Terminator: Dark Fate is a Decent Follow-Up to a Long-Languishing Franchise
The Terminator series is one of those franchises which never quite lived up to their glory days, like The Predator or Jurassic Park. People have tried almost everything with the franchise: trying to recapture T2: Judgement Day’s action movie dynamic,…
Jojo Rabbit is a Fresh, Witty Satire with a Lot of Heart
You always know you are going to get something unique with a Taika Watiti movie. Although the director is best known for Thor: Ragnarok, the New Zealander made his name with quirky films such as The Hunt for the Wilderpeople…
Living With Yourself is a Philosophical Exercise Disguised as a Comedy, Boosted by Paul Rudd’s Double Performances
Living with Yourself starts with a plastic-wrapped Paul Rudd clawing out of the earth, clad in nothing but his diaper. Still confused (and scared), he spends the next six hours trekking to his home, where he finds that there is…
Zombieland: Double Tap is a Robust Comedy with Solid Performances
Did Zombieland really need a sequel? Probably not. While it has acquired a small cult status since its release, the comedy was always more of a sleeper hit. The sequel brings back almost everyone from the original film, including writers…
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie Brings Closure to Jesse Pinkman’s Story (and Provides Fan Service at the Highest Level)
It’s been six years since Breaking Bad ended, but you wouldn’t think it when you start watching watching El Camino. The film picks up right where the finale left Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), driving into the desert after escaping his…
You Can’t Look Away as Joaquin Phoenix Descends into Madness (and Violence) in Joker
At the beginning, Joker starts with Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) sitting in front of a dressing mirror, pulling at the corners of his mouth, forcing a grin and a grimace. This is reminiscent of the two masks, tragic and comic,…
Peaky Blinders Gets Close and Personal (and Ups the Stakes) in Season 5
Peaky Blinders has come a long way from its season one roots in Birmingham. Now Tommy Shelby is a socialist MP, and he lives in a stately Manor in Warwickshire. There’s a feeling that, with the trade up to greater…
Gemini Man is a Passable Action Flick with Impressive Technology (and Little Soul)
There’s a moment early in Gemini Man where Will Smith shows remorse about his career as a government-sponsored assassin. He has 72 confirmed kills, and that, in his words, “does things to his head”. It’s the most characterization you see…
Bard of Blood is a Narrative Mess that Fails to be a Realistic Representation of Spycraft
Even if it wasn’t as flawed as it is, Bard of Blood would still be disappointing. It never rises above the level of a typical Indian spy thriller, unintentionally bringing to mind the Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif-helmed flicks of…
Ad Astra Tells a Haunting Sci-Fi Narrative, Anchored by a Strong Brad Pitt Performance
Ad Astra (which is Latin for “to the stars”) rests firmly on the shoulders of Brad Pitt to carry it from start to finish. Directed by James Gray, it’s a slow, meditative story that focuses on personal stakes wrought large…
