Red Rocket: Magic Mikey
In the movement to destigmatize sex work, Sean Baker is leading the charge. All four of his feature films have been about sex workers,...
Licorice Pizza: Growing Up Is Hard to Do
I need to stake out a position here on Licorice Pizza, since it’s becoming an awards contender. After the death grip that Paul Thomas...
Matrix: Techno Is Dead
“Nothing comforts anxiety like fake nostalgia,” says one of the characters in The Matrix Resurrections. Yeah, they said that to me as I watched...
Spider Verses
Will you look at that? I got a kicking for not liking the Ghostbusters sequel, and now comes Spider-Man: No Way Home, a movie...
Nightmare Alley: Freaks and Geeks
The 1947 film of Nightmare Alley begins easily enough, with the main character working in a traveling carnival. Guillermo del Toro’s remake begins with...
Being the Ricardos: Lucy Goosey
When I was a kid, I watched reruns of I Love Lucy religiously on afternoon TV. I learned how comedy bits and scenes work...
West Side Story: Mambo!
I’m not a fan of the 1961 film of West Side Story. Sure, the dancing was fantastic, but the lead performances by Richard Beymer...
Wolf: The Howling
I live in a state that tells transgender kids to kill themselves. Think I’m exaggerating? Texas just discontinued its suicide hotline for LGBT teens....
Encanto: Singing Madrigals
About six months ago when I reviewed In the Heights, I said there were only two Latin-themed musical films this year. I severely undercounted...
House of Gucci: Divorce, Italian-Style
“The ex-wife of Italian fashion heir Maurizio Gucci was convicted of ordering her husband’s murder, and was sentenced to 29 years in prison. Most...
