The Flash (****1/2) is great spaghetti
Anyone who has ever seen a D.C. film should find something to enjoy in The Flash.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (****1/2) – Finds a home inside
The Guardians of the Galaxy series is a gift that keeps on giving to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Avatar: The Way of Water (****1/2) 3D shows us why so blue
Cameron has improved some of the shortcomings of the first film by giving this new effort more questions than obvious answers.
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.
Men (****1/2) Eve bit the Apple
The effectiveness of a film like this is it even has this viewer questioning the nature of his relationship with his own wife. Is there a partnership there, or is it a threat?
Pixar’s Turning Red (****1/2) is adorably coming of age
Shi definitely has a gift for portraying the difficulty of navigating from one generation to another with love being the ballast for the family.
Antlers (****) earns our fears
The atmosphere is such that it gave me tangential nightmares the night I saw them. Not many films do this anymore.
Universal Pictures: Frankenstein stories
Walk through the past, when Frankenstien scared kids like my dad at age 5.
Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (****1/2) – Future Past
The brilliance of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is it literally encompasses everything one can imagine. If it hasn’t been covered up to now, Shang-Chi… is evidence that it will all come in good time.
Free Guy (****1/2) is solid
This is truly a film that is worth waiting through a pandemic to see on the big screen. It will also be something worth watching at home for years to come.
Black Widow (****1/2) – The heart that binds
This is the right story for someone of Johansson’s ability, stature and sense of self.
Minari (****1/2) shows where life really begins
Minari is the type of film that feels more like a moment in time that can forever change the life of the person who experiences it.
Criterion: The In-Laws (****1/2) life in serpentine
There are plenty of comedies of any era that don’t age well. Try one that work at such a human level, one would be hard pressed to avoid relating to it during any era.
Another Look: Knocked Up Unrated and Unprotected (****) is loaded
It’s not the landmark that The 40 Year-Old Virgin is, but it’s definitely a few rungs above the normal comedy film.
James vs. His Future Self (****1/2) Stern gets better with age
James vs His Future Self has a depth of feeling unlike most films, yet it is also scientifically interesting without relying on special effects. It resists being something we’ve seen before, and never stops entertaining.
Mulan (****1/2) almost escapes the Disney sheen
This is not a perfect film, but it’s a damn entertaining one. Mulan gives as forceful a message for equality as one can give without pandering whatsoever.
Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews 