movie reviews

‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ review: Eighth movie is a thrilling send-off — if it’s actually the last one

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‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ review: Eighth movie is a thrilling send-off — if it’s actually the last one

movie review MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING Running time: 169 minutes. Rated PG-13 (sequences of strong violence and action, bloody images and brief language). In theaters May 23. Ethan Hunt’s most impossible mission yet? Getting viewers to tear up at the end of the eighth and possibly last “Mission: Impossible” film, “The Final Reckoning.” Our eyes … Read more

‘Thunderbolts*’ review: Marvel’s most entertaining movie in ages

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‘Thunderbolts*’ review: Marvel’s most entertaining movie in ages

movie review THUNDERBOLTS Running time: 126 minutes. Rated PG-13 (strong violence, language, thematic elements, and some suggestive and drug references). In theaters. Oh, the joys of watching a Marvel movie that doesn’t feel like just another Marvel movie. Lately, the best of the 36-film-strong Marvel Cinematic Universe are the entries that blaze their own unique … Read more

Alec Baldwin’s ‘Rust’: The only thing that’s worth seeing in Western is also the most tragic

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Alec Baldwin’s ‘Rust’: The only thing that’s worth seeing in Western is also the most tragic

movie review RUST Running time: 133 minutes. Not rated. In some theaters and on VOD Friday. The wait is finally over… for a movie nobody was waiting for. Nearly four years after a prop gun held by Alec Baldwin and mistakenly loaded with a live round went off and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on set, … Read more

‘Sinners’ review: Michael B. Jordan plays twins in an intoxicating Southern vampire flick

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‘Sinners’ review: Michael B. Jordan plays twins in an intoxicating Southern vampire flick

movie review SINNERS Running time: 137 minutes. Rated R (strong bloody violence, sexual content and language). In theaters. The South and vampires go together like wooden stakes and undead hearts.  Anne Rice put classy Lestat’s feeding grounds in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the trashy vamps of “True Blood” got steamy in the bayou nearby. The … Read more

‘A Minecraft Movie’ review: Idiotic video game film stomps on your brain

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‘A Minecraft Movie’ review: Idiotic video game film stomps on your brain

movie review A MINECRAFT MOVIE Running time: 101 minutes. Rated PG (action, language, rude humor, scary images). “This place makes no sense!” yells a character in the imbecilic green-screen gunk that is “A Minecraft Movie.” The confused person speaks for all of us as she refers to a meh-gical land called the Overworld that she’s … Read more

Ripped Matt Damon, 54, shows off wild body transformation for ‘The Odyssey’

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Ripped Matt Damon, 54, shows off wild body transformation for ‘The Odyssey’

Matt Damon is ripped and ready. The shirtless actor, 54, was pictured with a chiseled physique while shooting on set of Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film “The Odyssey” in Favignana, Italy, on Tuesday. Damon was on location with Zendaya, 28, as the pair were photographed on a rocky hillside. The “Air” star showed off his rugged look … Read more

‘Alto Knights’ review: Robert De Niro’s new mob movie is a huge disappointment

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‘Alto Knights’ review: Robert De Niro’s new mob movie is a huge disappointment

movie review THE ALTO KNIGHTS Running time: 123 minutes. Rated R (violence and pervasive language). In theaters. “From the team that brought you ‘Goodfellas’” is an enticing sell for anybody who loves mafia movies. Or, really, fantastic movies in general. That’s the shrewd way Warner Bros is reeling in audience members to come see “The … Read more

‘Snow White’ review: one more boring, mediocre live-action Disney retread

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‘Snow White’ review: one more boring, mediocre live-action Disney retread

movie review SNOW WHITE <br>Running time: 109 minutes. Rated PG (violence, some peril, thematic elements and brief rude humor). In theaters. Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the laziest of them all? That’d be Disney, the creativity-starved studio that has seemingly lost all ability or inclination to make new hits and would rather rifle through its … Read more

‘The Electric State’ review: Netflix spent $320M on a movie you’ll hate

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‘The Electric State’ review: Netflix spent 0M on a movie you’ll hate

movie review THE ELECTRIC STATE Running time: 128 minutes. Rated PG-13 <br>(sci-fi violence/action, language and some thematic material). <br>On Netflix. We’ve really been sold a pig in a poke with directors Anthony and Joe Russo. In 2019, their entertaining three-hour Marvel epic “Avengers: Endgame” deservingly became the second highest-grossing movie of all time. That was … Read more

‘The Brutalist’ review: Adrien Brody is perfect in this riveting, mammoth epic

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‘The Brutalist’ review: Adrien Brody is perfect in this riveting, mammoth epic

movie review THE BRUTALIST <em>Running time: 215 minutes. Rated R (strong sexual content, graphic nudity, rape, drug use and some language).</em> In every sense, the extraordinary director Brady Corbet’s period drama about a Jewish architect who emigrates to the US after World War II is mammoth: its decades-long story, titanic set pieces and, perhaps most of … Read more

These 5 godawful movies tormented us in 2024: ‘Megalopolis,’ ‘Joker: Folie a Deux’

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These 5 godawful movies tormented us in 2024: ‘Megalopolis,’ ‘Joker: Folie a Deux’

Nicole Kidman famously said in her AMC ad, “We come to this place for magic.” Yes, and so often we leave this place with a pounding headache.  Of the more than 100 films I saw in 2024, here are the five that gave Excedrin Migraine the most business. And to cleanse your palate, check out … Read more

The 10 best movies of 2024: ‘Anora,’ ‘A Real Pain,’ ‘Challengers’

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The 10 best movies of 2024: ‘Anora,’ ‘A Real Pain,’ ‘Challengers’

It’s starting to feel downright normal to say it was a strange year at the movies. But 2024 was, from beginning to end, surreal and weird. Again. Thanks to the duo of Hollywood strikes — which seem like a lifetime ago, but just ended in late 2023 — productions and releases were canceled or delayed, … Read more

‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ review: Jim Carrey is out of his mind

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‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ review: Jim Carrey is out of his mind

movie review SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 Running time: 110 minutes. Rated PG (action, some violence, rude humor, thematic elements and mild language). In theaters Dec. 20. There really is only one justification for the existence of “Sonic The Hedgehog 3”: Jim Carrey getting the “Austin Powers” treatment. In the same wacky way Mike Myers did … Read more

‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ review: Totally unnecessary, boring sequel shows the repetitive Circle of Life at Disney

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‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ review: Totally unnecessary, boring sequel shows the repetitive Circle of Life at Disney

movie review MUFASA: THE LION KING Running time: 120 minutes. Rated PG (action/violence, peril and some thematic elements). In theaters Dec. 20. It’s the Circle of Life at Disney — another boring sequel has been born. Actually, the lackluster “Mufasa: The Lion King” is both a sequel and a prequel to the 1994 classic that … Read more

‘A Complete Unknown’ review: Timothée Chalamet makes a killer Bob Dylan in new biopic

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‘A Complete Unknown’ review: Timothée Chalamet makes a killer Bob Dylan in new biopic

movie review A COMPLETE UNKNOWN Running time: 141 minutes. Rated R (language). In theaters Dec. 25. Like a rolling stone comes the best musician biopic since “Elvis.” It’s “A Complete Unknown,” director James Mangold’s transportive movie about a young Bob Dylan trying to make it as a scrappy folk singer in New York. You’re probably shouting, “Another ‘Behind the … Read more

‘Nosferatu’ review: Freaky remake crowns a new King of Horror

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‘Nosferatu’ review: Freaky remake crowns a new King of Horror

movie review NOSFERATU Running time: 133 minutes. Rated R (bloody violent content, graphic nudity and some sexual content). In theaters Dec. 25. The press loves to hail a star as “unrecognizable” when they transform for a movie role.  With Bill Skarsgård, however, that plaudit is not only deserved but increasingly redundant.  The 34-year-old actor has … Read more

‘Hot Frosty’ review: The abominable snow movie

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‘Hot Frosty’ review: The abominable snow movie

movie review HOT FROSTY Running time: 92 minutes. Rated: TV-PG. On Netflix. After being brought to life, the sexy snowman of Netflix’s “Hot Frosty” can laugh and play just the same as you and me — except a million times dumber.  Named Jack (Dustin Milligan from “Schitt’s Creek”), this holiday rom-com doofus makes Buddy the … Read more

‘Maria’ review: Angelina Jolie is stunning as Maria Callas in her last days

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‘Maria’ review: Angelina Jolie is stunning as Maria Callas in her last days

movie review MARIA Running time: 123 minutes. Rated R (some language including a sexual reference). In some theaters. Near the end of “Maria,” 53-year-old Maria Callas, the opera diva stunningly played by Angelina Jolie, attempts to make it through the challenging mad scene from “Anna Bolena” in an empty Paris theater. Like poor Anne Boleyn, these are the final, messy days … Read more

‘Our Little Secret’ review: Lindsay Lohan’s Netflix movies go from atrocious to merely bad

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‘Our Little Secret’ review: Lindsay Lohan’s Netflix movies go from atrocious to merely bad

movie review OUR LITTLE SECRET Running time:101 minutes. Rated TV-14. On Netflix. It’s another holiday with Lindsay. In her three-picture deal with Netflix, Lindsay Lohan has been churning out braincell-bursting seasonal movies since 2022. There was the unbearable “Falling for Christmas,” in which an injury causes a stuck-up hotel heiress to lose her memory. She’s … Read more

‘Moana 2’ review: Disney’s wishy-washy sequel has sprung a leak

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‘Moana 2’ review: Disney’s wishy-washy sequel has sprung a leak

movie review MOANA 2 Running time: 90 minutes. Rated PG (action/peril). In theaters Nov. 27. Well, at least it’s not “Wish.”  “Moana 2,” the sequel to the 2016 animated film about an oceanic adventurer, is 20,000 leagues better than Disney’s congealed Thanksgiving leftovers from last year. But that’s a low, low bar.   The studio’s latest … Read more