Movie Reviews

The Past Returns, Inscrutably, In 'Ismael's Ghosts'

French writer-director Arnaud Desplechin can't hold the thread of the story he seeks to tell, so this film about the mysterious return of an old lover fades into frustrating ambiguity.

Wrinkling Time To Heal A Family

Showing science's enchanting side has the almost magical effect of opening new portals to what is possible, says astrophysicist Marcelo Gleiser.

'Tomb Raider,' Franchise Nadir

The film depicting the origin story of Lara Croft's raider of lost tombs "isn't awful," says critic Chris Klimek, "but its invasive, thudding mediocrity will make you wish it were."

'Flower' Is Thorny But Rootless

Max Winkler's tale of a teenager who uses sex to get revenge on a man who may or may not have assaulted her step-brother is a "glib character study" that tries too hard to shock.