Director Alex Garland follows up “Ex Machina” — his excellent, Oscar-winning examination of man and machine — with another challenging sci-fi mind-bender. Based on a trilogy of novels by Jeff VanderMeer (though veering significantly from that source material), “Annihilation” follows the members of an expedition team sent to explore a mysterious, reality-warping zone known as […]
Film review
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Film review: ‘Game Night’
Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams star in the hilarious action-comedy “Game Night,” as sweetly devoted, charmingly competitive married couple Max and Annie. The pair delight in hosting game nights for their friends (Billy Magnussen, Sharon Horgan, Lamorne Morris, and Kylie Bunbury), inviting the couples over for a light-hearted evening of wine and a few rounds […]
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The 5th Annual Lubies
Oscar night’s arrival this Sunday means that it’s finally time for everyone’s real favorite movie celebration: the annual Lubie Awards, CITY’s Oscar alternative highlighting some of the year’s best — but sadly overlooked — films and performances.
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Film review: ‘Black Panther’
Disney’s choice to release Marvel’s “Black Panther” during Black History month was both cynical and smart. The company identified an underserved film-going population and gave them a $200 million hero, exploiting the annual celebration of black excellence to pad the stats for its latest blockbuster — the first black-directed Marvel adaption with a mostly black […]
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Film review: ‘Early Man’
One of the most appealing things about the films of Aardman Animations is their hand-crafted nature. From fingerprints in the modeling clay to the simple character designs, their films possess a rough-hewn, tactile quality that sets them apart from the more polished work of studios like Laika — which puts a more modern spin on […]
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Film review: ‘Fifty Shades Freed’
The “Fifty Shades” franchise packs up its riding crops, handcuffs, and nipple clamps as it reaches its third and climactic final chapter, concluding the story of Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) and her tumultuous romance with brooding, kink-loving billionaire Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan). The opening scenes of “Fifty Shades Free” find the couple tying the knot […]
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Film review: ‘The Cloverfield Paradox’
Netflix dropping a trailer for the latest “Cloverfield” movie in the middle of Sunday’s Super Bowl appeared to be business as usual. After all, most of the year’s big-budget blockbusters debuted splashy new footage during the big event. But when that ad promised the movie would be available to watch immediately after the game? That […]
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Film review: ‘Winchester’
The story of Sarah Winchester, infamous heiress to the Winchester Repeating Arms company fortune, is a fascinating one: growing despondent after the death of her infant daughter and then her husband, Sarah (played here by Helen Mirren) moved to San Jose in the late 1800s. There, she purchased a modest property, turning it into a […]
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Film Review: ‘Paddington 2’
The first Paddington movie was nothing short of a gift when it was released in 2015. It was the most pleasant of surprises: a simple, beautiful, open-hearted tale told with endless warmth and intelligence. “Paddington 2” just might even be a slight step up from the original. The film continues the adventures of the sweet, […]
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Film review: ‘Den of Thieves’
If Michael Mann’s “Heat” is the filet mignon of cops and robbers stories on screen, “Den Of Thieves” plays more like the Big Mac version — and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s a film that knows exactly what it is: it might not be good for you, but it’s a satisfying enough meal […]
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Film review: ‘Call Me By Your Name’
“Call Me By Your Name” is a vividly-drawn coming-of-age story that captures both the exhilaration and melancholy ache of first love. It’s one of 2017’s most purely pleasurable films.
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Film review: ‘I, Tonya’
In chronicling the rise and precipitous fall of notorious figure skater Tonya Harding (played by Margot Robbie), director Craig Gillespie’s “I, Tonya” tells a quintessentially American story of class, cycles of abuse, and sensationalist tabloid culture, wrapped up in a barbed, darkly funny, and wildly entertaining package. “I, Tonya” traces Harding’s hardscrabble life from childhood […]
