Freeze Frame

Whether you view the documentary “Musk” as a hit piece or an unbiased overview of the world’s richest man, there’s no doubt that Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney’s 4-hour epic is enlightening. Elon Musk, of course, is the force behind Space X, Tesla and appropriator of Twitter. To say that he’s a unique individual is a substantial understatement. Gibney and several people who know Musk well, provide a sweeping look at someone who has amassed heretofore unseen wealth and power. For those who want to be informed, “Musk” is must-see. The Apple TV drama “Tenzing” serves as something of a historical correction. It’s well known that Sir Edmund Hillary was the first to conquer Mt. Everest in 1953. But what about the sherpa who guided him there? In this involving drama from Australian filmmaker Jennifer Peedom, the action is seen mostly from the viewpoint of Indian-Nepalese mountaineer Tenzing Norgay, played by Tibetan actor Genden Phunstsok. Tom Hiddleston is Hillary and Willem Dafoe is the expedition leader.…

"We're way past making friends." So goes the chilling promo quote from filmmaker Aaron Sorkin's "The Social Reckoning," a sharp follow up to the now classic Facebook exposé, "The Social Network." In this smartly written and involving true story, Mikey Madison plays whistleblower Frances Haugen who worked with Wall Street Journal writer Jeff Horwitz, played by Jeremy Allen White, to expose some of Facebook's darkest secrets. Jeremy Strong plays Mark Zuckerberg like he's a Bond villain. Facebook’s use of algorithms to radicalize people and maximize user time for profit is put under a withering microscope. “The Social Reckoning” is an ethically provocative broadside blow at big business social media. Zachary Levi steps into the boots once worn by John Wayne in the classic 1947 Western, "Angel and the Badman." In this workmanlike remake, Levi plays a wounded bandit who holes up to heal in the homestead of a Quaker family. Sheriff Tommy Lee Jones and some malicious bad guys are in hot pursuit looking for Zachary…

Robert Redford once said, "You're only as good as you dare to be bad." Tom Cruise and Oscar-winning filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu have dared big time, and the result is the oddball climate change satire, "Digger." In this over-the-top, very meta movie, Cruise is a crass oil tycoon responsible for steering the planet toward environmental ruin. Supporting actors Riz Ahmed, John Goodman and Sandra Hüller ably channel the movie’s weird vibe. Cruise is terrific in an opus that's incredibly irritating, and as subtle as a sledgehammer. But “Digger” also has fleeting moments of brilliance. It seems that Iñárritu is daring audiences to hate "Digger" and, frankly, most people will. Okay, Cohorts...fans of pulp novelist Colleen Hoover, the fourth cinematic adaptation of her work has arrived. In the erotic thriller "Verity," Dakota Johnson plays a woman hired as a ghostwriter for a popular novelist. But naturally, things aren't what they seem and the lines between reality and fiction become blurred. Josh…

Filmmaker Zach Cregger, responsible for recent horror hits "Barbarian" and "Weapons" was handed the reins to reimagine the biopunk "Resident Evil" franchise about killer mutants. The result is an utterly shameless, violent, ugly...and brilliantly made adaptation of the video game that's far better than its predecessors. Austin Abrams makes an appealing everyman thrown in an apocalyptic hell. There are more effective jump scares here than in a dozen horror movies as well as a lot of cheeky humor. “Resident Evil” is depraved but effective. Ethan Hawke gives another solid performance in the Depression Era prison drama, "The Weight." In a desperate attempt to secure his release from a penal labor camp and reunite with his child, Ethan agrees to warden Russell Crowe's scheme to smuggle a fortune in gold across a vast area of Oregon wilderness. While it may not quite be in the same category as the similarly themed classics like “Treasure of the Sierra Madre” and the white-knuckle thriller “Sorcerer,” “The Weight”…

The horror thriller "Don't Move" was shot in Kansas City and was written by James "Murr" Murray from the TV series "Impractical Jokers." Lyndsy Fonseca, rapper Russ and KC's own Rob Riggle star in the story of a church camping trip that goes terribly wrong when the campers get lost in the Ozarks and encounter a giant killer spider. It's a well-produced chiller that should appeal to the midnight movie crowd. The aggravating and overlong wartime thriller “The Fix” is burdened with so many head-scratching inconsistencies it’s hard to know where to start. In this improbable tale, Zachari Levi stars as a CIA agent who, after an operation in Afghanistan goes disastrously wrong, seeks redemption by going on a rescue mission set up by his one-time mentor, Liam Neeson. “The Fix” desperately needs repair. The Angel Studios thriller "Runner" is not to be confused with the current Amazon Prime thriller "The Runner." Alan Ritchson plays a high-risk delivery man who races against time with organ escort Owen Wilson to get…

In the Apple TV action comedy "Mayday," Ryan Reynolds plays a Navy pilot shot down in Soviet territory during the Cold War. An ex-KGB agent and America-lover, played by Kenneth Branaugh, works to help Ryan avoid certain death and escape the country. “Mayday” is mindless and silly but is a lively and amusing buddy flick bolstered by its charismatic stars. Virginia Woolf wrote her 1919 novel, "Night and Day" while recovering from a nervous breakdown. She despondently described the book as "flat" and a "complete failure." The new cinematic version, "Virginia Woolf's Night and Day," isn't a complete failure, but it is a bit flat. Haley Bennett is fine as a young Victorian woman who wants to be an astronomer at a time when women aren't allowed advanced education. “Virginia Woolf’s Night and Day” is well-meaning, well-produced…and a little dull. Fine performances by Dakota Fanning and Jake Johnson help elevate the low-key love triangle "The Sun Never Sets." It’s from cult mumblecore filmmaker Joe Swanberg. A…

Every great filmmaker gets one Mulligan. Ridley Scott's futuristic thriller "The Dog Stars" is his. Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin star in a poorly paced and overly familiar post-apocalyptic nightmare about survivalists who face grisly dangers after a flu pandemic. There are impressive individual sequences, but “The Dog Stars” plays like scenes cobbled together instead of a cohesive whole. The hybrid cartoon and live action farce "Coyote vs. Acme" wants to be "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" but is a bit closer to "Space Jam." Wile E. Coyote and his lawyer Will Forte sue Acme Corporation for defective products used in Coyote’s endless pursuit of the Road Runner. While there are more laughs in a typical 7-minute Looney Tunes short, "Coyote vs. Acme" is a likable low-key poke at corporate America. If you're one of the people who thought Barney the Dinosaur was a little creepy, the horror flick "Buddy" should send a shudder up your spine. In this tongue-in-cheek creep fest, a malevolent unicorn character lures children…

The formative years of famed gastronome Anthony Bourdain are the focus of the drama “Tony.” Dominic Sessa plays the callow and self-centered 19-year-old in a highly fictionalized tale loosely adapted from Bourdain’s bestselling autobiography “Kitchen Confidential.” It may not be authentic, but a sharp cast and thoughtful script make “Tony” a full flavored coming-of-age drama. The wacky cinematic experiment “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma” is a blood-soaked love letter to slasher films with a lesbian twist. Hannah Einbinder stars as a filmmaker who tries to recruit a reclusive scream queen, played by Gillian Anderson, to come out of retirement for a slasher reboot. Filmmaker Jane Schoenbrun’s grisly opus is very imaginative but ultimately becomes excessively self-indulgent. From the other end of the cinematic universe comes the beautifully produced but lightweight family fantasy, “The Magic Faraway Tree.” Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy lead the cast in the story of a struggling urban family that moves…

The intriguing historical drama "The Brink of War" focuses on the 1986 Reykjavik nuclear disarmament talks between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev. Jeff Daniels and Jared Harris portray the Cold War leaders and J.K. Simmons plays Secretary of State George Schultz. First time filmmaker Michael Russell Gunn speculates about what the dialogue between these philosophical opponents may have been like. He reportedly interviewed Schultz and was granted access to some of the Secretary’s transcripts. While it isn't dramatically riveting, it’s well-acted and surprisingly timely. “The Brink of War” is a thoughtful and involving history lesson. Adam Sandler's daughter Sophie gets her chance in the spotlight in the Netflix comic drama, "Don't Say Good Luck." Sophie plays a sophomore who gets the lead in her high school’s production of the musical “Waitress.” Things get complicated as her mom, played by Melanie Lynskey, struggles with recurrent cancer. “Don’t Say Good Luck” is lightweight and a bit soapy, but the…

The high concept rom com "One Night Only" has an original premise, but sketchy execution. In a future where premarital sex is outlawed, one night a year is left open for singles to hook up. Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner play singles looking for a brief encounter, but circumstances keep throwing them together and pulling them apart. There are a few clever moments but "One Night Only" can never overcome its inherent phoniness. The twisted and blood-soaked horror comedy "Ice Cream Man" is morally repugnant. But for Spat Pack filmmaker Eli Roth, the king of ‘torture porn,’ that's kinda the point. The treats served up by a mysterious vendor in a small town turns the kids into homicidal zombies. The crazed and foul-mouthed kids DO hideous things they're not nearly old enough to SEE on the big screen and an army of makeup artists create the grisly mayhem. “Ice Cream Man” lands a few twisted laughs, but you may feel like taking a shower afterward. The Apple TV sports comedy series "Ted Lasso" starring KC favorite…

Is it possible to find something fresh in a superhero series as long in the tooth as Spider-Man's? Well, thanks to solid acting, thoughtful pacing and some terrific action set pieces, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" is an involving and peppy popcorn flick. In an attempt to save his friends and loved ones from harm, Peter Parker had Dr. Strange cast a spell so that no one would know him. But the arrival of a mysterious nemesis with telekinetic powers complicates matters, getting the Hulk and Punisher involved. Sadie Sink is excellent as a troubled character, but to identify her would be a major spoiler. Let's just say the Avengers Universe is expanding. "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" shows that Marvel still has gas in the tank thanks to sharp direction and thoughtful production. Despite its title, the Amazon Prime thriller "The Devil's Mouth" is not a supernatural horror flick. It's a survival drama where a group of dimwitted college friends decide to swim in a notoriously dangerous cave in Thailand. Naturally, they…

For audiences that love action and hate dialogue, "Motor City" might be the movie for you. Alan Ritchson stars in this over-the-top crime thriller set in 1970s Detroit. There are only about four lines of dialogue in this entire story of a man who escapes from prison to seek revenge on a drug dealer who framed him. Ben Foster and Shailene Woodley co-star in a plot propelled by classic music of the era. The whole affair gets increasingly ridiculous as it progresses and that finale is unintentionally funny. Still, "Motor City" has just enough absurd thrills to rev the engines of undemanding action fans. Maybe all you need to say about the Netflix action comedy "72 Hours" is that it stars Kevin Hart. Fans take note. Others beware. Hart plays a forty-year-old promotional exec who goes on a bachelor party weekend in Miami with some 20-somethings to see how young people behave. Teyana Taylor and some SNL stars are wasted in support. The humor is raunchy, and the script is devoid of even a moment of realism. Still,…

Oscar-winning filmmaker Christopher Nolan's larger-than-life cinematic style is well suited for Homer's "The Odyssey," and his adaptation of the epic tale sails impressively onto the silver screen. Big ideas and big themes dominate the big screen in this ancient horror story. Matt Damon leads a strong ensemble as Odysseus, the morally conflicted king of Ithaca who must face down demons of all sorts as he questions his bloody role in the Trojan Wars, embarks on an ill-advised adventure, angers the gods...and just wants to go home. A notable cast aids Nolan's vision that puts an emphasis on violent conflict, symbolizing Odysseus' inner turmoil. The acting honors go to Robert Pattinson as the duplicitous, scheming Antonius and Smantha Morton as the wily witch Circe. While it's guilty of some clunky dialogue and a few minor missteps, "The Odyssey" is an impressive old school Hollywood spectacle that demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible. The Hulu sports drama "They Fight" is the kind of movie that…

“The Dig,” a warm and moving tale inspired by true events. Carrie Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes star in Simon Stone’s adaptation of John Preston’s novel about one of the most important archeological discoveries in British history. In 1939, group of enthusiastic amateurs unearth an Anglo-Saxon treasure on a remote rural estate…but it’s the filmmakers who hit emotional paydirt. “The Dig” is a truly welcome and pleasant surprise. Three Oscar winners, Denzel Washington, Rami Malek and Jared Leto add gravitas to the lurid serial killer melodrama, “The Little Things.” Washington plays an ostracized cop wrestling with old demons who tries to help a green detective solve a string of murders. The film adds nothing new to the genre and the story eventually loses its credibility. But as usual, Washington brings something to his role that makes it somewhat watchable. Naomi Watts stars in the touching Australian family drama, “Penguin Bloom.” It tells the true story of Sam Bloom, an avid surfer who suffers pronounced mental…

The well-made and disturbing Netflix drama “The White Tiger” is based on the award-winning picaresque novel by Aravind Adiga. Set in modern India, the sprawling story is a scathing indictment of business and political corruption as well as the inequities of the Indian caste system. The story is seen through the eyes of a low class driver who works for and is exploited by members of a rich family. If a Dickens novel had included a hero who employed nefarious means to pull himself out of his troubles, it might have looked a bit like “The White Tiger.” The drama “Our Friend” is a skillfully acted tearjerker that tells the story of a man who essentially puts his life on hold to help out when one of his friends faces a severe health crisis. Jason Segel hits the right notes as the selfless friend and Casey Affleck and Dakota Johnson are equally good as a couple trying to cope when one of them is stricken with terminal cancer. The film’s plot jumps back and forth in time which is jarringly awkward, and the tone is…

On the night that Muhammad Ali defeated Sonny Liston for the heavyweight boxing crown in 1964, he met up with NFL running back Jim Brown, pop music superstar Sam Cooke and civil rights activist Malcom X. The film “One Night in Miami” is a fictionalized account of that event. Kingsley Ben-Adire, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge and Leslie Odom, Jr. are all solid in this absorbing movie that marks an impressive directorial debut for Oscar-winning actress, Regina King. It’s a thought-provoking speculation about the cultural, spiritual and political issues that the African American community was struggling with. “One Night in Miami” is entertaining and timely. “Outside the Wire” is an action-packed sci-fi thriller set in the near future that is nearly undone by some preposterous plot holes. Anthony Mackie plays a cyborg soldier on a mission to stop Ukrainian terrorists from detonating a nuclear device. The movie delivers plenty of violent commotion for action fans, but stumbles with its plot. “Outside the Wire” doesn’t…

Are you a fan of the sweeping melodramatic Hollywood romances of the 1950s that often show up on Turner Classic Movies? If so, then "Silvie's Love" is right up your alley. Tessa Thompson and Nnamdi Asomugha star in the story of a rocky romance between a wannabe TV producer and a jazz sax player. “Silvie’s Love” echoes those popular, soapy 50s movies that filmmakers like Douglas Sirk made mainly for a female audience. One significant difference is that writer/director Eugene Ashe and his leads are African American, giving the story a unique perspective. The cast is appealing and the score by Fabrice Lecomte is a big help, too. “Silvie’s Love is beautifully shot, lush and lyrical. Outstanding performances from Vanessa Kirby, Shia LeBeouf and Ellen Burstyn propel the heartbreaking drama, "Pieces of a Woman," the story of how a traumatic home birth affects the lives of a woman, her partner and her mother. It's admittedly hard to endure but is a distinctive acting showcase that thrusts Kirby into this year’s…

As we begin a new year, it’s time to look back at the best movies of 2020. Here’s the cream of the year’s cinematic crop. 10) End of Sentence (Not rated) John Hawkes and Logan Lerman star in a sweetly sentimental comic drama about the attempted reconciliation of an estranged father and son. 9) Nomadland (R) Frances McDormand stars in Chloe Chow’s effective low-key drama about homeless seniors who travel from one part-time job to another. 8) The Outpost (R) “The Outpost” is a gripping and completely immersive account of US troops ambushed in Afghanistan’s Battle of Kamdesh in 2009. 7) News of the World (PG-13) America’s dad Tom Hanks stars in his first Western. It plays like a combination of “True Grit” and “The Searchers.” 6) Minari (PG-13) Stephen Yeun stars in the touching and realistic drama “Minari,” the story of a Korean American who attempts to start a small farm in 1980s Arkansas. 5) The Social Dilemma (PG-13) The important and harrowing documentary "The Social Dilemma" focused a searing spotlight on…

The folks at Pixar continue to show their golden touch. “Soul” is a Disney+ feature that again demonstrates that animation can be a powerful way to tell a compelling story that would be difficult for live action. Jamie Fox voices the lead character, a jazz piano player who is accidentally transported to the pre-life realm and winds up helping another person find life’s purpose. “Soul” is heartfelt, funny and intelligent and is one of the year’s best films. America’s dad, Tom Hanks, delivers again with his first Western, “News of the World.” It’s a post-Civil War story about a man who attempts to deliver a 10-year-old German girl, raised by Kiowa people, back to the family she was kidnapped from. They endure many hardships as they travel across the Texas wilderness. “News of the World” plays like a mix of “True Grit” and “The Searchers,” and I mean that in the best way. George Clooney gives a strong performance in the post-apocalyptic sci-fi drama, “The Midnight Sky.” After a global catastrophe, a scientist…

The folks at Pixar continue to show their golden touch. “Soul” is a Disney+ feature that again demonstrates that animation can be a powerful way to tell a compelling story that would be difficult for live action. Jamie Fox voices the lead character, a jazz piano player who is accidentally transported to the pre-life realm and winds up helping another person find life’s purpose. “Soul” is heartfelt, funny and intelligent and is one of the year’s best films. America’s dad, Tom Hanks, delivers again with his first Western, “News of the World.” It’s a post-Civil War story about a man who attempts to deliver a 10-year-old German girl, raised by Kiowa people, back to the family she was kidnapped from. They endure many hardships as they travel across the Texas wilderness. “News of the World” plays like a mix of “True Grit” and “The Searchers,” and I mean that in the best way. George Clooney gives a strong performance in the post-apocalyptic sci-fi drama, “The Midnight Sky.” After a global catastrophe, a scientist…

The valedictory performance from the late Chadwick Boseman may well earn him an Oscar. He’s dynamic as a troubled trumpet player in the Netflix adaptation of August Wilson’s acclaimed play, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” It tells the tragic story of an ill-fated blues recording session in 1927 and touches on themes of racism, sexism, faith and disparity. Viola Davis is impressive, too, supported by a solid ensemble. “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” is a challenging drama that hits some resonant notes. Oscar-winner Hilary Swank stars alongside Michael Ealy in the neo-noir thriller, “Fatale.” A one-night stand with an obsessive woman leads to nothing but trouble for successful entrepreneur. Director Deon Taylor and screenwriter David Loughery mix in a few surprises to the formula to keep viewers off base. The sharp cinematography from award-winner Dante Spinotti is a big help, too. Although it’s overly familiar, “Fatale” provides some welcome chills for fans of the genre. The Danish dramedy “Another Round” was the big…

Meryl Streep, James Cordon and Nicole Kidman headline Ryan Murphy’s energetic adaptation of the wacky Broadway musical, “The Prom.” They play narcissistic theater folk who decide to take up the cause of a small-town lesbian teenager for the sake of publicity. It’s overlong and it’s message as subtle as a sledgehammer, but a great cast makes this frantic prom worth attending. Streep appears once again as a self-absorbed author on an ocean voyage with estranged friends Candice Bergen and Dianne Wiest in Steven Soderberg’s astute comic drama, “Let Them All Talk.” It’s an easy-going tale that unfolds as leisurely as a senior cruise. Sienna Miller and Diego Luna are excellent in the imaginative and aptly titled, “Wander Darkly,” the tale of a woman in a state of confusion after suffering head trauma in a car wreck. It takes viewers to intriguing, unexpected places. Rachel Brosnahan gives a sharp performance in the ‘70s era crime drama, “I’m Your Woman.” She plays a naïve twenty-something who goes into hiding with…

Disney plays around with its own fairytale tropes with the lighthearted comic fantasy, “Godmothered.” Jillian Bell plays a fairy godmother-in-training who is called upon to save the motherland by granting the wish of a jaded TV journalist, played by Isla Fisher. Bell is perfectly cast as the bungling but good-hearted fairy. While this Disney+ offering never quite achieves its comic potential, “Godmothered” is a warm and entertaining lark. Aubrey Plaza shows impressive dramatic acting chops in the raw and scathing behind-the-scenes drama, “Black Bear.” Plaza plays an emotionally fragile actress who is manipulated and gaslighted by her director/boyfriend in order to achieve a believable performance in a low budget indie film. It’s a very smart and intriguing movie, but “Black Bear” nearly outsmarts itself with its multiple contrivances and plot layers. Aaron Eckhart and Tommy Lee Jones star in the tangled and meandering thriller, “Wander.” Eckhart plays a private detective who co-hosts a podcast with a…

The updated Disney+ adaptation of the classic children’s novel “Black Beauty” takes many liberties with the original plot. Kate Winslet provides Beauty’s voice and Mackenzie Foy is the girl who loves her. While this version of “Black Beauty” is uninspired and the filmmaking is sometimes clumsy, it’s still a harmless, winsome distraction for kids. Watching the animated caveman sequel “The Croods: A New Age” is a bit like watching a runaway dinosaur stampede. Nicholas Cage, Emma Stone and Ryan Reynolds lead the voice cast in the story of prehistoric people who stumble upon an oasis. It’s a well-produced but hyperactive comedy. Average human Melissa McCarthy takes on an all-powerful artificial intelligence bent on world domination in the comedy, “Superintelligence.” It’s predictably broad and silly but benefits greatly from McCarthy’s considerable personal appeal. Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis play a lesbian couple who have to decide whether or not to come out to the family at Christmastime in the clever,…

Gary Oldman stars in David Fincher’s outstanding showbiz drama, “Mank.” Filmed in glorious black-and-white, “Mank” showcases the difficulties that infamous alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz experienced while writing Orson Welles’ classic, “Citizen Kane.” It’s a shrewd, top-notch Hollywood biopic that crackles with great dialogue. “Mank” is pure Oscar bait. “Hillbilly Elegy” is a disappointing, disjointed adaptation of J. D. Vance’s acclaimed memoir about Vance’s efforts to transcend his backwoods family roots to pursue a career in law. Fine turns from Amy Adams and Glenn Close are wasted in this wrong-headed and awkward social drama. Riz Ahmed gives an outstanding performance as a rock drummer who goes deaf in the realistic and harrowing drama “Sound of Metal.” It’s hard to watch, but “Sound of Metal” is a well-made, empathetic and heart-wrenching cautionary tale. “Collective” is a shocking documentary that exposes the political corruption in the Romanian healthcare system. “Collective” is a…

“Freaky Friday” meets “Friday the 13th” in the bloody R-rated horror comedy, “Freaky.” Vince Vaughn plays a deranged serial killer who supernaturally switches bodies with a mousey teenager. While “Freaky” doesn’t quite live up to its wacky promise, Vaughn milks his dual role for all its comic worth. Mel Gibson plays Santa Claus…you heard that right…in yet another wacky, violent R-rated comedy, “Fatman.” A spoiled, wealthy kid sends a hired killer to knock off Saint Nick when he gets a lump of coal for Christmas. Intended as a pitch-black satire, “Fatman” is bleak and annoying instead of campy and amusing. It’s a lump of coal in your cinematic stocking. Impressive, nuanced performances from Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan add strength to the slow-moving period romance, “Ammonite.” Winslet plays a reclusive paleontologist who begins a forbidden romance with the wife of a fellow scientist in 1840s England. “Ammonite” should have caught emotional fire, but instead merely simmers. Eighty-six-year-old screen legend…

Kevin Costner and Diane Lane play a retired couple who attempt to rescue their grandson from a rural North Dakota family in the harrowing drama “Let Him Go,” based on a novel by Larry Watson. Leslie Manville memorably chews the scenery as the cultish family’s domineering matriarch. Violent and a bit lurid, “Let Him Go” plays a bit like a neo-Western and is a well-acted and unsettling revenge thriller. If a Disney Channel movie married a Hallmark holiday romcom, the offspring might look a bit like the middling flick, “Operation Christmas Drop.” Kat Graham plays a Congressional aide who tries to pull the rug out from under Air Force Captain Alexander Ludwig and his Guam-based charitable efforts. It’s meant to be inspiring, but “Operation Christmas Drop” is a bland, slow moving and formulaic romantic comedy. “The Informer” is a brutal thriller starring Joel Kinneman as an FBI informant who infiltrates a savage Polish drug gang. Things get tricky when Joel gets sent to prison. FBI agents Rosamund Pike and Clive…

If you took a typical Hallmark Channel Christmas romantic comedy and added in plenty foul language and crude sexual banter, you might come up with something like the off-putting Netflix offering, “Holidate.” Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey star in the story of two singles who decide to use one another as a non-intimate date on holidays only. The game cast tries hard to find something resembling reality, but mostly come up empty. Watching “Holidate” is no holiday. “His House” is a genuinely creepy and thoughtful horror film with a timely political and sociological backdrop. Wunmi Mosaku and Sope Dirisu play a couple from South Sudan who flee the violence in their homeland and seek refuge in the British Isles. Once they arrive in England, however, they realize that an evil supernatural entity has followed them. There’s a lot more going on than meets the eye in this sharp debut feature from writer/director Remi Weeks. “His House” will provoke and disturb viewers in equal measure. “The Craft: Legacy” is a sequel to…

“Rebecca,” a Netflix remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic suspense drama is a handsomely produced but uninspired adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s novel. Armie Hammer and Lily James star in this dark gothic romance that checks all of the appropriate boxes but can’t match the 1940 Best Picture Oscar winner, which can be seen for free at any time on YouTube. “The Witches” is yet another remake, this one based on Roald Dahl’s scary children’s story. Anne Hathaway and Octavia Spencer lead the cast in this tale of a boy who discovers that a coven of witches plans to turn kids into mice. Hathaway’s over-the-top performance is bound to creep out the kiddies in this capable if overstuffed production. After fourteen years, Sacha Baron Cohen returns as a faux Kazakhstani TV reporter in “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.” In this shocking mockumentary, Borat ambushes the clueless Rudy Giuliani among others. It’s shameless, irreverent and uneven, but succeeds in lampooning contemporary hypocrisy. Anthony Mackie and Jamie…

Oscar-winning filmmaker Aaron Sorkin offers one of the year’s finest movies, “The Trial of the Chicago 7.” This surprisingly timely drama covers the infamous case in which peace activists were tried for allegedly inciting riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Sasha Baron Coen, Eddie Redmayne and Mark Rylance are part of a great cast that skillfully delivers Sorkin’s sharp, incisive dialogue. The movie’s pace is very lively and it’s unusually funny for a historical courtroom drama. The verdict on “The Trial of the Chicago 7” is ‘compelling,’ beyond a reasonable doubt.’ “Clouds” is a Disney+ drama that tells the true story of Zach Sobiech, a teenager suffering from terminal cancer who released the hit song “Clouds” a few months before his death in 2013. Actor/musician Fin Argus fits the role of Sobiech like a glove and the earnest cast helps mitigate some of the movie’s manipulative aspects. “Clouds” is a four-hankie tearjerker. Thankfully, the pathos is somewhat balanced by the movie’s upbeat…

Bill Murray re-teams with “Lost in Translation” filmmaker Sophia Coppola for the disarming comedy, “On the Rocks.” Rashida Jones plays a woman who fears her husband, played by Marlon Wayans, may be cheating on her. Her pushy ne’er do well father, played by Murray, manipulates her into spying on her spouse. There’s a lot more going on here than meets the eye, making “On the Rocks” a sly, engaging and loving look at family dynamics. “The Forty-Year-Old Version” may be the year’s biggest surprise. Acclaimed playwright Radha Banks plays herself in this autobiographical movie about a struggling theater artist who tries her hand at rap. Whip smart and often hilarious, it’s an eye-opening exposé of racism and ageism in the liberal New York performing arts scene. This very adult film has brazen language and content that will make it radioactive for many, but if you can get past the barrage of dirty words, “The Forty-Year-Old Version” will be a welcome introduction to a charismatic talent. “Yellow Rose” is a charming…

The life of feminist icon Gloria Steinem is given the art house treatment in Julie Taymor’s overambitious biography, “The Glorias.” Four actresses play Steinem in various stages of her life, including Oscar winners Alicia Vikander and Julianne Moore. While it’s illuminating and relevant, the film skims the surface while indulging in some unnecessary and pretentious sequences of surrealism. Still, “The Glorias” is a modestly involving experiment. “The Boys in the Band” is a Netflix adaptation of the famous 1968 Broadway play about a birthday party amongst a group of gay men that devolves into an ugly session of self-loathing and bickering. Jim Parsons leads a strong cast in this wicked comic drama that isn’t nearly as shocking as it would have been 50 years ago, but still packs a punch. The documentary “Herb Alpert Is” provides a sweeping overview of the life of the phenomenally successful musician, artist, philanthropist and founder of A&M Records. For those unfamiliar with his work, it’s an involving…

If nothing else, you’ll have to admit that the comic drama “Kajillionaire” is not the same old thing. This quirky and gentle movie stars Evan Rachel Wood as an emotionally stunted young woman who works as a petty scam artist with her parents, Richard Jenkins and Debra Winger. Things get complicated when they invite a stranger, played by Gina Rodriguez, into one of their schemes. “Kajillionaire” has a sweet and eccentric vibe that viewers will find either refreshing or annoying. In either case, “Kajillionaire” unique. Millie Bobbi Brown of “Stranger Things” fame is terrific as Sherlock Holmes’ teenage sister in the lighthearted Netflix mystery thriller, “Enola Holmes.” When her mom disappears, Enola attempts to find her by deciphering clues her tricky mother left behind. The story is told with a wink and a nod and never really amounts to much, but Brown carries the day in “Enola Holmes,” the probable first installment of a wannabe franchise. “Secret Society of Second Born Royals” is a Disney+ fantasy aimed at…

Pop superstar and Kansas City native Janelle Monáe stars in “Antebellum,” a bizarre horror entry with significant social overtones. Monáe plays a slave on a plantation in the Civil War South…or is she a renowned author living today? This well acted but enigmatic film doesn’t make much sense until the final scenes when the film starts to look like a project that M. Night Shyamalan might have started…and rejected. Sitting through the Netflix drama “The Devil All the Time,” based on the novel by Donald Ray Pollock, may be a certified form of torture. The beautifully acted and lensed drama stars Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson in a sweeping story spanning two generations dealing with religiously conflicted rednecks in post- WWII rural Ohio. It’s unrelentingly ugly and violent, filled with loathsome characters. “The Devil All the Time” falls well short of its lofty thematic aims. Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslett and Sam Neill lead a potent cast in the talky family drama, “Blackbird.” Dying of ALS, Sarandon decides…

“The Broken Hearts Gallery” is a cute, maybe too cute romantic comedy for millennials that exists in an otherworldly rom-com dimension. Geraldine Viswanathan plays a young woman who saves mementos from her many failed romances and turns them into a gallery exhibit. Can she ever find true love? What do you think? The cast is affable and there are some hearty laughs, although the amusing dialogue often sounds like it’s all coming from the same voice. Seventies pop music star Helen Reddy gets the biopic treatment in “I Am Woman.” Australian actress Tilda Cobham-Hervey plays the singer who went through many personal struggles before hitting it big and writing the number one hit “I Am Woman” that became the anthem for the women’s movement. It’s slickly produced and features many of Reddy’s hit songs, but it suffers somewhat due to its formulaic and melodramatic execution. The feminist angle of “I Am Woman” may, however, strike a chord with viewers in the “Me Too” era. “All In: The Fight for Democracy” is a…

Christopher Nolan’s mind-boggling sci-fi action thriller “Tenet” begs to be seen on the big screen. It also begs to have subtitles. While it’s involving and visually dazzling, the confounding time-inversion plotline is further muddled by an obtrusive soundtrack and heavy accents. John David Washington and Kevin Branagh do an impressive job of navigating their tricky roles. “Tenet” is virtuoso filmmaking and frustrating storytelling in equal measure. “Mulan,” the live-action, non-musical adaptation of its 1998 animated hit is now on Disney+. Liu Yifei takes the title role of a Chinese girl who poses as a man to enter the Imperial Army and defend against Northern invaders in 620AD. It’s a beautifully produced and involving action fantasy, with considerably more violence than we’re used to seeing from Disney. Little girls everywhere will be inspired. Charlie Kaufman, Hollywood’s most acclaimed eccentric stays true to form with the mind-bending and soul-chilling metaphysical horror film, “I’m Thinking of Ending…

“The Personal History of David Copperfield” is a fanciful reimagining of Charles Dickens’ classic novel. Dev Patel takes the title role in this quirky adaptation, an offbeat but fresh, exuberant and mostly comic take from writer/director Armando Iannucci, the man behind TV’s “Veep.” Purists may balk, but many viewers will be captivated by this version’s unconventional casting and upbeat whimsy. “Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies” is a documentary that’s true to its title. While there are plenty of naked bodies on display, if your interests are prurient, you may be disappointed. The expert talking heads offer a clinical examination of censorship and the role of nudity in mainstream Hollywood, porn excluded. It’s not erotic, it’s academic. “Cut Throat City” is a very dark, gritty and violent gangster thriller set in New Orleans, the third film directed by rap star RZA. It’s all very familiar, often doesn’t ring true and could have used some tightening in the editing bay. But “Cut Throat City” is…

Oscar winning filmmaker Kevin Willmott’s drama “The 24th” is a harrowing depiction of the intolerable racism that led to the 1917 mutiny of an all-black US infantry division. Trai Byers leads a solid cast in this true story that ably illuminates a dark episode in American history. Russell Crowe’s bloodcurdling performance fuels “Unhinged,” a sadistic thriller about a psycho with road rage. It’s tense and well made, but the wheels fall off due to some improbable plot elements. Plot absurdities also plague “The Vanished,” an unnerving thriller starring Thomas Jane and Anne Heche about a couple whose daughter goes missing during a camping vacation. If you stick it out until the end, your eyes will be rolling. Taylor Russell and Charlie Plummer are excellent in the YA drama “Words on Bathroom Walls,” a sympathetic look at a teen with schizophrenia. It’s modestly effective thanks to its unique visual approach. “The Sleepover” is Netflix family comedy about kids who embark on an adventure when they discover that…

The star power of Jamie Foxx and Joseph Gordon-Levitt is the only thing powering Netflix’s “Project Power,” a silly, overblown sci-fi action flick about a street drug that provides short-lived superpowers. The premise showed promise, but the plot gets goofier as it goes along. Try not to laugh. “Endless” is a morose paranormal romance that plays like a dull reworking of the 1990 film “Ghost.” Alexandra Shipp plays a teen whose boyfriend, who was killed in a car wreck she caused, comes back in spirit to console her. Shipp’s presence helps, but not enough to console viewers. “Sputnik” is a genuinely chilling and extremely well-made sci-fi horror offering from Russia about a cosmonaut who brings back a malevolent parasite from space. This grisly thriller has more intelligence and thematic depth than you might expect. Just be prepared to be creeped out. “Day 13” on the other hand, is a boring horror flick about a teenage who notices strange goings on by new neighbors across the street. Nothing happens until the…

“An American Pickle” is a ‘stranger-in-a-strange-land’ comic fantasy starring Seth Rogan in dual roles. He plays an immigrant worker accidentally brined in a pickle vat 100 years in ago. When he miraculously awakens, he meets his only living descendant, his great-grandson, also played by Rogan. “An American Pickle” is a surprisingly sentimental look at the ups and downs of family ties. “Work It” is a Netflix musical comedy about misfit dancers. Sabrina Carpenter and Liza Koshy lead an appealing and talented cast as high school seniors who form a competitive dance group to further their post-school ambitions. It’s goofy and predictable but “Work It” should prove to be engaging for fans of contemporary dance. “The Secret Garden” is at least the seventh adaptation of the classic children’s novel. Colin Firth and Dixie Egerickx star in a well-produced and workmanlike version that doesn’t avoid the story’s dark themes. However, it relies heavily on visual dynamics and doesn’t quite achieve the emotional catharsis…

“Upside-Down Magic” is a “Harry Potter” wannabe aimed at an even younger demographic. This Disney Channel movie, based on the Scholastic book series, is about students who attend a school for kids with the gift of magic, but the story concentrates on the struggles of four misfits who are ostracized because their magical powers don’t conform to magical norms. The production values are fine, and the cast is likable, but the movie’s execution is so pedestrian that it will appeal only to the very young. It has cool special effects, but not much movie magic. “Summerland” is an easy-going British import set during WWII. Gemma Arterton plays an ill-tempered, antisocial writer living alone in a small seaside village who is forced by authorities to board a young boy whose parents are tied up in the war effort. Her hard-kept secrets are slowly revealed as she reluctantly bonds with the lad. While the cast is fine, the story lacks the hard edges necessary to give the drama a real spark. Still, “Summerland” is a…

Rosamund Pike’s solid performance is the main attraction of the arthouse biopic, “Radioactive,” the story of Madame Curie and her discovery of radium. Scenes that jump forward in time to illustrate the ultimate effects of her pioneering work are awkward and heavy handed. But “Radioactive” still serves as an informative primer about the world’s first female Noble Prize winner. “The Rental” is a genuinely creepy horror effort that marks the directorial debut of actor Dave Franco. Dan Stevens and Alison Brie star in this story about two couples on a weekend retreat who are stalked by a video-savvy peeping tom. The territory it covers is all-too familiar, but “The Rental” is a well-acted thriller that manages to effectively ratchet up the tension. “The Big Ugly” is a film noir opus that feels like a 1970s drive-in throwback. Vinnie Jones, Malcom MacDowell and Ron Perlman star in the story of a British mobster whose bodyguard goes on a bloody quest for revenge when his girlfriend is murdered in rural Appalachia.…

Nia Long and Omar Epps star in the predictable and overly familiar Netflix thriller, “Fatal Affair.” Long plays a lawyer who becomes the unwilling object of obsession for the smart but psychologically disturbed Epps. While shamefully derivative, the earnest performances from Long and Epps make “Fatal Affair” a moderately tense little time waster. Search the words “Fatal” and “Affair” and you’ll find a lot of better movies that cover this territory. The fine performances of Kelly MacDonald and Garret Hedlund are also the main attraction for the romantic drama from down under, “Dirt Music.” MacDonald is an unhappy housewife who begins an affair with a lonely seafood poacher, played by Hedlund, unaware of the fact that his melancholy state is a result of a tragedy that involved her husband. The unfamiliar Australian setting adds a bit of interest to this otherwise sluggish and morose movie. “Blessed Child” is a documentary by Cara Jones that tells her own story. She is a once devout member of the Reverend Sun…

“Greyhound” is a fast-paced WWII Naval battle flick starring and written by Tom Hanks. He plays the captain of a destroyer assigned to escort commercial vessels through parts of the Atlantic teeming with Nazi subs. The tension is derived from cat-and-mouse skirmishes with invisible enemies. While no dog, “Greyhound” is at best a modest, workmanlike thriller. Charlize Theron is the best thing about the comic book action movie, “The Old Guard.” This bloody fantasy is about a small band of soldiers for hire who are virtually immortal. There is some terrific stunt work on display, but most of the story’s themes seem borrowed from dozens of movies we’ve seen before. Andy Samberg’s fantasy “Palm Springs” wants to be “Groundhog Day” for Millennials. It’s a raunchy romantic farce about a guy who is keeps living the same day over and over and accidentally draws a young woman into his curse. The bawdy material is somewhat redeemed by its unexpected sweetness and an appealing performance by Christin Milioti. “Never Too…

“Hamilton,” Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hip-hop history lesson about a founding father may be the most unlikely hit musical of all time. The Disney+ ‘live capture’ version of the original Broadway production more than lives up to the hype. While no filmed play can capture the electricity of a live performance, “Hamilton” comes close. Miranda and director Thomas Kail present Alexander Hamilton’s warts-and-all life in a clever, absorbing and inventive way and the diverse, top-notch cast delivers the material as well as can be imagined. Remarkably timely, “Hamilton” is ‘must-see’ viewing. “The Outpost” tells the gripping true story of the 2009 Battle of Kamdesh in Afghanistan where 50 American soldiers were ambushed by nearly 400 Taliban insurgents. Scott Eastwood and Orlando Bloom lead the cast in this involving tale, based on the book by Jake Tapper. Director Rod Lurie has created a harrowing war film that’s so immersive that you might be tempted to take cover. “The Outpost” is an apolitical tribute to remarkable…

Comedian and commentator Jon Stewart steps behind the camera for the second time with the political satire, “Irresistible.” Steve Carell stars as a big time Democratic strategist who gets involved in a small-town mayoral race. The oversized role of money in politics is the movie’s main target. While it generates some laughs, “Irresistible” lacks the depth and bite needed to make it an effective election year commentary. “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” is a Will Ferrell spoof about an Icelandic goofball whose goal in life is to win Europe’s biggest music competition. It’s predictably silly, broad and absurd, but painfully overlong and almost totally devoid of laughs. It’s still early, but “Eurovision” is a contender for worst movie of the year. “My Spy” is better, but that’s not saying much. In this riff on the “Kindergarten Cop” setup, Dave Bautista plays a CIA operative who, through a series of merry mix-ups, winds up training a precocious kid to be a spy. This territory has been explored…

If a claustrophobic thriller is what you’re looking for, the airline hijack movie “7500” fills the bill. Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as a mild-mannered pilot fending off terrorists wielding glass knives. All of the action takes place in the plane’s cockpit. Gordon-Levitt is solid and the filmmakers strive for realism over melodrama. While tense and well made, “7500” is unnerving and about as enjoyable as fingernails on the chalkboard. “Miss Juneteenth” is a sweet-natured drama about a struggling mom, well played by Nicole Beharie, who enters her reluctant daughter in an annual pageant that she’d won years before. “Miss Juneteenth” is a sensitively acted salute to the tenacious, unshakable fortitude of black motherhood. “The Short History of the Long Road” is an indie road movie about a teen girl, played by Sabrina Carpenter, who lives a nomadic life with her father in a ramshackle RV. When he suddenly dies, she seeks out her long-lost mother. Although it rambles like the endless roadways it follows, “The…

Oscar winners Spike Lee and Kevin Willmott reunite for an intriguing and timely drama, “Da 5 Bloods.” This Netflix movie is about aging African American Vietnam vets who return to that country to retrieve the remains of a fallen brother and a fortune in gold they left behind. Delroy Lindo and Chadwick Boseman lead a solid cast and the movie provides a new perspective on the war. While it’s involving and never dull, “Da 5 Bloods” could have benefited from some judicious editing. “Saturday Night Live” star Pete Davidson stars in “The King of Staten Island,” an Amazon Prime movie loosely based on Davidson’s life. It’s a comic take on a 24-year-old who still lives at home with his mom and suffers from arrested development. He’s perpetually stoned, aimless and lacks any ambition. There are quite a few funny moments in director Judd Apatow’s feature, but “The King of Staten Island” is rambling and bloated with unnecessary and superfluous scenes that distract from some of the touching ones. Disney Plus is offering…

As our local cinemas are still temporarily closed, this week’s Freeze Frame will concentrate on NEW movies that can be streamed at home. Elisabeth Moss, easily one of the best actresses working today, turns in yet another impressive portrayal the drama “Shirley.” This fictionalized biopic focuses on a difficult period in the life of acclaimed horror author Shirley Jackson, best-known for her stories like “The Lottery” and “The Haunting of Hill House.” In the early 1950s, Jackson is suffering from debilitating depression and writer’s block. Her manipulative college professor husband, played by Michael Stuhlbarg, invites a young couple, played by Logan Lerman and Odessa Young, to move in and help out. The resulting drama plays out like a gothic version of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.” While Moss is obviously terrific, Young also delivers a strong performance and Stuhlbarg is authentically oily. “Shirley” is slow-moving and erratic, but it’s an interesting and edgy experiment buoyed by a great cast. And…

In the new Netflix romantic comedy “The High Note” Dakota Johnson portrays the hardworking assistant of a famous and demanding pop star. Tracee Ellis Ross plays the music diva in a role that might -or might not- be inspired by her famous mom, Diana Ross. Ice Cube is the hard-as-nails manager. “The High Note” is a lighthearted bit of froth that bears little resemblance to reality, but is a painless fantasy peppered with catchy pop tunes. The sci-fi thriller “The Vast of Night” is so wildly imaginative and cleverly directed that it mostly transcends its overly wordy script. The dialogue is so dense, in fact, that it could have been a radio drama. In a small New Mexico town in the late 1950s, a couple of teens try to identify mysterious, otherworldly sounds in the phone lines. Even though it never quite delivers on its promise, “The Vast of Night” shows that imagination can prevail over a low budget and heralds the arrival of an impressive new talent, director Andrew Patterson. “I’m No Longer Here” is a…