Pearl (***1/2) – No way out
It’s hard to enjoy a truly disturbing film like this so much as one can just appreciate the effort.
Elvis (***1/2) Flashes of history
Outside of Hanks, Elvis is a nice montage of history. Just like his life. Blink and you’ll miss it.
Barbarian (****) Keeps its story down deep
Cregger handles some very common story elements in a completely original way.
Lamb (***1/2) – It’s not a child…
This could be one of the strangest films one sees this decade. Or just a movie about revenge.
Samaritan (**) Yo, Rock
Seeing Stallone battle his inner demons…makes this almost worth the watch.
Prey (*****) – Is Predator in its purest form
Prey is the Predator film that threatens to put all of the others to shame.
Bullet Train (****) Shatterpoint
Bullet Train is perhaps the most fun you will have dodging blood splatter this summer.
The Gray Man (***1/2) Goes as far as Gosling can take it
If you take this film as a Gosling vehicle, and you won’t be disappointed. If you think of it as the Russo’s and Evans’ followup to their magnificent MCU films, you may be left wanting.
Nope (****1/2) – Yep
Peele has the whole world in his hands, and it is up to him and his precisely articulate and interesting vision how we are allowed to view it.
Shark Bait (*1/2) Ooh Ha Ha
If you ever wanted to see a more scenic and less intelligent version of Jaws, here ya go.
Umma (***1/2) – Sins of the Mother
The scares in Umma are not so prevalent as they are insinuated.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (****) has the hook
It’s a beacon of acting light that could only be ruined by making a sequel.
Thor: Love and Thunder (*****) – Not everybody gets a hammer
Natalie Portman was the least appealing aspect of the first two Thor films. When she was not in on the third film, the series completely hit its stride for the first time. Now she’s back. Will it kill the vibe in the room that Taika Waititi brought with him for Ragnorok?
The Black Phone (****) Please be real…
One will definitely feel like they’ve gone through hell in the seventies when they come out of this movie.
Jurassic World Dominion (**1/2) Wilting under the shoulders of giants
The film is at its best when the original Jurassic Park crew are onscreen.
Top Gun: Maverick (****) reaches new highs
Smart enough to leave room to grow.
Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews 