Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (Sam Fell, 2023). The first Chicken Run, which was also the first feature-length outing for Aardman Animation, was released almost a quarter-century ago. Of course, clay doesn’t really age, so, sure, why not circle … Continue reading Then Playing — Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget; American Symphony; I Wouldn’t Be in Your Shoes
The Main Event (Howard Zieff, 1979). Barbra Streisand stars as Hillary Kramer, the owner of a major perfume corporation who goes bust after her accountant embezzles all of her money and absconds to South America. One of the only assets … Continue reading Then Playing — The Main Event; A Thousand and One; Black Angel
Ladies of the Chorus (Phil Karlson, 1949). This backstage drama about burlesque performers is pedestrian in its most basic particulars, but it has just enough flinty spirit to keep it interesting. Peggy Martin (Marilyn Monroe) is a performer who rises … Continue reading Then Playing — Ladies of the Chorus; Paris, Texas; Reality
It’s long been clear that filmmaker Todd Haynes is a master of manipulating tone for delightfully acts of cinematic chicanery. To this point, this most potent manifestation of that talent was surely Far from Heaven, his 2002 film that gently … Continue reading Now Playing — May December
Theater Camp (Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman, 2023). This affectionate spoofing of arts education summer camps where young thespians find their hit-the-back-row voices is too raggedy to be wholly satisfying. As directed by first-timers Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman, Theater … Continue reading Then Playing — Theater Camp; Inherit the Wind; Sweet Revenge
Albert Brooks: Defending My Life (Rob Reiner, 2023). This documentary on the life and career of Albert Brooks includes enough clips of his remarkable work in comedy and filmmaking to ensure a suitable level of entertainment. In nearly every other … Continue reading Then Playing — Albert Brooks: Defending My Life; Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.; Blue Jean
I’m sure it’s not solely that The Holdovers is set during the holiday season of 1970 that prompts director Alexander Payne to open his new movie with deliberate evocations of the U.S. cinema of that bygone era, beginning with an … Continue reading Now Playing — The Holdovers
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (James Gunn, 2023). Writer-director James Gunn officially concludes his run with the star-spanning, misfit heroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as one of the few filmmakers who was able to prevent his creative sensibility … Continue reading Then Playing — Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3; Days of Wine and Roses; The Terminal Man
More than thirty films deep into the improbable experiment in translating the interconnected storytelling of superhero comic books to the screen, it’s borderline impossible to evaluate a new feature-length entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a single film, judged … Continue reading Now Playing — The Marvels
In many ways, Nyad adheres devotedly the the patterns of most modern biopics. The film strives to convey something close to the totality of its central subject, long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad (Annette Bening) through focusing the plot on one central … Continue reading Now Playing — Nyad
Coffee for Two 