Movie Reviews

In Brief: Kenji Mizoguchi's Ugetsu is one of the greatest of all Japanese films. (It may, in fact, be my favorite Japanese film of the 1950s). It was one of the films that first helped Japanese cinema find its footing in America, but don't mistake its art-house cred as a sign that this is in…

The Story: The Oscar-nominated short films — both animated and live action — presented in one package. The Lowdown: While this year's live action short films are better than the animated ones, this is an overall worthwhile group of shorts — and essential viewing for Oscar-watchers.

The Story: Life at a retirement home for musicians and musical performers is disrupted by the arrival of a famous diva and the threat of the home being shut down if their annual gala isn't a big success. The Lowdown: A rather familiar story is given a first-rate treatment by an excellent cast and assured…

In Brief: A mystery writer and his wife move into a basement apartment in Greenwich Village only to find a murder committed there on their first night in the place. A sparkling comedy mystery with two bright stars — Loretta Young and Brian Aherne — and a great supporting cast including Charlie Chan Sidney Toler…

The Story: Twenty-four hours in what may be the last day — certainly the last big day — for three elderly gangsters, one of whom has been assigned to kill another. The Lowdown: An oddly stylized little film that mostly serves as a pleasant showcase for stars Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin, who…

In Brief: Remarkably dense and complex dark comedy — with elements of drama, mystery and romance — involving the intertwined relationships of a gay former child star, the ex-girlfriend he lives with, the friend who feels alienated, the actor's psychic/dominatrix friend, the woman his ex is "experimenting" with and the 18-year-old busboy with a crush…

In Brief: Meryl Streep (when she was still trying), Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci keep this comedy going about the ins and outs of the fashion magazine world — and in the process, they buoy up Anne Hathaway (whose role is more at fault than she). It's mostly a lot of good fun with some…

The Story: Fairy-tale stalwarts Hansel and Gretel have grown up, make a living hunting witches and are out to bring down the witches behind a series of kidnappings. The Lowdown: A disposable, superfluous fantasy/action hybrid that’s slight, goofy and occasionally fun in a hokey kind of way.

The Story: A criminal sets out for revenge after his accomplices steal his cut of a job and leave him for dead. The Lowdown: A surprisingly amateurish, needlessly serious and egregiously overlong action flick that wastes a decent cast.

The Story: A bunch of tasteless strung-together comedy sketches with famous people making horses' rectums of themselves. The Lowdown: This is what happens when movie stars owe favors, want to be good sports or don't think what they're doing will ever be seen. Tasteless, unfunny, tedious, infantile, boring and a strong contender for 2013's worst…

In Brief: Quite possibly the apex of 1950s giant-insect-fear films, Tarantula is no less preposterous than any of the films that surround it, but it manages to keep a straight face and actually seems to believe its own nonsense. Combined with reasonably sound performances, OK special effects and the good sense to keep its monster…

In Brief: A beautifully shot — with some incredible fantasy sequences — and emotionally engaging film about two refugees from Guatemala making their way to the United States and the reality of what they find as opposed to what they expect. Splendid on nearly every level, though compromised a little by melodrama that might have…

The Story: With an escaped drug lord headed his way, the sheriff of a sleepy Arizona border town plans to bring him to justice. The Lowdown: An aging action star and a meandering, dunderheaded script drag down the movie’s handful of inspired action pieces.

In Brief: The granddaddy of all gangster movies, Josef von Sternberg's silent classic Underworld holds up very nicely today despite the passage of 86 years. It's a fairly straightforward gangster yarn that's elevated to the level of art by three terrific performances, its toughness and Sternberg's nonstop visual creativity. A must-see for anyone interested in…

The Story: A private eye is hired by the mayor of New York City to prove his wife’s infidelity. The Lowdown: A basic, none-too-surprising piece of neo-noir that works due to strong direction and a remarkable cast.

In Brief: A Man for All Seasons — the Oscar-festooned film from 1966 — is solid, sober filmmaking that tells the story of Thomas More, who lost his head for refusing to compromise his religious views. Impressively made and superlatively cast.

The Story: Two little girls raised in the wilderness by a disturbed — and disturbing — spirit are taken to live with their uncle and his girlfriend. Unfortunately, the jealous spirit goes with them. The Lowdown: Atmospheric and creepy ghost thriller with solid performances and a persuasive evil — yet sad — spirit. There are…

In Brief: It's a double dose of Mexican mummy horror — The Curse of the Aztec Mummy and The Human Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy — and the films provide just the kind of entertainment those titles suggest. I wouldn't call them good, but, boy, are they ever goofy fun — with a maniacal super…

In Brief: Andrej Wajda tackles the story of the last political battle between French Revolution titans Danton and Robespierre in a persuasive and involving drama about government machinations to destroy one man who has become inconvenient. Gérard Depardieu gives what is perhaps the performance of his career in this intelligent, compelling and entertaining film.

The Story: A group of rogue L.A. cops are assembled to take down a notorious mob boss. The Lowdown: Despite a name cast, the film is betrayed by a lack of both energy and originality, and a cloying desire to be taken seriously despite a pretty lame script.

The Story: A spoof of found-footage horror films, in which a couple moves into a new house and are haunted by a demon. The Lowdown: A dumb movie making fun of dumb movies with all the weed and fart jokes you could imagine.