Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco, the co-writer and star of “About My Father,” loves it so much that he built a film around it. Directed by Laura Terruso, “About My Father” wants to be another “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” and there are so few movies like that in theaters that it might become a success despite … Read more
The Boogeyman enters the Harpers’ hollowed-out and extra creaky home in the form of Lester (from the short story), played here by David Dastmalchian at his most cryptic and also as a type of character development shorthand. After sharing a gruesome tale about the death of his children and a strong monster, he sneaks away … Read more
A love letter from Sebastian Maniscalco to his father that also showcases one of Robert De Niro’s best roles in years. Plot: The film centers around Sebastian who is encouraged by his fiancée to bring his immigrant, hairdresser father, Salvo, to a weekend get-together with her super-rich and exceedingly eccentric family. The weekend develops into … Read more
“Victim/Suspect” has a guiding light for truth in the form of rising journalist Rachel de Leon, who works at the Center for Investigative Reporting. In parallel to the harrowing accounts detailed here, this is also the story of de Leon learning more about these shared experiences and doing her own investigation into each case for … Read more
“The Little Mermaid” is better than the vast majority of these movies, in that it stays true to the core of what people loved about the 1989 original while also expanding the story and characters in necessary ways. The literal fish-out-of-water tale of a mermaid who makes a Faustian bargain to explore the human world … Read more
The new episode of the Revisited video series looks back at David Lynch’s 2006 psychological thriller Inland Empire A new episode of the Revisited video series has just been released, and in this one we’re looking back at a movie that some may not consider to be a horror movie, but at the very least … Read more
Very early on, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that a young woman has been murdered and the entire police force is male. These are professional men who do their job and do it very well, but at a certain level, there is a disconnect. The men slip into moments of judging Clara for her … Read more
Shailene Woodley and Jack Whitehall have fun in a romantic comedy that is not quite as edgy as it thinks it is. Plot: Charles is a womanizer while Elaine is a gold digger. The duo learn humanity when forced to team up and pursue robot doubles of themselves. Review: Romantic comedies tend to be wholesome … Read more
Writing about Paul Schrader’s “The Card Counter” two years back at the Venice Film Festival, I noted that Schrader referred to it as one of his “man at a table” pictures. A year later, again in Venice, I saw “Master Gardener,” his new picture, just now seeing US release. And here he leans into that … Read more
Harris’ film holds your attention scene-by-scene, even in a few moments in which the pacing gives way to just admiring the craftsmanship or the emotions are muted by symbolism that doesn’t feel airtight. It’s the type of project that warrants a second viewing, partly to catch its connections but also to savor the textures you … Read more