Magic in the Moonlight movie review: the spirit moves me
A flimsy trifle, but a diverting one. Colin Firth is absolutely hilarious, and the re-creation of the 1920s French Riviera is gorgeous.
historical
Pride movie review: hanging together rather than hanging separately
One of the rare movies that gets absolutely everything right, bursting with happy-tears emotion about solidarity, friendship, and smashing bigotry.
Life of Crime movie review: minor misdemeanor
Low-key black comedy and sporadic horror lazily pop up among the crime drama, but never enough of either to score many zings.
Summer in February movie rating: red light
Real-life historical drama about a woman artist ignores her work and focuses instead on a tediously tragic romantic triangle.
God’s Pocket movie review: rot in the city
The cast is amazing and the film has a certain grim visual beauty. But ultimately there is little here but ugly senselessness.
Around the Block movie review: to teach, perchance to inspire
Appealing performances, a few tweaks to genre clichés, and a sincere desire to counter outrageous racism go a long way toward making this worth a look.
A Promise movie review: the waiting is the hardest part
This dreary, drippy period romance is sorely lacking in juicy melodrama and some sizzle among supposed stifled lovebirds.
Yves Saint Laurent movie review: underdressed
This biopic of “fashion’s little prince” offers all the elegant precision of a fashion shoot — it’s beautiful, and cold — but lacks a lot of necessary context.
Hercules movie review: he fights the lion!
Grading on the Ratner Curve, this is a positive triumph. The cheesy clichés are at least passingly entertaining. You could do worse.
Finding Vivian Maier documentary review: secret art comes into the light
An extraordinary examination of a remarkable photographer, part portrait unraveled by meticulous detective work, part sharp criticism of the hidebound art establishment.
