Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is an attempt to recreate the feelings of the old franchise. But, without the Spielberg magic, it feels stale and old. (2.5*)
An overview of the fantasy films Oscar nominated in 2024.
Golda is a movie with some strong points, but struggles to find a real story to tell. (2*)
An Overview of the 2024 Oscar-nominated Thriller Films.
An overview of the Oscar minor genre movies nominated for Oscars in 2024. Includes Crime, Horror, Musical, Mystery, Sports, and Western movies
El Conde is for people who savor the idea of drinking a smoothie made from a still beating human heart…(1.5*)
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 is a VFX masterpiece and the last in a trilogy of super-hero movies that are actually relatable and human scaled. Still, it isn’t as good as the last one.
Napoleon is visually stunning but fails to tell an emotionally engaging and understandable story. (1.5*)
The Creator is a disappointing science fiction movie that could have had a great story but instead gets lost in the special effects. (2.5*)
Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning is an action-packed thriller with everything you’d expect from the IMF. It is also an endurance test of adrenaline production. (4*)
A quick review of this year’s Oscar-nominated Family Films.
An overview of this year’s Oscar-nominated Animated Films, and brief looks at three recommended from last year.
Godzilla Minus One is a monster movie but it is also a surprisingly good personal drama that tells us much about Japanese national character. (4*)
The Boy and the Heron is beautifully crafted, but the musings of a man contemplating the end of his life and what it means to him. Not for everybody. (3.5*)
Robot Dreams is an animated film with no humans and no dialog that conveys feelings of emotional connection but is mostly concerned with cute and fun imagery. (3.5*)
May December will leave you very uncomfortable, but that is precisely why you should see it. (4*)
An overview of the 2024 Oscar Romance films, with a summary of my reviews and a look at the best example from last year.
A summary review of all five of this year’s Oscar-nominated documentary feature films. Also includes a look at the better documentaries of last year’s nominees.
Bayard Rustin almost single-handedly organized the 1963 March on Washington is, however, a very ordinary biopic. Watch it for Domingo’s performance, or don’t watch it at all (3*)
The Color Purple might work as a TV mini series, but the shifts in tone means that it works OK as a musical but not as a drama. (3*)
Bobi Wine The People’s President documents five years in the life of a man who used his musical success to challenge the corrupt and autocratic rule of Uganda’s president. The movie succeeds in meshing music and politics in an intriguing mix.
20 Days in Mariupol is not a feel-good movie. But if you have any doubts about how horrible war is, or even if you don’t, you need to watch this film. (5*)
The Eternal Memory successfully captures the loving relationship with a wife trying to give care to her Alzheimer’s-afflicted husband. It also tries to paint, unsuccessfully, a parallel picture with his work as a reporter in Chile during the Pinochet regime. (3.5*)
A good but disturbing film documenting the struggle of a 13-year old rape victim in rural India and her father as they seek justice and, in the process, start social change.
Four Daughters is a fascinating and unique that tells a tough story of a broken Tunisian family. It also raises questions about artifice and filmmaking ethics. (3.5*)
The Teachers’ Lounge is an uneven film about a German middle school teacher caught in a web of increasing misunderstandings and uncertainty. (3*)
Io Capitano is a harrowing tale of two teenage boys, attempting to immigrate to Italy from Senegal. While the story had promise, the movie lacks purpose and fails to define a consistent tone. (2*)
Perfect Days will appeal to older generations who look for simpler, easier times and marvel in the way light filters through tree tops (komorebi) (4*)
Society of the Snow is a very difficult film to watch, but it is probably an essential one. It effectively makes you ask what you would do when faced with these choices. (4.5*)
Elemental is top-notch creative world building on top of a mundane story! (3*)
Nimona may not be the best in animation, but it tells an important message about gender identity. (3.5*)
Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse is a sequel and like the original, it isn’t for everyone. If you are into comic book action heroes go for it. Otherwise, there are plenty of other movies to see. (3*)
Oppenheimer is an epic film that rewards the hard work required of the viewer. A full exploration of a man, physics, politics, and movie making. (5*)
Questa del Rio News: Questa, New Mexico.
Gringo Gazette: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Sierra County Sun: Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.