Wicked: For Good is a morose conclusion to this duology, which has been theme park filmmaking at its worst. What saves it are the heartfelt performances of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo and a handful of good songs. Dorothy deserved better. Mildly recommended. detroitcineaste
In Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, the myth roars back to life in this mostly successful adaptation. Jacob Elordi’s performance is a standout, while Oscar Isaac is miscast. Filled with beautiful and grotesque imagery, the film struggles for greatness and occasionally reaches it. Recommended.
Nuremberg brings a little-known WWII story to life in this crowd-pleasing genre piece. Oscar winners Rami Malek and Russell Crowe deliver big time performances that play to their strengths. Although the film is traditional in every respect, it speaks to our present with surprising resonance. Recommended. DetroitCineaste
Roofman is a heartfelt movie that entertains the old fashioned way, with interesting characters and winning performances. Channing Tatum and Kristen Dunst are engaging in the leading roles, and Tatum’s performance represents a career best. It’s movie magic rendered at human scale. Recommended. detroitcineaste
Blue Moon is an engrossing snapshot of the artist in free-fall, with a delightful performance by Ethan Hawke at its center. Its insistence on shrinky-dinking Hawke down to size is a humorous distraction, but not a fatal one. Margaret Qualley radiates glamour as his potential love interest and lifeline. Recommended. detroitcineaste
Black Phone 2 manages a difficult balancing act of continuing the story while also taking things in a new direction. As a love letter to A Nightmare on Elm Street and Eighties horror movies, it’s scary but not as tense as the original. Amidst all the blood and gore, Madeleine McGraw emerges as an actor to watch. Recommended. detroitcineaste
Like its predecessors, Tron: Ares is a visual feast for the eyes and ears. If you put your brain on hold and ignore how ludicrous it is, the movie is entertaining fluff. Greta Lee brings a welcome human touch to the techno-leaden proceedings. Mildly recommended. detroitcineaste
Good Boy takes its novel premise–a horror story told from the point of view of a dog–and uses it to deliver a surprisingly compassionate ghost story. Although the movie is scary enough, its insight into the relationship between humans and dogs is haunting and memorable. Recommended. detroitcineaste
Brimming with expertly-staged, gripping action sequences, One Battle After Another is a funny, sexy and insightful look at revolutions and the people who fight in them. A bold and confident throwback to the political thrillers of the Sixties and Seventies, it speaks directly to the dangers of our currently hyper-polarized political climate. Recommended. detroitcineaste
A Big, Bold, Beautiful Journey fails because its story is neither cohesive nor captivating. However, if you’re curious and have time on your hands, the movie creates a beautiful world for Margo Robbie and Colin Farrell to wander through at their peak handsomeness. Not Recommended. detroitcineaste
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is precisely that, a joyful celebration of the characters who've been part of our lives for the past fourteen years. Funny, nostalgic and sentimental, it’s a perfect farewell to the franchise. Recommended. detroitcineaste
An effective if unsurprising concluding entry to this highly successful horror franchise. It follows the demonic possession playbook to the letter and manages to be creepy, if not scary. If anything, it sets the table for the upcoming Halloween season. Mildly Recommended. detroitcineaste
There’s nothing funnier than watching a married couple toss viscous barbs at each other. Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman are exquisitely acerbic as British love birds who transform into scorpions. This is a big screen comedy that deserves to be seen with a crowd. Recommended. detroitcineaste
Nobody 2 is an okay continuation of the original, content with leaning heavily on Bob Odenkirk and his grueling fight scenes. The family scenes help to balance things, and there should have been more of those. The movie is entertaining, but nothing special. Mildly recommended. detroitcineaste
Writer-director Zach Cregger is firing on all cylinders with Weapons, a thoroughly creepy and scary horror movie with a dark sense of humor. The movie's layered, nonlinear plot structure, haunting imagery and memorable performances make for a spellbinding experience. Highly recommended. detroitcineaste
The Bad Guys 2 is better than the original. Its themes are more complex and mature, the comedy is brash and bold, and the voice acting is superb. As far as animated sequels go, this is one of the best. Highly recommended. detroitcineaste
The Naked Gun is funny stuff, but not at the level of the classic Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker films that inspired it. Even still, the jokes that work are exceptional and Liam Neeson’s late-career pivot into playing the class clown was a smart one. Recommended. detroitcineaste
In charting a new way forward, Marvel shrewdly looks to the past with Fantastic Four: First Steps. The movie is a fun joy ride, with memorable characters, a wonderful production design and exciting action sequences. One of the best science fiction films in years. Recommended. detroitcineaste
Although Eddington has some laughs and several intense action sequences, the movie flounders as a recreation of Covid-induced psychosis. A satire misfire. Not recommended. detroitcineaste
Superman is a lot. Stuffed with characters and subplots, the movie takes time getting into a rhythm. But when it does, it’s a strange, wild ride. Writer-director James Gunn’s film honors Superman’s roots while taking him in wonderfully weird new directions. For the first time in years, I cared about Superman and wanted to see what happens next. Recommended. detroitcineaste
Jurassic World: Rebirth is a perfunctory sequel that swaps the silliness of the previous trilogy for a dull grimness. Aside from the dinosaur mayhem, the movie is a frustrating bore that takes no chances and offers no surprises. Not Recommended. detroitcineaste
F1: The Movie is the kind of blockbuster Hollywood used to make: bold, flashy, loud and incredibly fun. Although the story is formulaic, everyone from leading man Brad Pitt on down is totally sincere in what matters most, which is entertaining us. F1 is easily one of the best made action movies of recent years, the definition of big screen entertainment in every sense of the word. Highly recommended.
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Elio is a cute and occasionally funny science-fiction film that emphasizes emotional healing over excitement and wonder, things that Pixar once was known for providing. The film is a jumble of ideas that never come together, a well-intentioned but meandering adventure. Mildly recommended.
Materialists is a surprisingly cerebral reworking of the romantic comedy genre that’s more interested in having philosophical conversations about love rather than meeting our expectations. Rest assured, it provides just enough romance and laughs to satisfy the faithful. Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans are pitch-perfect as the handsome and mature love triangle. Recommended.
Unbearably taut and pitiless, Dangerous Animals is a terrific people versus shark movie. It’s a well-acted thriller that takes its genre inspirations seriously and uses them to great effect. Recommended. detroitcineaste
What elevates Jane Austen Wrecked My Life above the typical romantic comedy is its approach. The film unfolds at a leisurely (European) pace, which allows its richly drawn characters, keen observations, sharp dialog and earthy humor to win us over. It’s an unassuming little gem that respects its characters and the audience’s intelligence in equal measure. Highly Recommended. detroitcineaste
When it’s not indulging in pointless franchise nostalgia or constantly reminding us that Tom Cruise is the chosen one, Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning is an entertaining, well-made action movie. Come prepared for top-notch action surrounded by eye-rolling distillations of Cruise’s **** worldview. Mildly Recommended. detroitcineaste
The Amateur is an entertaining alternative to the “one man wrecking crew” films. It uses Rami Malek’s geeky nature to good effect and the supporting cast are all solid. The movie doesn’t reinvent the spy thriller or the revenge fantasy but offers an interesting take on both. A well-made and entertaining film. Recommended. detroitcineaste
Although it is repetitious, contrived and ultimately ridiculous, Drop held my interest until the end. It’s nowhere near as good as the thrillers it emulates. It’s a trashy potboiler heavy on style. Mildly recommended. detroitcineaste
Thunderbolts* may not be everyone’s idea **** time at the movies, but I appreciated it for doing something (mostly) different and making me feel something I rarely feel about superheroes: compassion. Like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, it takes you to emotional places you never thought you’d go in a superhero movie. Recommended. detroitcineaste
Sinners is a bravura piece of filmmaking on behalf of Ryan Coogler, a richly sensual spectacle that confidently explores the both good and bad aspects of African Americans living in the Deep South of the 1930s. The movie is an audacious work of art, full of ideas rendered in breathtaking imagery, with captivating performances and soul-stirring music. Although a few of Coogler’s risks nearly derail the enterprise, the film’s raw, emotional power is undeniable. Recommended. detroitcineaste
The Electric State is passable family entertainment that is also conspicuously inert. Watching it is like watching someone describe an awesome film they watched in the most boring way possible. The film is vaporous despite talented people both in front of and behind the camera. It may hold the title as the most a film adaptation has ever departed from its source material in cinematic history. Then there’s the uncanny way the film serves as meta commentary on itself and the filmmakers. Regardless, The Electric State is a strangely compelling viewing experience, even if it’s for the wrong reasons. Toss-up.
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Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is undeniably sentimental and nostalgic, banking on the feelings the audience has built up for these characters over the years. That said, the movie is very funny and surprisingly heartfelt. With this fourth entry, the Bridget Jones comedy franchise has grown beyond its romantic comedy origins into an ongoing story that marks the passage of time. Like Bridget, this movie occasionally wobbles but it comes out on top in the end, smiling. Recommended. detroitcineaste
A Working Man is a satisfactory throwback to the “one man as unstoppable army” films from the Eighties. Although it’s well made and Jason Statham is reliably tough, the overwhelming seriousness of the story prevents it from being more than a standard search-and-kill-everyone mission. Credit to director David Ayer for jazzing things up with an assortment of outlandish villains and phantasmagoric sets. Mildly recommended.
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The Order is a solid law enforcement thriller, featuring exceptional performances by Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult. Although I had issues with the movie’s pacing and focus, the view it provides of the world of white separatism is as gripping as it is troubling. Recommended.
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The Day the Earth Blew Up is funny, visually inventive and, unlike Warner Brothers Discovery, honors the legacy of the Looney Tunes cartoons. The movie is a testament to what hand-drawn animation can achieve when in the right hands. Although 2025 is only three months old, this movie is already the front-runner for comedy of the year. Highly Recommended. detroitcineaste
Steven Soderberg’s visually arresting direction and charismatic performances from Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender ensure this modest tale of skullduggery is always entertaining. Recommended.
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The Rule of Jenny Pen is a savagely funny little horror movie. Although you’ll need to suspend your disbelief on more than one occasion, the film’s merits more than make up for its lapses. The gripping performances by Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow alone make it worth watching. Recommended. detroitcineaste
What makes The Truth vs. Alex Jones fascinating is the window it gives us into the machinations of Alex Jones to hijack the tragedy to enrich himself. Highly recommended. detroitcineaste
Heart Eyes is a surprisingly touching, funny and scary horror-comedy mashup a well-acted, well-made and thoroughly entertaining throwback to the genres it celebrates. Recommended.
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I enjoyed Captain America: Brave New World for what it is, a meat-and-potatoes entry within this franchise and the larger MCU. I liked the heroes, Harrison Ford’s performance was very effective and the action sequences were exciting. The movie isn’t perfect, but it's a serviceable, entertaining entry that implies the MCU is headed in the right direction. Recommended.
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Anora reminds us what movies made for adults look like as well as the emotions they can make us feel over the course of two hours. The film is Sean Baker’s crowning achievement and one of the best movies of 2024. Highly recommended.
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Companion is a very good science-fiction comedy, with a nasty streak that yields a lot of laughs. Even though it conspicuously abandons many of the themes it introduces, the movie is a lot of fun, carried along by superb performances by Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid. Recommended. detroitcineaste
Above all else, Presence proves that Soderbergh is still a world-class director. Only someone with his skill could make an interesting movie out of such thin material.
The Straight Story is a beautifully made film, filled with wonderful characters who eloquently reveal Lynch’s inner feelings of love and compassion for humanity. It’s also one of the best films David Lynch made. Highly Recommended.
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Juror #2 isn’t the worst movie I’ve ever seen, but the way it turns a solid premise into a clichéd, listless, paint-by-numbers melodrama is incredibly disappointing. I never expected to say this about a Clint Eastwood film, but this one was directed on autopilot. Not Recommended.
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After the thoroughly disappointing Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, writer-director James Mangold delivers a film containing everything that previous effort lacked: compelling, well-rounded characters, authentic period detail, beautiful cinematography, crisp sound, evocative lighting, and so on. (CGI probably was used for some of the locations, but I couldn’t tell the difference.) Whenever a musical performance began, it felt like the movie stopped time so we could breathe it in. Even simple performances consisting of two people and a string guitar were magical. Mangold, who also made the equally spellbinding Walk the Line back in 2005, is definitely in his element when it comes to depicting musical personalities. His love and respect for performers is undeniable. Movies like this rarely have sequels, but it would be something if he and Chalamet got together in the near future for another five years of Dylan’s life. I enjoyed A Complete Unknown so much that it made me a new fan of his. This movie is perfect and one of the best films of 2024. Highly Recommended.
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Spirited is far from perfect, but it honors what has attracted people to the story of Marley, Scrooge and the ghosts. It’s about finding the Christmas Spirit in each of us, with a little help from the supernatural. Mildly recommended.
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icked entertains in spite of its flawed approach. The lead performances, production design and Broadway roots outweigh its excessive length and curious directorial decisions. Like the musical it’s based on, the movie’s spirit can’t be denied. Recommended.
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