From the absurdist humor of “Rejected” to the bittersweet melancholy of “It’s Such a Beautiful Day,” animator Don Hertzfeldt has made a career of combining minimalist, almost crude drawings with big ideas that tilt toward the existential. His latest film, “World of Tomorrow Episode Two: The Burden of Other People’s Thoughts,” is Hertzfeldt’s follow-up to […]
Film review
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Film review: ‘All the Money in the World’
Just a few short months ago, Ridley Scott’s new crime drama “All the Money in the World” faced disaster when the career of Kevin Spacey — who played one of the film’s major roles — imploded spectacularly in the wake of several allegations of sexual misconduct. The behind-the-scenes shake-ups threatened to overshadow the film completely, […]
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Film review: ‘The Greatest Showman’
It’s easy to respect the ambition behind “The Greatest Showman,” an all-new, completely original movie musical based on the life of circus impresario P.T. Barnum. Coming from a first-time filmmaker — Australian music-video director Michael Gracey — the long-in-the-works film has been something of a passion project for star Hugh Jackman. The film’s an over-the-top, […]
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Film review: ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’
The latest chapter in the “Star Wars” saga has arrived, and fan reaction has been divided, to say the least. “The Last Jedi” settles much of the speculation and theories set up by 2015’s “The Force Awakens,” but the answers it provides won’t necessarily satisfy the diehard fans.
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Film review: ‘Jane’
Recounting the life of renowned field researcher and primatologist Jane Goodall, the absorbing new documentary, “Jane,” is built from more than 100 hours of recently rediscovered 16-millimeter footage shot in the 1960’s by National Geographic photographer (and Jane’s eventual husband) Hugo van Lawick. Despite having no training or scientific degree, Goodall headed off to Gombe […]
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Film review: ‘My Friend Dahmer’
The recently released Netflix series “Mindhunter” follows a team of FBI agents in the 1970’s as they embark on the early stages of criminal profiling, traveling the country to interview serial killers about their past history in an attempt to see what makes them tick. “My Friend Dahmer” goes a step further, dramatizing the teen […]
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Film review: ‘Mudbound’
The deeply moving “Mudbound” is a sprawling epic set in the rural South that follows the intertwining fates of two families — one black and the other white — before, during, and immediately following World War II.
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Film review: ‘Roman J. Israel, Esq.’
Dan Gilroy in 2014 burst into the scene with his directorial debut feature, “Nightcrawler,” making a big impression with the dark satire about local news and tabloid culture. Now the filmmaker returns with “Roman J. Israel, Esq.,” another slippery morality tale built around a protagonist with questionable social skills. Part legal drama, part character study, […]
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Film review: ‘Coco’
Ever since Pixar released their first full-length feature, “Toy Story,” back in 1995, seeing any new offering from the studio has been a pleasure. Following that groundbreaking work was a run of films that was nearly unprecedented in terms of both critical and commercial success, and even if some of the magic has diminished in […]
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Film review: ‘Novitiate’
“Novitiate” is a spiritual drama following 17-year-old Cathleen as she falls hopelessly, giddily in love. But it’s not a boy — or any other human — who’s
captured her heart, it’s God.
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Film review: ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’
A blisteringly dark comedy from writer-director Martin McDonagh, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” is fueled by the righteous anger that burns within Frances McDormand’s incredible lead performance.
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Film review: ‘Justice League’
Meant to be the culmination of DC’s film universe so far, “Justice League” has had a bumpy journey to the screen. A personal tragedy forced director Zack Snyder to step away from the film in its final stages, leading to Joss Whedon being brought in to usher the film across the finish line. Whedon ended […]
