The story lacks vitality, momentum, and intrigue. The film is devoid of genuine joy. Characters and settings come at you all the time, as if you’ve entered a lunch buffet …
Movies
‘Three Thousand Years of Longing’ Is the Genie-Professor Love Story You Never Asked For
Director George Miller’s whimsical follow-up to 'Mad Max: Fury Road' finds him returning to the gentle storytelling he perfected in the 'Babe' films.
‘Wolf Warrior II’: What the Blockbuster Movie Tells Us About China’s Views on Africa
China is seen as Africa’s saviour and friend in the film – which is still full of racist stereotypes.
‘Cuttputlli’ Is Soulless Hero-Worship Masquerading as a Whodunit
The Akshay Kumar starrer embodies the attitude of an undergrad engineering student: long periods of inaction and then – a night before the exam – feverish anxiety.
In ‘Emily the Criminal’, Crime Pays When Nothing Else Will
Aubrey Plaza’s title character is trapped by crushing student loan debt, a punitive criminal justice system, and low wages. She, like so many other Americans, feels like she’s out of …
Jamie Foxx’s ‘Day Shift’ Is Another Big-Budget Netflix Mediocrity
With a solid premise about working-class vampire hunters, 'Day Shift' had real potential – but there’s no escaping the Netflix curse.
‘Thirteen Lives’ Leaves the Viewer Stuck Between Rocks and Ron Howard
At the heart of the new film Thirteen Lives lies a paradox. On the one hand, Ron Howard can be boring and annoying. On the other, caves are really cool.