“Being Mary Tyler Moore”, HBO’s new documentary on the legendary actress/comedian, opens with clips from a 1966 interview between Moore and talk show host David Susskind. He’s on the attack, questioning the value of women in society and, specifically, Moore’s character on “The Dick Van Dyke Show”. Moore fights back confidently, defending Laura Petrie and […]
“Stay Awake” is family drama centered on two brothers who are trying to figure out what’s best for themselves — and their mother, who’s addicted to prescription drugs. Both Steffan Fin Argus, who plays older brother Ethan, and Wyatt Oleff, as high school senior Derek, deliver breakthrough performances. Their complex characters are portrayed with a […]
It’s the revenge thriller that took the TIFF Midnight Madness program by storm last September. Lionsgate, which acquired “Sisu” shortly thereafter, is opening it in theaters nationwide this Friday (the same day the studio is releasing the Judy Blume adaptation, “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret”. Talk about going after two different audiences!) Sisu […]
Nearly two decades after “Everybody Loves Raymond” wrapped, Ray Romano still can’t seem to get away from the structure, timing and trappings of the TV sitcom. I’m a big fan of smart sitcoms and really enjoyed “Raymond” — sharp writing, relatable humor, classic characters and performances. But you can’t simply take that style, apply it […]
Quality investigative journalism films (“Nightcrawler”, “Spotlight”, “The Post”, “She Said”) have been headline grabbers over the past decade. “Boston Strangler” — a fascinating, deep-dive into the infamous serial killer spree that paralyzed Boston and surrounding areas in the early 1960s — is a triumphant addition to the genre. This movie boasts the best performances and […]
“Seriously Red” is the latest Dolly Parton movie that doesn’t star Dolly Parton. And, like 2017’s “Dumplin’”, it’s also not a biopic on the iconic singer. Instead, this is a story of a diehard Australian Dolly fan, who’s inspired to take her fandom to the next level. Aussie writer/actress Krew Boylan stars as Raylene (a.k.a. […]
“When You Finish Saving the World” premiered at Sundance in January 2022. Even with the pedigrees of star Julianne Moore, writer/director Jesse Eisenberg and producer Emma Stone, A24 decided to hold onto the film for an entire year before releasing it. Would it have made some noise this awards season if A24 had even given […]
“What is happening here?” and “This is so strange” are two lines spoken by Christian Bale’s character Burt in director David O. Russell’s new film “Amsterdam”. They were also two of the thoughts constantly swirling around in my head while watching “Amsterdam”. O. Russell (who also wrote the screenplay) took the mildly intriguing 1933 Business […]
“Emily the Criminal” is one of 2022’s more unique and engrossing movies, thanks to the one-two punch of an interesting, largely successful story and convincing performance from star Aubrey Plaza. Emily is single, barely surviving life in L.A. as a delivery person for a catering company. She has $70,000 in student loan debt… and a […]
Actor B.J. Novak (“The Office”, “Saving Mr. Banks”) has written and directed his first film, which he also stars in. “Vengeance” is not a cold-blooded action thriller. Nor is it a prequel to the awful 2010 family feature “Furry Vengeance” with Brendan Fraser (which still gives me chills every time I think about it). This […]