CARS 3: SLOW START, STRONG FINISH
Saying that Cars 3 is better than its predecessor isn’t much of a compliment. What matters more is that it hearkens back to original 2006 Cars and winds up on a surprisingly thoughtful note. The soundtrack even features the voice of the late…
SALLY HAWKINS SHINES AS MAUDIE
Sally Hawkins’ extraordinary performance drives the unusual biographical drama Maudie, the story of folk artist Maud Lewis. Afflicted with a variety of physical ailments, we meet Maud in her 30s when she’s still living with her waspish aunt, who endures her…
UNWRAPPING ‘THE MUMMY’
Don’t blame Tom Cruise for The Mummy. His star wattage is as high as ever, and he’s well cast as a roguish man of adventure. In fact, The Mummy is actually fun to watch…for a while. But when six…
BRIAN COX BECOMES ‘CHURCHILL’
Brian Cox’s forceful and persuasive performance is the main reason to see Churchill. He is utterly convincing in ultra-closeups of his face as well as wider shots that reveal his body language. The screenplay allows Cox to embody all…
I WONDER WHAT’S WRONG WITH ‘WONDER WOMAN’
The only wonder regarding this movie is that it could be so incredibly dull. I keep hoping DC will find a key to unlock the magic inherent in its great cast of characters, but the Midas Touch continues to…
BAYWATCH: BEACH BUMMER
No one expects Shakespearean dialogue or plotting in a movie based on the jiggly TV series of the 1990s, but even the breeziest summer escapism shouldn’t be this stupid. Dwayne Johnson is quickly established as the ultra-dedicated lifeguard chief…
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES
Boring. That’s how I’d describe the latest Pirates of the Caribbean enterprise, subtitled Dead Men Tell No Tales. Apparently, live men tell leaden tales like this, overstuffed with subplots and uninteresting characters. Still, this seems to be what audiences…
