Battle of the Sexes movie review: totally ace
An essential history lesson with a smart smack of relevance for today (because feminism always has to be relitigated). It’s also warm, funny, and hugely entertaining.
sports
Bleed for This movie review: entirely bloodless
If there is something new to be said about boxing, Bleed for This doesn’t find it. Sucks all the energy out of a story that should have been a can’t-miss.
Eddie the Eagle movie review: white man can’t jump, much
Yet another celebration of an overconfident mediocre white man as charming, heroic, and worthy of emulation. It’s inspirational!
My All American movie review: football fundamentalism
Not an inspirational football movie but the highlights reel from one, with a golden boy who is his own manic pixie dreamboat. The worst sort of hagiography.
Woodlawn movie review: Jesus is an Alabama football fan, obvs
A film taken with the singular American delusion that Jesus loves football… though it also throws in a new delusion: Jesus hates the U.S. Constitution.
The Hunting Ground documentary review: why you have no idea how bad rape is on campus
U.S. universities have plenty of financial incentives to minimize rape on campus, as this enraging film demonstrates. But there are women fighting back…
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).
Concussion movie review: heads up
A quietly horrifying, solidly entertaining medical procedural that makes no bones about the terrible damage American football causes to its players.
Sherpa documentary review: go tell it on the mountain (LFF 2015)
Captures a burgeoning revolutionary spirit among a people who have been ignored, when they aren’t being taken advantage of, for too long.
Creed movie review: the boxing ring of truth
Feels natural and organic, not forced by the dictates of movie franchises. A smart, engaging, unsentimental portrait of male friendship and male emotion.
