Movie Reviews

You've formed a Book Club — now let's see some spirit! Seniors go cheerleading in Poms.

Arts

Brrr, It's Old In Here: Seniors Join A Cheerleading Squad In The Broad But Genial 'Poms'

5:00pm May 09, 2019

by Ella Taylor

This trifle — about a bunch of plucky seniors (led by Diane Keaton) who form a cheerleading squad — is a "fitful good time," despite infantilizing both its characters and its audience.

Before Dungeons and Dragons, there was Tweed and Trees. Nicholas Hoult plays young JRR Tolkien in Tolkien.

Arts

The Tale Of Young 'Tolkien' Adopts The Language Of A Standard Biopic

5:00pm May 09, 2019

by Bob Mondello

The film, starring Nicholas Hoult as the linguist who created Middle Earth, is full of shout-outs to the Lord of the Rings (books and films), though it "connects the dots a bit literally."

Some Pig: A documentarian and his spouse decamp to rural California to live off the land, or try to, in the documentary Biggest Little Farm.

Arts

Documentary Offers Eco-Conscious Farm Wisdom: 'Biggest Little Farm'

5:00pm May 08, 2019

by Mark Jenkins

A couple leaves L.A. to start a farm from scratch, without knowing what they're in for, in this crowd-pleasing documentary that proves "amiable and ultimately moving."

Arts

'Biggest Little Farm' Chronicles One Couple's Effort To 'Jump-Start The Soil'

2:03pm May 06, 2019

by Dave Davies

Molly and John Chester took a massive leap when they decided to leave Los Angeles to start an organic farm. John's new documentary tells the story of their struggles and successes.

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Juliette Binoche Stars In 'Non-Fiction,' A Comedy About Book Publishing And Adultery

4:41pm May 03, 2019

by Bob Mondello

Juliette Binoche stars in a satirical comedy, and intellectual puzzle, about publishing and adultery called Non-Fiction.

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Shadow is the latest from Chinese director Zhang Yimou.

Arts

'Shadow': An Epic Tale Of Feudal China That Gradually Shades Into Fantasy

5:00pm May 02, 2019

by Mark Jenkins

The legendary Chinese director Zhang Yimou presents a sweeping quasi-historical tale that allows him to return to the visual and narrative themes for which he is known.

Director Oliver Assayas' latest film Non-Fiction stars Juliette Binoche.

Arts

In 'Non-Fiction,' French Things Considered: Books, Infidelity (And Talking About Books, Infidelity)

5:00pm May 02, 2019

by Ella Taylor

Writer-director Olivier Assayas' latest film, set in Paris' literary world, is a "mostly delightful, occasionally exhaustingly word-drunk comedy of manners larded with giddy farce."

Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron get their rom-com on in Long Shot.

Arts

'Long Shot': When The Romance Is Real, But The Realpolitik Isn't

5:00pm May 02, 2019

by Scott Tobias

Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen spark off each other in what is essentially a gender-swapped The American President, though the film's cursory understanding of politics feels woefully out-of-touch.

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile casts Zac Efron — former star of the High School Musical franchise — as serial killer Ted Bundy.

Arts

Netflix Film Prods At Ted Bundy's 'Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil And Vile' Appeal

5:00pm May 02, 2019

by Andrew Lapin

Zac Efron stars as the serial killer in a film that chooses not to linger on the lurid brutality of his crimes, but to explore the sinister charisma that made them possible.

'The White Crow' Shows The Complicated Life Of Russian Ballet Star Rudolf Nureyev

6:15pm April 26, 2019

by Bob Mondello

Ralph Fiennes steps behind the camera for a ballet biopic — not Black Swan, but The White Crow — about the early years and defection to the west of Russian ballet star Rudolf Nureyev.

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