Reviews

HERETIC (2024) *** Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East, Topher Grace. Filmmakers Scott Beck & Bryan Woods deliver a creepy and surprisingly insightful & thoughtful horror film about faith, organized religion and ultimately free will when a pair of Mormon girls (Thatcher and East) find themselves in the minotaur's labyrinth when they encounter a supremely sinister would-be-converter (Grant giving a brilliantly eerie turn) whose devious game of chance becomes a battle of wits to the death. A few surprises and well-conceived dialogues make up for the final acts rather rushed effort to conclude overall making a unique offering into a slight shoulder shrug of 'ok, then'.

ANORA (2024) *** Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan, Aura Borisov. Madison shines in her finest hour as a Brooklyn exotic dancer whose hook up with a Russian client (Eydelshteyn), the son of a shady businessman (aka gangster), leads to a whirlwind romance resulting in a tightly twisted plot involving his family's protectors and the aftermath of their sudden romance. While filmmaker Sean Baker showcases his talent with loving care and skill ultimately the plot line is fairly predictable and a bit hard to swallow in spite of giving some layers to what could otherwise be cardboard characters.

SMILE 2 (2024) ***1/2 Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt, Lukas Gage, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Peter Jacobson, Ray Nicholson, Dylan Gelula (Cameo: Drew Barrymore as herself). Filmmaker Parker Finn doubles down in his sequel to his hit horror flick about a demonic curse that plagues from victim to victim this time tagging newly sober pop sensation Skye Riley (Scott giving a go-for-broke, award-worthy star turn) It propelling her into a downward spiral of mental-health, the cult of celebrity and self-destructive behavior the the nth degree. Creepy and dread-inducing fear propels the narrative to full force with barely a moment to not only breathe (the pre-title one-shot opening sequence is a banger thanks to marksmanlike camerawork by Charlie Sarroff) but keep sharp of what is about to happen next, the mark of a genuine filmmaker of the genre. And its blood-drenched violence is *chef's kiss* en pointe.

SATURDAY NIGHT (2024) *** Gabriel LaBelle, Rachel Sennot, Cory Michael Smith, Ella Hunt, Dylan O' Brien, Emily Fairn, Matt Wood, Lamone Morris, Kim Matula, Finn Wolfhard, Nicholas Braun, Cooper Hoffman, Corinne Britti, Nicholas Podany, Rober Wuhl, Jon Batiste, Willem Dafoe, Tracy Letts, Matthew Rhys, JK Simmons, Brad Garrett. Filmmaker Jason Reitman's frenetic and footloose imagining of NBC's iconic late-night live TV comedy showcase in the impending hours just before its leading up to opening night broadcast with ringleader producer/creator Lorne Michaels (LaBelle) in a whirlwind of activity, angst and hubris as the kinetic energy of backstage drama unspools. Breakneck cinematography by Eric Steelberg and sharp editing by Nathan Orloff & Shane Reid propel the non-stop frantic pace with last minute adjustments that compliments its mostly game cast (standouts are Smith's Chevy Chase, all ego and snark, O' Brien's uncanny & fun Dan Aykroyd and dead-ringer Wood as the late, great John Belushi). While the score by Batiste keeps the film in groove it gets repetitive and stale after awhile and the cringey Podany as a worried Billy Crystal (dude looks nothing like the comedian whatsoever doesn't help) is beyond annoying. There are many Easter eggs for SNL fans so that helps add to the nostalgic joy ride none-the-less.

JOKER : FOLIE 'A DEUX (2024) ** Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Zazie Beetz, Steve Coogan, Harry Lawtey, Leigh Ill, Bill Smitrovich. Filmmaker Todd Phillips' ambitious sequel to his hit reimagining of the DC arch villain is largely hit/miss in spite of Phoenix reprising his Oscar-winning role as Arthur Fleck whose imprisonment for several murders in the aftermath of the original has him set for his day in court while romancing fellow screw-loose fangirl Lee Quinzel (aka Harley Quinn - played with a determined Gaga). While its an interesting choice to have musical numbers (largely fantasy based within the characters' minds) and the gusto of its leads the film is an event in patience limits for its core audience particularly in its final act. Filmed in IMAX smartly using its practical f/x & locales (largely shot in my home state of NJ; YW) the cinematography by Lawrence Sher and Hilduer Guonadottir's sturm and drang score are well produced for its initial environs thru out.

MEGALOPOLIS (2024) ** Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Dustin Hoffman, Talia Shire, Jason Schwartzman, Chloe Fineman, James Remar, DB Sweeney. Francis Ford Coppola's magnum opus about a near-future utopian Manhattan re-imagined as a New Rome for the ages is a mixed bag of WTF and audacious artistry in full bloom with a game cast but a meandering storyline that never quite adheres not unlike its characters aimlessly bouncing off one another amidst all the pageantry with sonorous pondering life's question with barely any answers in the midst. Think CITIZEN KANE meets BLADE RUNNER for all its hubris and moxie to spare. A ponderous beautiful mess of cinema and in IMAX it is eye-opening in all its visual splendor.

SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY (2024) **** Heartfelt and accommodating documentary on the life and legacy of Christopher Reeve, actor/familyman/advocate for the disabled focusing largely upon the nearly-fatal accident in which he became a quadriplegic, which not only strengthened his humanity but in fact defined it. Interspersed with family home videos and testimonials from both friends and colleagues as well as those who have benefited from his & his wife Dana's philanthropic efforts, the film balances the man as well as the myth (naturally playing Superman onscreen clearly iconicized him immortal and underlined the cruel fate of his destiny) filmmakers Ian Bonhote and Peter Ettedgui prove that - to turn a phrase on his most famous film's tagline - You Will Believe A Man Can Try. One of the year's best films.

THE SUBSTANCE (2024) ***1/2 Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid, (voice of Yann Bean). Moore delivers a career high, Oscar-worthy performance as an aging actress who faces being obsolete when she's bounced from her TV gig as an aerobics personality and discovers a new way of reviving her career in the titular, unknown source which results in birthing her younger, sexier 'self' (Qualley equally giving it her all) who takes up residence at her home while eventually replacing her on air. Filmmaker Coralie Fargeat crafts a truly horrifying sci-fi/body horror fable of be careful what you wish for with elements meets the trope of the doppelgänger mixing everything from FRANKENSTEIN to CARRIE to THE SHINING to DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE to THE FLY to THE THING yet making a miasma of it all in a high-octane cocktail of signing your soul to the Devil and getting more than one bargained for with pure dread resulting in a final, blood-drenched, gore-fest act of redemption of sorts. Quaid defines toxic masculinity to the nth degree as the programmer whose presence of being vile, vulgar and outrageous to the hilt resembling an over-ripe pumpkin about to burst its rind. Shocking and surprisingly poignant underscoring how female bodies are exploited by society's mores and ultimately what it means to be human. The synth sinister score by Raffertie & the jaw-dropping practical make-up/visual effects by Oscar Afonso and his team are worth the price of admission alone. One of the year's absolute best films. A must see.

BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE (2024) *** Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O' Hara, Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe, Monica Bellucci, Arthur Conti, Nick Kellington, Santiago Cabreara, Danny DeVito. Tim Burton revisits the madcap world of the after-life with the 'ghost with the most' back in top form with Keaton returning as his iconic bio-exorcist still pining for Ryder's Lydia Deetz, nowadays a TV star for a reality show exploring the supernatural whose strained relationship with her insolent daughter Astrid (perfectly cast Ortega) comes to a head in the death of her father Charles. Reuniting its principal cast is beyond nostalgic particularly with MVP O'Hara as Delia, whose performance art world colliding with reality in the aftermath of her husband's death is surprisingly poignant (as well as her being the voice of reason). Danny Elfman returns to form with his signature soundtrack as well as the mix of practical and visual f/x. Newcomers include the ethereally sexy Bellucci as The Juice's soul-sucking succubus' ex and Dafoe as a departed action movie star as a post-mortem law & order enforcer. While it's been 36 years since its incarnation it's been well worth the wait even if it's just to see Keaton get his ya-yas out with some touchstone moments of the past and field day-not-missing-a-beat turn. Make sure to see it in IMAX if only to see the female characters as giantesses one could only hope for ;d.

ALIEN: ROMULUS (2024) *** Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaud, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, Ailenn Wu. Genre filmmaker Fede Alvarez - who co-wrote the script with Rodo Sayagues - delivers a graphic and decent valentine to the sci-fi horror franchise with a small group of friends working for the Company who desire new horizons and decide to embark on a defunct space station with more than they bargained for in their dark encounters with the iconic xenomorph. Deadly, taut and thoughtful of its predecessors - chock block of touchstones and Easter eggs for die-hard fans - and shrewdly keeping in line with the necessary evil of practical effects (the intergalactic beasties are slimier and nastier than ever; good!). While Spaeny may not be able to fulfill Sigourney Weaver's promise (well honestly who ever would?) she keeps the storyline chugging with determined grit and resolve. Fantastic visual effects and supreme cinematography by Galo Olivares compliments its hive of vile splendidly. A return to form for the most part.

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE (2024) ***1/2 Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfadyen, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Jon Favreau, Aaron Stanford, Tyler Mane, Karan Soni, Briana Hildebrad. Marvel's meta-mouth mere and X-Men's ultra bad-ass (re)unite for the first time in this mind-bending, universe paralleling action packed adventure dealing with multi-time lines, kicking ass & general debauchery. Gleefully over-the-top & fourth wall shattering the DynamicDuo of RL besties Reynolds & Jackaman is nothing but pure cinematic bliss with its balls-to-the-wall graphic carnage, side-mouth quips and bone-crunching destruction to the hilt deliver the, well, marvelous goods. Chock block with cameos & an '80s power groove jukebox soundtrack. See it on the biggest screen with the loudest sound system and thank me later. (DIR: Shawn Levy)

A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE (2024) *** Lupita Nyong'o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, Djimon Hounsou. Prequel to the popular doomsday sci-fi monster mash depicts the world at peril when the sensory overloaded aliens invade NYC and cancer patient Nyong'o (giving it her all) is trapped in the aftermath attempting to get home only with her service cat and a terrified Brit (Quinn equally compelling). Director Michael Sarnoski - who co-scripted with John Krasinsky (the original's star and director) & Bryan Woods - makes the best with the visual while almost all sound has been depleted to serve the story overall.

LONGLEGS (2024) *** Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage, Blair Underwood, Alicia Witt, Michelle Choi-Lee. Director Oz Perkins (who also wrote the screenplay) delves deep into the dark recesses of serial murderers with this odd, and very eerie look at a green FBI agent (a haunted Monroe) who attempts to use her preternatural psychic gift in abetting the search for the titular, Satan worshipping villain (ably played by Cage in arguably his creepiest performance to date) with unforeseen consequences in the long run. Kudos to Andres Arochi's dank cinematography & a make-up team including Felix Fox & Keith Lau (largely for Cage's beyond words uber nasty look).

MAXXXINE (2024) *** Mia Goth, Elizabeth Debicki, Giancarlo Esposito, Kevin Bacon, Bobby Cannavale, Michelle Monaghan, Lily Collins, Larry Fessenden, Simo Prest. Ti West concludes his Maxine trilogy with his titular heroine (Goth continuing to excel in sociopathic tendencies) seeking movie stardom in Hollywood circa 1985 being cast in a slasher flick while the Night Stalker homicides are in full swing. Facing her demons of her past no thanks to a grimy gumshoe (Bacon having a field day with his inner Jake Gittes turn) the violent tendencies are in full bloom. While not the strongest of the trifecta it has its moments of pulpy glee.

Beverly Hills COP: AXEL F (2024) *** Eddie Murphy, Taylor Paige, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, Bronson Pinchot, Kevin Bacon, Nasim Pedrad. Murphy returns full tilt as his iconic policeman out of water returning to LA when his estranged lawyer daughter (Paige) is up to her neck in defending her client from a corrupt cop (Bacon in villain mode) involving his old buds Rosewood & Taggart (Reinhold and Ashton, welcome back!) Director Mark Molloy employs smart set pieces with enough action and retro joy to fulfill the most jaded audience member returning to the fold; the slapping jukebox soundtrack of the franchise's previous hits helps too :D.

HORIZON: AN AMERICAN SAGA - CHAPTER 1 (2024) **1/2 Kevin Costner, Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Jean Malone, Danny Huston, Abbey Lee, Scott Haze, Tom Payne, Owen Crow Shoe, Tatanka Means, Michael Rocker, Will Patton, Luke Wilson, Scott Haze, Jeff Fahey, James Russo, Dale Dickey, Joe Burns, Jon Beavers, Charles Halford, Jamie Campbell Bower. Costner's epic take on the West circa Civil War era is sprawling and meandering from one state to another with its pioneers looking for the promised land of the titular town that proves more fable than fact. While it is handsomely shot by J. Michael Munro, frankly Costner's direction is rather disappointing (or perhaps its editing since this is the first of a 2 part film) with its plotting (many of the characters intermingling are hard to buy or don't make much sense let alone what's up with his own character overall). While I admire his sinking of his own fortune into this passion project he has the Herculean job to make the next (and supposedly final) chapter more compelling.

TUESDAY (2024) *** Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lola Petticrew, Leah Harvey, (Voice of Arinze Kene). Dreyfus stars as a single mother whose terminally ill only child. (Petticrew) is visited by the harbinger death, in the form of a shape-shifting Macaw parrot, who informs them it is there to take the girl to the other side. Written and directed by movie filmmaker Daina Oniunas-Pusic, the film's echoes of ALICE IN WONDERLAND and other fantastical fables are enlivened by its creature as well as a well-acted performance by Dreyfus. While I was a bit disappointed in what I was anticipating the film has something that its fantastical bird opines: it's unique.

IN A VIOLENT NATURE (2024) *** Ry Barrett, Andrea Pavlovic, Cameron Love, Reece Presley, Liam Leone, Charlotte Chreaghan, Lea Rose Sebastianis, Sam Roulston, Alexander Oliver, Timothy Paul McCarthy, Lauren-Marie Taylor. Novice filmmaker Chris Nash makes a startlingly effective directorial debut with his interesting take on the slasher genre - i.e. The killer in the woods trope - in which an unearthed hulking mute brute (Barrett) seeks vengeance on a group of young friends who unwittingly take a locket at the monster's gravesite unleashing a blood-soaked murder spree which makes Jason Voorhees look like a piker in comparison with some truly heinous kills (one for the record books - which I will not spoil - but 100% have NEVER seen depicted onscreen, defying physics to boot!). Without a music soundtrack and relying on ambient sound design the film's silence provides enough tension and dread thru out as its monster literally takes its sweet old time in getting from one point to another. PS: I can't think of another film where you immediately want every victim-to-be to be all killed off instantly.

FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA (2024) **** Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Alyla Browne, George Shevtsov, Lachy Hulme, Charlee Fraser. George Miller's ongoing dystopian future saga incorporates the prequel origin story of its titular heroine (first Browne as a child and then Taylor-Joy as a young woman) who endures the kdinapping of deranged 'leader' Dementus (Hemsworth getting in touch with his inner Josh Brolin having a field day) while tangling with the equally demented Immortal Joe (Hulme, imposing as ever) over the barren wasteland's precious resources with nothing but vengeance and redemption in her sights. Taylor-Joy, boasting the most expressive beautiful eyes today in cinema, digs deep and dirty with a gritty and stoic turn holding her own with the action at hand, while she doesn't exactly resemble Charlize Theron, she does have her laser focused gaze and stance down pact. Bold, aggressive and abundant in scope, execution and some truly amazing set pieces guaranteed to leave your jaw-dropping, pulse racing and heart exploding. Must see in IMAX or the next best thing onscreen.

STING (2024) *** Ayla Browen, Ryan Corr, Penelope Mitchell, Jermaine Gowler, Noni Hazlehurst, Robyn Nevin, Danny Kim, Siliva Colloca. Spooky horror film about an alien spider that is befriended by a young girl (an excellent Browen) upon its crash-landing in a snowy Brooklyn that eventually grows into a voracious monster stalking her apartment building with dreadful results. Filmmaker Kiah Roache-Turner creates a truly dark and eerie film with a storyline involving a loving family facing their own limitations as well as some inventive camerawork by Brad Shield and gnarly make-up by John Logue. Fun and scary.

LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL (2024) *** David Dastmalchian, Lauren Gordon, Ian Bliss, Faysal Bazzi, Ingrid Torelli, Rhys Auteri, Josh Quong Tart, Georgina Haig (Narrator : Michael Ironside). Found footage horror flick about a fading '70s late night talk show host (Dastmalchian in his finest hour) who attempts a ratings gag on Halloween with a live-on-tv-broadcast of an exorcism that leads to deadly consequences. Written and directed by Colin and Cameron Cairnes the production values of the era is spot on as well as the behind-the-scenes squabbling mixed with the unerring feel of dread through out comes across as "The Larry Sanders Show" meets THE EXORCIST.

GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE (2024) ** Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Patton Oswalt, Celeste O' Connor, Logan Kim, Emily Alyn Lind, James Acaster, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, William Atherton. NYC is in deep freeze when an ancient orb harboring a malevolent demon is hellbent on destroying the world - so who ya gonna call? Right. The new and old regime reunite to fight the good fight but fail to find much mirth or laughter in a lackluster CGI lightshow that also fails to spark any scares but it's nice to see the OGs back in uniform despite the misgivings by Gil Kenan's listless direction and his collaborated script with Jason Reitman attempting to breathe new life for the franchise.

KNOX GOES AWAY (2024) ***1/2 Michael Keaton, James Marsden, Al Pacino, Marcia Gay Harden, Ray McKinnon, Joanna Kulig, Dennis Dugan, Suzy Nakamura. Keaton, who also skillfully directed, stars as an aging contract killer whose diagnosis of a rapidly degenerative form of dementia sets a time clock involving a botched hit, a dogged police detective, and his adult estranged son, while attempting to keep his wits about him as his downward spiral drastically takes affect. Well written with a scalpel's precision by Gregory Poirier and the use of its sound design and blurring cinematography documents its protagonist's dilemma with alacrity. Keaton gives one of his best, low-key turns in ages.

REMEMBERING GENE WILDER (2024) **** Gene Wilder, Gilda Radner, Mel Brooks, Richard Pryor, Alan Alda, Harry Connick, Jr., Carol Kane, Eric McCormack, Alan Zweibel, Burton Gilliam, Ben Mankiewicz, Peter Ostrum, Rain Pryor. Ron Frank's valentine of a documentary on the beloved comedic actor focuses on Wilder's theatrical and cinematic career with fond recollections by friends, family and collaborators with voice over narration provided by the late icon's audiobook biography audio mixed with clips and vintage photos of the past. The film's success is in capturing Wilder's Mona Lisa smile, mischievous glint in his eyes and utter charm and warmth by being both meek and, well, wild.

STOPMOTION (2024) *** Aisling Fraciosi, Stella Gonet, Tom York, Caoilinn Springall, James Swanton. Creepy psychological horror film centering on a troubled stop motion animation artist (Fraciosi, who resembles Jessica Harper circa SUSPIRIA, balances vulnerability with determination) attempting to struggle with her finding her own voice in the wake of her mother's declining health with the help of an odd little girl (Springall) whose idea of a new story to tell opens her up to new possibilities, as well as dire consequences. Director Robert Morgan - who co-wrote with Robin King - manages to keep unnerving visuals and distorted sounds with pin-pricking moments of genuine dread largely due to the eerie puppets created for the project.