Not even the thirstiest of Western fans could work up much enthusiasm over the news that Jim Jarmusch, of all people, had made one. And the emerging manhunt for a greenhorn named William Blake (Johnny Depp in wire-rim specs, plaid suit, bow tie) produces nothing to accelerate the heartbeat: the …
Reader critic Scott Marks calls it a great modern noir!
Japanese zombie movie, written and directed by Hiroshi Shinagawa.
A debate-forum movie, a chew-over of the topic of capital punishment, complete with de rigueur attention to the moment-by-moment minutiae of death-day prison procedure (frequent shots of the clock on the wall along the way). As seemingly dissimilar as it is from writer-director Tim Robbins's first effort -- the political …
The basic idea -- namely, to interweave clips from actual 1940s films noirs into a parody of that genre, so that the star, Steve Martin, would appear to interact with the likes of Humphrey Bogart, Fred MacMurray, Alan Ladd, et al. -- sounds at first blush as if it must …
Moldily old-fashioned melodrama involving a Lady in Distress, a dead ringer for her, another dead ringer for her, an Old Dark House, a snowstorm, syringes and spiked beverages, a secret passage -- the works. Arthur Penn's heart can't have been in it, but his craft is -- and in abundance. …
A charismatic English teacher at a repressive prep school in the Fifties inspires his pupils to reconvene the long-defunct Dead Poets Society, a secret literary round-table "dedicated to sucking the marrow out of life" and to worshipping at the altar of Whitman, Byron, Keats -- the more romantic (blustery, sugary), …
An anti-superhero movie (or maybe a super-antihero movie) that might have worked if it had the courage of its lack of convictions. That is to say, it starts out, story-wise, with a messed up mercenary named Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds), except he mostly just jokes about being messed up, and …
Fitfully amusing Dirty Harry adventure (the fifth), with some vigorous digs at TV newscasters, film critics, heavy metal, and horror films (well, every film must feel superior to some other). The most sustained fit of amusement: a Bullitt-type chase scene over the hills of San Francisco, with the pursuer being …
Director David Leitch and star Ryan Reynolds know why you’re here: to hear the merc with a mouth revel in smug-smart impieties (about other characters, about superhero movies, about narrative in general, ad infinitum but not quite ad nauseam) and to watch him kick ass despite enduring mind-blowing (bone-breaking, flesh-rending, …
Director David Leitch and star Ryan Reynolds know why you’re here: to hear the merc with a mouth revel in smug-smart impieties (about other characters, about superhero movies, about narrative in general, ad infinitum but not quite ad nauseam) and to watch him kick ass despite enduring mind-blowing (bone-breaking, flesh-rending, …
Night of the Living Deadpools.
Night of the Living Deadpools, in IMAX.
Superhero movie fans of a certain age may recall a moment at the end of Avengers: Infinity War when big baddie Thanos snapped his gauntleted fingers and so ended half of the universe’s living things — including folks like Spider-Man, Black Panther, and Doctor Strange. For one brief darkling moment, …
Wolverine is recovering from his injuries when he crosses paths with the loudmouth, Deadpool. They team up to defeat a common enemy. Directed by Shawn Levy.