Star Wars: The Last Jedi
The galactic civil war goes on, with the Resistance on the run under Gen. Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher, who finished shooting shortly before her death last year) and the Force-savant Rey (Daisy Ridley) seeking to recruit the reclusive Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) back into the struggle. Writer-director Rian Johnson falters a bit, missing the gee-whiz thrill J.J. Abrams gave The Force Awakens—and where Abrams left us eager for more, Johnson leaves us sated and willing to wait a couple of years for the next episode. Still, there’s plenty of fun to be had, and the series faithful won’t be disappointed. Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Domhnall Gleeson and Andy Serkis round out the returning cast, with some promising new characters in the form of Laura Dern, Benicio Del Toro and Kelly Marie Tran.
The film has great pieces that rarely fit together, and the binary connections that director Guillermo del Toro makes between real-life civil rights struggles and merman love are fairly insulting.
Published on 12.21.17
The underrated 1995 Jumanji had wild adventures encasing a warmly sweet heart, and this film manages nicely to duplicate the formula.
Published on 12.21.17
A thoroughly disjointed and misguided collaboration with longtime writing partner Jim Taylor and director Alexander Payne.
Published on 12.21.17
The film clearly holds a weird level of affection for The Room, while stacking the cast with a This is the End-style comedy ensemble.
Published on 12.14.17
Gary Oldman blubbers and bellows from under wads of makeup as Winston Churchill in this lifeless biopic by Atonement director Joe Wright.
Published on 12.14.17