Cartel Land documentary review: the war on drugs can have no winners
A real-life action thriller, a terrifying companion piece to Sicario. Do we want the wild West in the 21st century? Because that’s what we’ve got.
political
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi movie review: American mercenary
Michael Bay propagandizes for a right-wing idea of “true America,” seething with disdain for anyone who isn’t a former elite soldier turned mercenary.
Our Brand Is Crisis movie review: unearned (and unneeded) sentiment
A protagonist who revels in the sheer cynicism of her job gets a sentimental redemption out of nowhere; Sandra Bullock’s comedic chops are undercut by it.
The 33 movie review: swallowed up by the earth
A missed opportunity to tell what should be a captivating real-life disaster tale that is instead plodding, scattershot, and lacking in dramatic impetus.
Lost in Karastan movie review: lost indeed
Snarky humor and a wonderfully put-upon Matthew Macfadyen are the best reasons to see a satire that ultimately seems to forget where it was heading.
A Perfect Day movie review: war is hellacious
This compact little satire — set in 1990s Balkans — is a small, personal story about huge unfairnesses and injustices. Bleakly, bitterly, blackly funny.
Spotlight movie review: all the pope’s men
An elegy for old-school reportage and the people who pursue it, and a journalistic procedural with a snappy rush of urgent discovery and consequence.
Pawn Sacrifice movie rating: red light
Yawningly dull Cold War chess drama squanders the charms and talents of Tobey Maguire (as Bobby Fischer) and Liev Schreiber (as Boris Spassky).
The Big Short movie review: first thing we do, let’s kill all the bankers
An infuriating yet entertaining look at the “other guys” of the 2008 financial crash. You will want to weep. While you’re laughing! *sob*
Spooks: The Greater Good (aka MI-5) movie review: game of moles
A ridiculous, rote action thriller, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t entertaining, crammed with all sorts of macho emoting and spy nonsense as it is.
