Joaquin Phoenix Excels in “Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot”
Joaquin Phoenix gives one of his very best performances in “Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot.” That’s saying a lot considering that the 43-year-old’s body of work is utterly exemplary. From “To Die For” to “Gladiator” to “Walk the Line” to “The Master” to “Her”, he has played celebs and nobodies, good guys […]
“Mission: Impossible – Fallout” is the Superior Sequel of the Summer
It would seem impossible, but the “Mission: Impossible” film franchise keeps getting better and better. For 22 years now, Paramount Pictures has produced one excellent action film after another in this series, and the latest entry may be their best actioner yet. Written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” delivers the most […]
Film Review: The Ensemble in “TAG” Makes for Smart Summer Fare
The ensemble comedy has become all too rare in the movie world. The more characters that there are in a story, the harder it is for such numbers to register and earn laughs. Thus, most comedies tend to be star vehicles focusing on one or two comic players. Some that have attempted to create a […]
“Ocean’s 8” Bungles the Caper, Characters, and Cleverness
The problem with the reboot of “Ghostbusters” wasn’t that the four leads were women, but rather that the film script wasn’t particularly clever. The same thing plagues “Ocean’s 8”, the new addition to the Ocean’s franchise. The fault lies not in its all-female gallery of thieves, but in its ho-hum script. It was an inspired […]
Paul Schrader and Ethan Hawke stun with “First Reformed”
Ethan Hawke has given many brilliant performances in his 33-year film career, including standouts like “Gattaca”, “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead”, “Boyhood”, and the “Before Sunrise” trilogy. Now, with “First Reformed”, written and directed by Paul Schrader, he tops himself in his most accomplished screen work to date. In this intense drama, Hawke plays […]
