Movie Reviews

James Whale’s The Old Dark House (1932) is not by any means the first Old-Dark-House movie, but it’s the only one adapted from the J.B. Priestley novel by that name (though in Britain, the book was called Benighted). (We will not discuss that 1963 abomination by the same title.) The movie — believed to be…

The Story: With ghosts invading Manhattan, three scientists and a transit system worker begin hunting them down. The Lowdown: A needlessly meandering and achingly jokey reworking of a supposed classic, one that leans too heavily on in-references and wastes a likable cast.

The Story: An adaptation of the fact-based memoir of U.S. customs agent Robert Mazur, who went deep undercover to take down the Medellin Cartel by exposing Pablo Escobar’s money laundering efforts. The Lowdown: What should have been 90 minutes of pot-boiler fun turns out to be 127 minutes of pretension and tedium.

The Story: Two aging, drug-addled socialites go on the run after one of them accidentally murders Kate Moss. The Lowdown: A shrill and grating attempt at creating commentary on the rich and famous, but one with no teeth and little direction.

While it’s by no means a classic, Death Becomes Her might be more timely now than ever, considering the amount of social media scorn recently heaped upon former ingenues Meg Ryan and Renée Zellweger for their inability to remain perpetually youthful. A black comedy focused the obsessive quest to do just that, at any cost, might…

The Story: A troubled New Zealand teen — and self-proclaimed “gangsta” — is sent to live with a new adoptive family on a remote farm. But after his new “auntie” dies unexpectedly, he and his “uncle” must go on the run from the authorities to keep their family intact. The Lowdown: Wilderpeople is a coming-of-age story…

The Story: A devoted terrier named Max finds his worldview challenged when his owner adopts a new dog. The Lowdown: While it lacks the polish of Pixar, Illumination Entertainment and Universal Studios’ fifth collaboration is a predictably inoffensive crowd-pleaser. It may not end up on any best-of lists for the year, but it’s entertaining, succinct and far less…

The Story: An examination of life and art through cellist Yo-Yo Ma and his Silk Road Ensemble. The Lowdown: A good-hearted and well-meaning documentary that feels a little stiff and flimsy considering its subject matter.

The Story: Two goofy brothers with a penchant for destruction-causing high jinks are forced into finding dates to their sister's wedding, only to be fooled into taking two hard-partying friends. The Lowdown: A loud, unoriginal comedy that's a forgettable hodgepodge of equally bad movies.

The Story: When a young French girl disappears, her father and brother risk everything to find her. The Lowdown: Very loosely based on John Ford’s The Searchers, Les Cowboys explores deep and decidedly timely topics while maintaining a thematic resonance with its source material.

The Story: An investigative journalist stumbles across a series of fetishistic internet videos depicting an alleged sport known as “competitive endurance tickling.” As he pursues the story, what he finds is more disturbing and bizarre than could possibly have been expected. The Lowdown: Don’t let the deceptive premise or trailer fool you, Tickled is a…

A somewhat uninspired comedic take on the standard “old dark house” mystery thriller, The Black Abbot (1934) was produced on the cheap and it shows. Director George A. Cooper attempts to hide his hastily slapped-together sets through creative staging, and tuxedos from the wardrobe department make the cast look like there on their way to…

Perhaps better known for his work in science fiction, including the 1953 War of the Worlds and 1964 cult classic Robinson Crusoe on Mars, director Byron Haskins was also responsible for 1949’s Too Late for Tears.  This often overlooked film noir may not have the name recognition of something like Double Indemnity or Out of…

A stirring documentary about accomplished “Ultra Runner” Will Harlan, El Chivo explores the motivations and psychology behind long-distance running while providing a compelling character study of a notable local. By capturing candid glimpses of Harlan’s life on his bucolic Barnardsville farm, local filmmaker Rod Murphy goes beyond Harlan’s headline-grabbing victory in the grueling 50-mile Caballo…

In Brief: Arguably Agatha Christie’s most well-known character, Hercule Poirot is something of a known quantity in most corners. However, those primarily familiar with David Suchet’s 24-year run playing the Belgian detective, or Albert Finney’s portrayal (possibly the best Poirot ever) in Sidney Lumet’s 1974 Murder on the Orient Express, will find plenty to enjoy…

The Story: A young girl is whisked away to a magical land by a big, friendly giant. The Lowdown: A generally kindhearted and sweet-natured adventure film that could use a bit more whimsy and a shorter runtime.

The Story: Tarzan, supposed King of the Jungle turned aristocrat, returns to Africa only to find himself and his wife lured into a deadly trap. The Lowdown: A mature and stylish adventure film that suffers from being a bit too straight-faced and an inability to match its tone to its pulpy source.

In Brief: Wallace Fox’s The Corpse Vanishes (1942) is the fourth of Lugosi’s Monogram Nine — and if nothing else, it’s hands down the nastiest of the lot. (It’s only competition is the same year’s Bowery at Midnight, which was also made by Mr. Fox.) Here we find Lugosi as Dr. Lorenz — mad scientist…

The Story: A comprehensive retrospective of director Brian De Palma’s 50-year career in film, as recounted by De Palma himself. The Lowdown: More love letter than bio-doc, De Palma is required viewing for both devoted fans of the filmmaker’s work and anyone interested in the last half-century of film history.