of story is it trying to tell?
drama
Every Secret Thing movie review: skeletons in the heart
A slow burn mystery in which the secrets aren’t so much about the crimes it explores but truths of women’s emotional lives that are too often ignored.
Good Kill movie review: American droner
There are important issues running through this, but the film forgets to be sufficiently engaging in the course of being Significant.
Testament of Youth movie review: woman’s war story
A compassionate, distressing tale of a woman’s determination to find her own purpose, full of heartbreaking moments that pile up until they’re unbearable.
Girlhood and Honeytrap movie(s) review: mean girl streets
Two films about poor black teen girls offer harrowing — and very universal — portraits of how our culture tries to crush the spirit out of all girls.
The Age of Adaline movie review: time enough for love
A pleasant and undemanding romantic drama that takes great care not to upset you unduly with strong emotion or embarrassing passion.
Far from the Madding Crowd movie review: a woman’s choices
Ridiculously romantic in all the best ways, and more modern, more progressive, and even just plain more grownup that half the movies thrown at us today.
Still Alice movie review: a true horror movie
Julianne Moore’s terror at watching her own emotional and intellectual life slip away is palpable, and much scarier to me than any slasher movie.
Avengers: Age of Ultron movie review: mad science fiction
Not without problems, but continues the Avengers tradition of big, bold blockbusters that don’t need to toss away thoughtfulness to remain pure popcorn fun.
Child 44 movie review: Stalin glance
Overly complicated yet somehow anticlimactic, and constructed more with pat Hollywood pomp rather than the authentic grit it demands.
