Gentlemen Prefer Blondes: The Invention and Deconstruction of the Femme Fatale in ‘Double Indemnity’ (1944) and ‘Chinatown’ (1974) [Retrospective]
I. My Sister/My Daughter When I reflect on the films that truly shaped my taste, it’s impossible not to think of Double Indemnity and Chinatown.... Read More
Reviews
‘Janet Planet’ Review: Annie Baker’s Mother-Daughter Dramedy Strikes the Perfect Balance of Humor and Melancholy
Shot in Amherst, Massachusetts, Janet Planet (2023) focuses on eleven-year-old Lacy (Zoe Ziegler) and her mother, Janet (Emmy winner Julianne Nicholson of Mare of Eastown,... Read More
20 Years Later, ‘Spider-Man 2’ is Still the Most Human Superhero Movie Ever Made [Retrospective]
In a recent red carpet interview, Sam Raimi was asked about the possibility of Spider-Man 4—that is, a continuation of Raimi’s own Spider-Man series with... Read More
The Enduring Horror of ‘Alien’ on its 45th Anniversary [Retrospective]
Forty-five years after Ridley Scott directed, and Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Schusett wrote Alien, it is still terrifying. With Escape from Alcatraz trailing close behind,... Read More
‘The Imaginary’ Review: Creative Anime World-Building Bumps Up Against an Often Too Frantic Energy
There are two worlds that we live in. One is driven by friendly creations and limitless possibilities that are only limited by a child’s imagination,... Read More
‘Inside Out 2’ Review: Riley is Growing Up but Pixar Plays it a Bit Too Safe in Solid Sequel
The prospect of a new Pixar film is always an exciting one for audiences and a daunting one for its creators. Before and since moving... Read More
‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2 Review: HBO’s Biggest Drama Brings Summer Heat with Blood-Soaked Targaryen Mayhem
When a Targaryen is born, the gods flip a coin. The two choices as it soars through the air are madness and greatness, a fine... Read More
‘Ghostbusters’ and ‘Gremlins’ at 40: How One Day in the Summer of 1984 Defined a Childhood [Retrospective]
To a budding cinephile growing up in the 1980s, there was no better place for family outings than the drive-in theater. All comfortable and cozy... Read More
‘The Watchers’ Review: Ishana Night Shyamalan’s Feature Debut Falls Into Its Own Trap
The idea of following in your parent’s footsteps within a profession is an idea that never sounded appealing to me, but one can understand why... Read More
‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ Review – Will Smith and Martin Lawrence Find Some Fresh Fun in Newest Ride
When the pandemic shuttered theaters in early 2020, Bad Boys for Life was a surprise box office hit and would wind up being the highest-grossing... Read More
Kansas City Film Critics Circle (KCFCC) Awards: ‘One Battle After Another’ Named Best Film 
Utah Film Critics Association (UFCA) Nominations: ‘One Battle After Another,’ ‘Sinners’ Lead 
Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC) Winners: ‘Hamnet,’ ‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You’ Lead 
Philadelphia Film Critics Circle (PFCC) Winners: ‘One Battle After Another,’ ‘Sinners’ Fight It Out