Category: Review

Well-Acted and Haunting, ‘Phantom Thread’ May Not Be for Everyone
Review

Well-Acted and Haunting, ‘Phantom Thread’ May Not Be for Everyone

David Palmer1 Comment

Steven Soderbergh has faked retirement a handful of times, so here’s hoping Daniel Day-Lewis follows in his path. “Phantom Thread” is the latest film from writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson (his first since 2014’s “Inherent Vice”) and actor Daniel Day-Lewis (his first performance since 2012’s “Lincoln”); the pair previously worked together on “There Will Be Blood.”… Continue reading Well-Acted and Haunting, ‘Phantom Thread’ May Not Be for Everyone

’12 Strong’ a Well-Intentioned but All-Too-Familiar War Film
Review

’12 Strong’ a Well-Intentioned but All-Too-Familiar War Film

David PalmerLeave a comment

For a film about a complex (and still ongoing) war, this sure tries to simplify things down to moral victories… “12 Strong” tells the declassified true story of a group of U.S. Special Forces soldiers who were the first to attack al-Qaeda following the September 11th attacks. The film stars Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shannon, Michael… Continue reading ’12 Strong’ a Well-Intentioned but All-Too-Familiar War Film

‘The Post’ a Timely Political Thriller that Shows What True Journalism Can Do
Review

‘The Post’ a Timely Political Thriller that Shows What True Journalism Can Do

David Palmer2 Comments

It shocks me that it took this long for Hollywood staples Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg to make a movie together. “The Post” depicts the journalists of The Washington Post in their search for the leaked Pentagon Papers in 1971, telling how the White House spent over 20 years lying about the Vietnam… Continue reading ‘The Post’ a Timely Political Thriller that Shows What True Journalism Can Do

‘Molly’s Game’ is Great Chastain but Only OK Sorkin
Review

‘Molly’s Game’ is Great Chastain but Only OK Sorkin

David Palmer1 Comment

Aaron Sorkin could write directions for baking a fruitcake and it would still be more interesting and invigorating than most people’s screenplays. “Molly’s Game” marks Aaron Sorkin’s directorial debut from a script of his own hand. Like most all his work, it is based off a memoir and in this case he chronicles the story… Continue reading ‘Molly’s Game’ is Great Chastain but Only OK Sorkin

‘I, Tonya’ Uses a Trio of Great Performances to Tell a Crazy True Story
Review

‘I, Tonya’ Uses a Trio of Great Performances to Tell a Crazy True Story

David PalmerLeave a comment

As far as I’m concerned, Allison Janney can do no wrong. “I, Tonya” tells the life story of Olympic skater Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie), all leading up to the 1994 attack on teammate Nancy Kerrigan. The film also stars Sebastian Stan, Julianne Nicholson, Caitlin Carver, Bobby Cannavale and Allison Janney while Craig Gillespie directs. They… Continue reading ‘I, Tonya’ Uses a Trio of Great Performances to Tell a Crazy True Story

It’s Got its Flaws, but ‘The Greatest Showman’ Has Some True Spectacle, Too
Review

It’s Got its Flaws, but ‘The Greatest Showman’ Has Some True Spectacle, Too

David Palmer1 Comment

Now that he is done playing the Wolverine I really hope Hugh Jackman does more feel-good comedies; dude is charming as hell. “The Greatest Showman” (kind of) tells the story of how P. T. Barnum started the Barnum & Bailey Circus in the 1870s. Hugh Jackman plays Barnum as Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson,… Continue reading It’s Got its Flaws, but ‘The Greatest Showman’ Has Some True Spectacle, Too

It May be About Small People, but ‘Downsizing’ is One Big Disappointment
Review

It May be About Small People, but ‘Downsizing’ is One Big Disappointment

David PalmerLeave a comment

This marks the second film to premiere at the Venice Film Festival to have a great director, talented writing team and a cast headed by Matt Damon to end up falling flat on its face. “Downsizing” stars Matt Damon and Kristen Wiig as a couple who decide to undergo a medical procedure that will shrink… Continue reading It May be About Small People, but ‘Downsizing’ is One Big Disappointment

‘Call Me by Your Name’ is an Honest, Painful Look at First Love
Review

‘Call Me by Your Name’ is an Honest, Painful Look at First Love

David Palmer2 Comments

Michael Stuhlbarg has appeared in an Oscar-nominated film five of the past six years and in 2017 appeared in three (likely) Best Picture nominees. Hope he’s paying his agent enough… “Call Me by Your Name” tells the story of the romantic relationship that develops between a 17-year-old (Timothée Chalamet) and his father’s American assistant (Armie… Continue reading ‘Call Me by Your Name’ is an Honest, Painful Look at First Love

Gary Oldman is Great in the Just-OK ‘Darkest Hour’
Review

Gary Oldman is Great in the Just-OK ‘Darkest Hour’

David Palmer2 Comments

It worked for Colin Firth and Meryl Streep, and portraying a 20th century British politician may finally get Gary Oldman his own Oscar. “Darkest Hour” details the first month of Winston Churchill’s term as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the early stages of World War II. Oldman stars as Churchill while Ben Mendelsohn,… Continue reading Gary Oldman is Great in the Just-OK ‘Darkest Hour’

‘Pitch Perfect 3’ is Dumb, Silly and Aca-Awkward, for Better or Worse
Review

‘Pitch Perfect 3’ is Dumb, Silly and Aca-Awkward, for Better or Worse

David PalmerLeave a comment

Say what you will about the “Pitch Perfect” series but there is something commendable about milking three successful films out of the concept of a college a cappella group. “Pitch Perfect 3” is the third and final film of the trilogy that stars Anna Kendrick, Anna Camp, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, Hailee Steinfeld, Hana Mae… Continue reading ‘Pitch Perfect 3’ is Dumb, Silly and Aca-Awkward, for Better or Worse