Category: Reviews

Decades ago, with no governments left to topple, Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung, utterly gripping throughout), an army and underground criminal organization leader perennially determined to reinforce his clout with 10 mystical rings that grant him immense power and immortality, seeks the mythical village of Ta Lo, which is said to be concealed somewhere within a… Continue reading Marvel’s ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ introduces a rollicking new chapter and hero

Before she was recruited to craft the next product in the corporate assembly line that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe, indie filmmaker Chloé Zhao was fostering a creative voice of unique majesty. I distinctly remember the poetically understated opening minutes of her last effort Nomadland, which won Best Picture at last year’s Academy Awards and… Continue reading Despite its pedigree, ‘Eternals’ is frustratingly finite

It’s difficult to distill into words the pure magic and transcendent beauty of writer-director Sian Heder’s CODA, a joyful coming-of-age story and Sundance crowd-pleaser hit, which received rapturous reception and four festival accolades when it premiered there back in January. On paper, it shouldn’t work: the film is littered with the signature narrative flourishes of… Continue reading ‘CODA’ hits all the right notes

Director David Lowery’s and indie studio A24’s latest and most ambitious feature to date- a sprawling medieval epic- surprisingly initiates with a concise, grounded microcosm depicting true honor in the face of adversity as opposed to something like brash swordplay. A quaint, painterly setting of serene farm animals is violently disrupted by a farmhouse caught… Continue reading A24’s ‘The Green Knight’ masterfully modernizes the medieval genre

For over a decade now, Disney has been prolifically reimagining their library of classic content from Alice in Wonderland to Aladdin. Love them or hate them, these reiterations often generate bountiful box office with only the occasional flop, motivating the Mouse House to continue lathering fresh coats of live-action paint on their past properties. Artistically,… Continue reading Classic Disney villain receives revision in dazzling yet unfulfilling ‘Cruella’

After a year-long delay spurred by the pandemic, the dazzling new musical In the Heights, an adaptation of Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda’s breakout Broadway hit, is now finally on HBO Max. Directed by virtuoso filmmaker John M. Chu and penned by Quiara Alegría Hude, the writer of the original show’s book, this invigorating, splashy summertime… Continue reading ‘In the Heights’ is monumental, sensational big-screen entertainment

How do you make a film about a character whose journey has already concluded? One whom we already know the relative history of? For Marvel Studio’s latest offering, this seemed to be a dilemma for the long-belated solo outing of super-assassin Black Widow, aka Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson). We know of her treacherous past and… Continue reading ‘Black Widow’ is a raw, intimate drama (It’s also a solid superhero flick)

Seasoned and incredibly charismatic comedienne extraordinaire Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) performs another explosive comedy show to thunderous applause from her dedicated audience. She treads backstage to her garish dressing room in the opulent Las Vegas Palmetto hotel and casino, exchanging surface-level pleasantries with her crew along the way. Exhausted, she rests and stares quizzically into… Continue reading HBO Max’s ‘Hacks’ is a scathingly fresh show business satire

Say his name, if you dare. You may be petrified by what you see, or what you’ve unwittingly become. What makes a good horror film? The most rudimentary and obvious element is that it simply must be frightening, but other parts are imperative to reinforce those sturdy scares- artistry concealed behind the buckets of blood… Continue reading ‘Candyman’ receives potent update