Action
Film Review – Kandahar
At this point in his career, Gerard Butler has settled comfortably into a string of mid-budget action thrillers. That’s not a bad thing, necessarily. In a time where theaters are crowded with tentpole superhero franchises, remakes, and sequels, Butler’s work has offered audiences a throwback alternative. Some…
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Film Review – Fast X
***Warning: This review contains minor spoilers*** It goes without saying, but the Fast & Furious franchise has had several makeovers in its near two-decade existence. What started out as a gang of street racers boosting DVD players out of semitrucks has turned into a globe-hopping adventure involving…
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Film Review – The Mother
Given her history as a dancer, as well as her willingness to take on physically demanding roles – from Hustlers (2019) to the slapstick of Shotgun Wedding (2022) – it’s surprising that Jennifer Lopez hasn’t done more action films. She clearly has the physicality to do it. In The Mother (2023), she runs,…
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Film Review – Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
There is an air of finality all throughout Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023). Sure, when it comes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is anything really over? I wouldn’t be surprised to see any one of these misfits show up again in some form or another down the road.…
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Film Review – Peter Pan & Wendy
Writer/director David Lowery is establishing himself as one of the premiere fantasy filmmakers. Whether his work is centered around family-oriented tales (such as Pete’s Dragon (2016)) or adult centered fables (The Green Knight (2021)/A Ghost Story (2017)), Lowery has the ability to craft fantastical elements with sincerity and intelligence. He takes…
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Film Review – Ghosted
Ghosted (2023) has the kind of glossy artificiality of an amusement park stage show. There are plenty of explosions, shoot outs, and death-defying stunts, but there’s never a moment we are not aware that everything is a simulation. There is no tension because we don’t believe…
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Film Review – How to Blow Up a Pipeline
Based on the book by Andreas Maim, How to Blow Up a Pipeline (2022) is a white-knuckle ride that does not let up from beginning to end. Instead of dancing around its political themes, director Daniel Goldhaber (who cowrites with Ariela Barer and Jordan Sjol) places them front and center. The characters…
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Film Review – John Wick: Chapter 4
The John Wick series started as a small revenge tale and has grown to become one of the definitive action franchises of the new century. Incorporating muscular hand to hand combat, gun choreography, and awe-inspiring stunts, each entry upped the ante in terms of death-defying acrobatics. Beyond…
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