Get on Up movie review: James Brown’s bad self
Solid biopic of the godfather of funk and soul, but there’s not much genuinely memorable about it beyond Chadwick Boseman’s stunning breakout performance.
1980s
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.
Jersey Boys movie review: it’s not only rock ’n’ roll…
Director Clint Eastwood’s discomfort with his own material is enormous and obvious. Does he just not get pop music, or is he actively disdainful and suspicious of it?
The Railway Man review: a derailment on the line
Almost entirely ignores the amazing aspect of this true story that makes it worth telling, and even the very good performances point us in another direction than the intended one.
behold the power of movies to bring down dictators
There’s no such thing as “just a movie.”
Labor Day review: Stockholm-syndrome romance
A gooey nostalgic look back at that time a young boy’s mom fell in love with their kidnapper, presented under a sexy sweltering summer haze.
We Are the Best! (Vi är bäst!) movie review (LOCO London Comedy Film Festival)
An exuberant rock ’n’ roll comedy in which three of the most memorable movie teens ever embrace their adolescent angst and give it screaming voice.
The Wolf of Wall Street review: legitimate businessman
A debauched end-of-empire horror story disguised as an outrageous comedy, with remarkable performances from Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill.
Michael Shannon will cut you up (The Iceman review)
Though based on copious interviews mob killer Richard Kuklinski gave from prison, this barely broaches the great mystery of his life…
porn again? (The Look of Love review)
It’s a puzzlement. How did Michael Winterbottom make a film this tediously conservative?
