Reviews And Otherwise
By Terry McCarty
Reviews And Otherwise Feb 17, 2023
00:00
14:49
NEW TO ME: THE WAGONS ROLL AT NIGHT/CALIFORNIA 1947/IMPULSE 1974
Reviewing a lesser-known Humphrey Bogart circus/carnival film, John Farrow’s teaming of Ray Milland and Barbara Stanwyck—and Willian Shatner going Full Shatner as a grifter/gigolo who also is a psychopathic killer in early 1970S Tampa.
May 31, 202519:08
THE SHROUDS/THE SURFER
New David Cronenberg film about death (and other obsessions) reviewed, plus Nicolas Cage going Down Under and not fitting in with a quite territorial clique of surfers.
May 17, 202508:23
EMILIA PEREZ/CHAOS: THE MANSON MURDERS/MICKEY 17
A few words on the thankfully under-rewarded EMILIA PEREZ, plus reviews of Errol Morris’s return to true crime and Bong Joon-Ho’s return to science fiction that satirizes egocentric humans callously exploiting other humans in their employ.
Mar 13, 202518:24
JANUARY EPISODE: I’M STILL HERE/THE BRUTALIST/OH, CANADA/THE ROOM NEXT DOOR/A COMPLETE UNKNOWN
Awards Season episode featuring films celebrated (I’M STILL HERE, THE BRUTALIST and A COMPLETE UNKNOWN) and ignored (THE ROOM NEXT DOOR and OH, CANADA).
Jan 31, 202513:25
DECEMBER LIGHTNING ROUND: WICKED/SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY/THE OUTRUN/BOGART
Quick opinions of the first half of WICKED, the slept-on THE OUTRUN and estate-approved documentaries on Christopher Reeve and Humphrey Bogart.
Dec 23, 202408:08
EVEN MORE BIG SWINGS: HERE/MEGALOPOLIS
Veterans Robert Zemeckis and Francis Ford Coppola emerge with technically audacious films which have generally been received with indifference/disdain.
Nov 04, 202411:51
HEARTBREAKERS BEACH PARTY/WOMAN OF THE HOUR
Reviewing the debut films of Cameron Crowe (1983) and Anna Kendrick (2023).
Oct 22, 202408:40
THE SUBSTANCE
Reviewing the film du jour by Coralie Fageat which, somehow, fails to confront the epidemic of Botoxed facelifting forced on most women working in show business, as well as enabling by other women in executive positions. At the beginning, Demi Moore’s 1996 film STRIPTEASE is mentioned to contrast the indulgence of the male gaze with the alleged boldness of her extended nudity (plus that of Margaret Qualley) in this motion picture.
Sep 24, 202415:42
ALIEN: ROMULUS/MOTHERS’ INSTINCT/YOUNG WOMAN AND THE SEA
Reviewing the fast-paced distillation of the ALIEN franchise, plus the dumped-by-Neon teaming of Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway and, finally, Daisy Ridley going full Hillary Swank as champion 1920s swimmer Gertrude Ederle.
Aug 21, 202421:12
DOCUMENTARIES: ELIZABETH TAYLOR, POWELL AND PRESSBURGER
Reviewing Nanette Burstein’s simplifying overview of Elizabeth Taylor, favoring iconic star status over in-depth career insights. Also, some comments on Martin Scorsese’s tribute to the legendary British filmmaking duo Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.
Aug 04, 202424:38
FAYE: THE FAYE DUNAWAY STORY
A few words about Laurent Bouzereau’s documentary of Faye Dunaway, which makes a case for her best screen performances, while trying to downplay or rationalize her irritability as part of getting the job done.
Jul 27, 202410:30
MORE BIG SWINGS: KINDS OF KINDNESS/HORIZON PLUS FIREBRAND
Examining Yorgos Lanthimos’s trifecta of thematic overlap smothered in cleverness, currently favored over Kevin Costner’s more thematically challenging epic Western. Also: Alicia Vikander as Katherine Parr stands her ground against Jude Law’s Henry VIII in the uneven but worthwhile FIREBRAND.
Jul 09, 202420:08
EXPLAINING THE FALL GUY
Offering context as to how HOOPER, a 1978 Burt Reynolds/Hal Needham ode to stuntpeople, and THE FALL GUY, a Lee Majors/Glen Larson 1980s TV series about a crime-solving stuntman, gave birth to an “original” would-be blockbuster.
May 10, 202413:26
DOCUMENTARIES: STEVE MARTIN/PAUL SIMON/JERRY LEE LEWIS + CURRENT THEATRICAL RELEASES
Mammoth victory lap documentaries usurped by modest Jerry Lee Lewis chronicles dumped by A24. Plus THE BEEKEEPER/WICKED LITTLE LETTERS/THE MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE.
May 05, 202422:21
CIVIL WAR/GODZILLA X KONG THE NEW EMPIRE/LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL
Alex Garland’s opaque on purpose Divided America epic, plus easier to grasp monster and demonic fare.
Apr 18, 202410:30
DUNE PART TWO/DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS
Reviewing this year’s first surefire blockbuster plus Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke’s lesbians on the road comedy, which will likely find a larger audience via streaming.
Mar 07, 202410:51
MORE UNDERSEEN FILMS NOIR AND GODZILLA MINUS ONE MINUS COLOR
Discussing 50s noir films including I DIED A THOUSAND TIMES, PICKUP and ROADBLOCK. Also, a few words about the black-and-white version of GODZILLA MINUS ONE, which complements its 1954 ancestor GOJIRA.
Jan 28, 202415:56
MAESTRO
Bradley Cooper takes a technical leap forward in his biopic of Leonard Bernstein, but it’s Carey Mulligan’s performance as wife/partner Felicia that saves this from being merely awards aspirant.
Dec 25, 202310:55
WONKA
Paul King of PADDINGTON fame combines with the Harry Potter/Fantastic Beasts production team to give viewers Timothee Chalamet as young Willy Wonka in a not-magical-enough origin story.
Dec 21, 202305:32
BEST FILMS OF 2023 SO FAR
Discussing what, as of mid-December, are the best 2023 releases I’ve seen—along with honorable mentions and one watchable underachiever.
Dec 13, 202307:36
THE STONES AND BRIAN JONES/SALTBURN
Nick Broomfield’s Brian Jones documentary and Emerald Fennell’s satirical comedy/drama have this in common: English estates where people come to premature ends.
Nov 28, 202314:23
THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER/KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON/THE HOLDOVERS
Reviewing David Gordon Green’s flawed but not bad addition to the EXORCIST franchise, the latest Scorsese (very good, but too soon to know where it will stand in his canon) and Alexander Payne’s return to form after the misfire of DOWNSIZING.
Oct 30, 202309:22
SQUARING THE CIRCLE (THE STORY OF HIPGNOSIS)/COBWEB
Anton Corbijn’s documentary about the record cover photo/design company which, in its lifespan, proceeded from the psychedelic 60s to the careless Imperial Rock Star period of the late 70s before punk, synthpop and music videos hurried its demise. Also, the understandably dumped by Lionsgate COBWEB—Samuel Bodin taking a good premise and botching it by over reliance on exaggeration and shoutouts to infinitely better films
Sep 12, 202315:48
BLUE BEETLE/DOWNWIND
Reviewing the DC Latinx superhero film which is a big budget homage to mediocre Cannon Films 80s fare, plus a new documentary about people irradiated by nuclear weapons tests ranging from the 1950s to 1992.
Aug 29, 202313:57
NEARLY 20 MINUTES ON WILLIAM FRIEDKIN
Eulogizing William Friedkin’s career, with attention paid to THE DEVIL AND FATHER AMORTH and the dual versions of RAMPAGE (plus sidebar on J. Lee Thompson’s 10 TO MIDNIGHT).
Aug 10, 202320:48
TOM, WES AND HARRISON
Reviews of three movies which demand theatrical viewing: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE DEAD RECKONING PART ONE, ASTEROID CITY and INDIANA JONES AND THE. DIAL OF DESTINY.
Jul 11, 202311:43
THE FLASH: A POST-MORTEM
At this writing, audiences are actively avoiding seeing Andy Muschietti’s THE FLASH during its theatrical release. Here are a few thoughts about the serpentine, tone-shifting route of the pre-James Gunn DCEU (not counting the Christopher Nolan/Matt Reeves BATMAN quartet), multiverse mania, what does work in THE FLASH and the conclusion that the less-broad Zack Snyder approach to Barry Allen/Flash is, in hindsight, preferable.
Jun 20, 202317:57
THE BOOGEYMAN/DALILAND/R.I.P. GLENDA JACKSON
Reviewing the new Stephen King adaptation, Mary Harron’s conventional, cliched take on Salvador Dali’s 1970s and contextualizing Glenda Jackson’s British and American successes.
Jun 15, 202312:13
THE LITTLE MERMAID 2023/YOU HURT MY FEELINGS
Reviewing the latest example of Disney remaking its classics and the new comedy of manners from Nicole Holofcener.
Jun 02, 202305:32
THE POPE’S EXORCIST/THE LOST WEEKEND: A LOVE STORY
Russell Crowe, last seen by me as a killer road rage driver, classes up a new entry into the almost five-decade exorcism religious horror genre. Also, May Pang, John Lennon’s lover and working companion from 1973 to 1975. states her case for being a positive influence on Lennon during a period often mischaracterized as nonstop partying.
Apr 20, 202312:08
BEN AFFLECK’S LATEST/BRUCE WILLIS’S LAST
Reviews of Ben Affleck’s AIR and Jesse Atlas’s ASSASSIN-the final Bruce Willis film to be released.
Apr 11, 202312:58
JOHN WICK CHAPTER 4
Like TOP GUN: MAVERICK, the latest version of the John Wick fight/kill saga is an example of critics and audiences going gaga over undeniable filmmaking skill and craftsmanship.
Apr 03, 202307:04
ACADEMY AWARDS 2023/CREED III/SCREAM VI
A few words on the noneventful-on-purpose 2023 Academy Awards ceremony, plus comments on sequels CREED III (good) and SCREAM VI (uneven).
Mar 14, 202313:41
PHILIP MARLOWE PAST AND PRESENT
Reviewing Neil Jordan’s MARLOWE, with a discussion of how Robert Mitchum’s two 1970s films as Philip Marlowe are the spiritual ancestors of Liam Neeson’s performance.
Feb 17, 202314:49
THE WHALE and the simplified Brendan Fraser comeback narrative
Reviewing THE WHALE and mentioning, among other things, Brendan Fraser’s earlier venture into prestige filmmaking (GODS AND MONSTERS).
Feb 09, 202314:14
OSCAR NOMINATIONS LIGHTNING ROUND: WOMEN TALKING/AFTERSUN/LIVING
Discussing three of this year’s Academy Awards nominees, as well as the omissions of Danielle Deadwyler (TILL) and DECISION TO LEAVE.
Feb 03, 202313:09
R.I.P. GINA LOLLOBRIGIDA
Tribute to the actress/filmmaker/artist/politician who passed away at 95 earlier this week. Her 1964 film WOMAN OF STRAW, with Sean Connery and Ralph Richardson, is reviewed.
Jan 19, 202309:38
BIG SWINGS: BABYLON/WHITE NOISE
Reviewing the ambitious new films of Damien Chazelle and Noah Baumbach.
Jan 05, 202350:29
AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER
Discussing James Cameron’s visually brilliant, dramatically undernourished sequel—plus predecessors Georges Méliès and Tom Laughlin of BILLY JACK fame.
Dec 28, 202213:59
SOME NICE THINGS YOU’RE MISSING
Discussion of underseen films/TV from this year including PETIT MAMAN, THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN. ARMAGEDDON TIME, THE FABELMANS, the Robert Downey documentary SR., and Ethan Hawke’s THE LAST MOVIE STARS.
Dec 21, 202229:57
GLASS ONION/THE MENU
Comparing and contrasting two satires of the oftentimes nefarious rich. With references to Ken Adam, Peter Greenaway and THE LAST OF SHEILA.
Dec 02, 202211:34
BLACK FRIDAY EDITION: AMSTERDAM AND BLONDE
Discussing two casualties of this awards season (though Ana De Armas may yet receive Globes/Academy attention). Plus—relating to AMSTERDAM—mention of an actual fascist takeover in Washington film, the William Randolph Hearst production GABRIEL OVER THE WHITE HOUSE.
Nov 25, 202214:50
BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER
Reviewing Ryan Coogler’s flawed but intermittently compelling sequel which doubles as a tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman.
Nov 15, 202207:24
LIGHTNING ROUND: #METOO HORROR MOVIES
Reviews of SHE WILL, RESURRECTION, BARBARIAN and WATCHER—plus a few more thoughts on TAR.
Nov 08, 202214:44
AWARDS SEASON 2022-2023: TAR
Todd Field’s lengthy, though noncommittal (except to tilt in the direction of public indignation over the exposure of private sins) #MeToo epic about a soon to be disgraced symphony conductor (Cate Blanchett).
Nov 05, 202207:26
LATE PERIOD WALTER HILL: DEAD FOR A DOLLAR
Reviewing Walter Hill’s return to the Western genre, plus discussing the early work that ensured a long, if sometimes uneven, career.
Oct 07, 202219:31
SEEING BROS IN SIMI VALLEY
A few words on Billy Eichner’s gay romcom BROS—a film that doesn’t deserve its vigorous rejection by the mass audience marketplace.
Oct 03, 202208:42
LIGHTNING ROUND: MOONAGE DAYDREAM/CONFESS, FLETCH/DON’T WORRY, DARLING/R.I.P. LOUISE FLETCHER
Quick reactions to David Bowie as interpreted by Brett Morgen, Greg Mottola and Jon Hamm reviving the FLETCH franchise, Olivia Wilde’s uneven, but great-looking sophomore film and an overlooked Louise Fletcher performance (1983’s BRAINSTORM).
Sep 27, 202210:54
R.I.P. JAMES CAAN/ELVIS/THE BLACK PHONE
Recommending Howard Zieff’s 1973 crime comedy SLITHER, with James Caan, plus reviews of Baz Luhrmann’s ELVIS and the conspicuously recycled THE BLACK PHONE.
Jul 08, 202218:44
GOODBYE JURASSIC WORLD
Discussing JURASSIC WORLD: DOMINION, how THE LOST WORLD Is the actual worst of the sextet and a few words on behalf of Joe Johnston’s neglected JURASSIC PARK III.
Jun 21, 202209:33