Category: 3.5 Stars
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Forgotten Gems: Tequila Sunrise (***1/2) is a Recurring Dream
As a fan of Russell, Walsh and Juliá, this film has plenty going for it beyond Hall. It’s debatable that people these days understand the gravitas of Gibson and Pfeiffer from this film alone. That’s okay though. The Oscar nominated cinematography by Hall is worth the price of admission, too. Most people don’t live on the beautiful…
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Roman J. Israel, Esq. (***1/2) – We can’t have nice things
There’s virtually no shot at this film winning any awards, and perhaps it doesn’t truly deserve any. Washington’s about the only actor alive that can so eloquently display his faults as a virtue. He’s able to color a little outside the lines of his somewhat limited character, but he knows the point of his character…
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Murder on the Orient Express (***1/2) – It’s never about whodonit
Murder on the Orient Express – 2017 Director Kenneth Branagh Screenplay Michael Green based on the novel by Agatha Christie Starring Branagh, Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Josh Gad, Derek Jacobi, Leslie Odom Jr., Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley, Tom Bateman “Lies – and again lies. It amazes me, the amount of lies we had told to us this morning.” (said Bouc) “There are…
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Brawl in Cell Block 99 (***1/2) – Grinds it out.
The brutality of this film almost demands that it be seen with friends who enjoy being shocked. There has not been this kind of mutilation in a film with this kind of acting in my life of watching film. The real prize is Vaughn, who shows complete trust in the words and storytelling of the…
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American Made (***1/2) Liman and Cruise in Scorsese mode
American Made – 2017 Director Doug Liman Screenplay Gary Spinelli Starring Tom Cruise, Domhnall Gleeson, Sarah Wright, Jayma Mays, Jesse Plemons, Caleb Landry Jones, Alejandro Edda, Mauicio Mejia, Connor Trinneer, Jed Rees Watching Tom Cruise move through the quick cuts of Doug Liman’s story about Barry Seals secret life of transporting weapons, taking pictures for the Feds and drugs for…
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Annabelle: Creation (***1/2) Altered Formula
Annabelle: Creation – 2017 Director David F. Sandberg Screenplay Gary Dauberman Starring Stephanie Sigman, Talitha Bateman, Anthony LaPaglia, Miranda Otto, LuLu Wilson The strength of The Conjuring universe is that the threads are as consistent and strong as anything we’ve seen with an extensive history. When one considers that this universe does not have an…
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The Lost City of Z (***1/2) is a document of disappointment
The Lost City of Z – 2016 Written and Directed by James Gray Based on the book by David Grann Starring Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson, Sienna Miller, Tom Holland, Angus Macfadyen, Ian McDiarmid, Franco Nero “Praised by the critics” is often a nice way of putting that although it is a good film technically, it’s not likely to stir anyone out of their…
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Table 19 (***1/2) is sweet and funny
The standout, though, is Squibb, who gently steals the movie, straightens its collar, gives it a hug and pushes it out in the world feeling much better about itself without any b.s. at all.
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The Belko Experiment(***1/2): Your life is not your own
This is all enjoyable, to be sure. Undoubtedly because the premise if filled with intrigue and asks questions of human nature. If they’ve done a film like this before, they certainly didn’t attempt it to this scale. The number of characters interacting would normally require a certain percentage of bland characterizations, but the acting and…
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Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (***1/2), but the movies never stop
There will be no preaching about this film one way or the other. I can tell you that as the series goes, this is one of the better efforts, if for no other reason the youngsters are different than in films 2 and 3. Why that matters is of personal taste. I just liked seeing…
Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews 