In ‘Dear Evan Hansen,’ confusing priorities lead to empathic moments that would hit harder if Evan wasn’t the protagonist.
‘Summer of Soul’ review: Questlove’s debut doc is a groovy ride and a loud reminder of Black history erasure
“Nobody ever heard of the Harlem Cultural Festival. Nobody would believe it happened.” – Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised). Do you want to know what the funny thing is? Woodstock happened in the summer…
‘No Sudden Move’ review: Soderbergh sulks with a top-notch cast but bloated story
It would be a fool’s errand to try to tell Steven Soderbergh, director and writer of No Sudden Move, what to do. The enigmatic filmmaker has followed his own muse ever since his debut over 30 years ago with Sex,…
‘In the Heights’ review: a magical tribute to what the American Dream should be
Once upon a time, Lin-Manuel Miranda set his prodigious sights on Broadway with an inaugural, autobiographical musical that quickly set him up for New York exposure and (eventually) worldwide attention through his obviously ubiquitous follow-up. In the Heights, however, is…
‘Those Who Wish Me Dead’ review: Angelina Jolie faces the fire
The idea of being caught in the middle of a massive forest fire is frightening enough by itself. Everywhere you turn there is danger and destruction. In Taylor Sheridan’s new action thriller Those Who Wish Me Dead, a massive wildfire is…
‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’ review: An epic, overly long, and chaotic superhero tale that still improves on its predecessor on almost every level
To say I was dreading Zack Snyder’s Justice League is a gross understatement. After years of watching a toxic fandom grow on Twitter, hearing that a four-hour cut was set to premiere on HBO Max seemed over-the-top and self-indulgent. I…
‘The United States vs. Billie Holiday’ review: Not even Andra Day can save this biopic from being flat
There’s probably a brilliant movie hiding somewhere in The United States vs. Billie Holiday, a new biopic on Hulu that dives into the tragic, tumultuous life of the legendary Billie Holiday, whose iconic vocal expression was (literally) instrumental in defining…