Barbie (2024.4, Terrific , Energy )
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So far, at least, this is my favorite picture of the year. Full of sensory and storytelling delight. (5*)
Costumes
Killers of the Flower Moon (2024.1, Exceptional, Murder )
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Killers of the Flower Moon is an exceptional and powerful movie about the Osage Native American murders of the 1920s, but it’s just too long! (4*)
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris – Marked Down (3*)
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Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is, ultimately, a Hallmark Christmas movie with the bonus of wonderful costumes and terrific acting from Lesley Manville. (3*)
Babylon – A Rare Failure from a Fine Filmmaker (2*)
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Babylon has some great moments, but is ultimately an overstuffed mess.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Beautiful but Oddly Unsatisfying (2.5*)
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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever starts with the death of the former Black Panther and moves through nearly three hours of sometimes beautiful, sometimes action packed, scenes but with so many obligations to fulfill that it is ultimately unsatisfying.
Elvis – The Price You Pay for Ignoring Your Roots (4.5*)
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Elvis (4.5*) In a dazzling production full of sights and sounds, Baz Luhrmann paints the tragic story of a man who struggled to get back to his cultural roots.
Everything Everywhere All at Once – Deep and Insane Look at the Multiverse (4.5*)
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Everything Everywhere All at Once is an insane look at one woman’s romp through the multiverse as she learns what is really important about life. (4.5*)
Cyrano
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Cyrano (4*) – A wonderful movie with a powerful performance from Dinklage – even if the music isn’t all that great.
Cruella
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Cruella (4*) – A delightful diversion with great chemistry between the two Emmas and an interesting story of how movies happen.
Nightmare Alley
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(4 Stars) A film noire psychological thriller that keeps your interests, darkly.
West Side Story
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(3.5 *) Technically near perfect, but lacking in the dramatic storytelling.
Dune
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(5 Stars) A stunning sensory experience and quite likely the next Star Wars.
Emma.
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(4 Stars) Engaging and sumptuous. A superb production from millennials.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
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(3 Stars) Powerful Performances from Boseman and Davis, but it is still a play.
Mulan
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(2.5 Stars) A disappointing remake when it could and should have been much better.
Irishman
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(4.5 Stars) In addition to what you expect, it shows that old folks still have huge creative talent. Still one of the best pictures of 2019.
Little Women
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(5 Stars) A wonderful feminist approach that is perfect holiday entertainment. A well crafted movie.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
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(3.5 Stars) A movie Of Hollywood, By Hollywood, and, most importantly, FOR Hollywood!
Jojo Rabbit
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(3 Stars) Some good moments. But the movie doesn’t quite come together.
Joker
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(4.5 Stars) Difficult to watch, especially right now. But perhaps necessary.
Mary Poppins Returns
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(2 Stars) Might be good for families, but most adults are going to ask ‘Who asked her to return?’
Mary Queen of Scots
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(2.5 Stars) A visually beautiful period piece, but perhaps a bit more story than the director and writer could handle.
The Favourite
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(3 Stars) Although laced with fun and titillating moments throughout, the movie doesn’t deliver a totally coherent message.
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
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(4.5 Stars) A Coen Brothers film and a collection of six stories, each of which will puzzle and amuse.
Black Panther
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(4 Stars) A visually and aurally stunning action movie with a tightly constructed plot line that you can actually follow.