Crime

Musical Masterpiece: Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story”

I remember the first time I saw “West Side Story.” I watched the 1961 film during class at my Catholic elementary school decades later — on a square TV on a rolling cart — and it was transformative. I immediately loved the music, choreography, dancing, characters, and storytelling. I watch that version from time to […]

Musical Masterpiece: Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story”

Horror

The Last Rite

We haven’t had a good old-fashioned exorcism for a while, so Leroy Kincaide’s British take on the familiar genre, released via Samuel Goldwyn in the US, seemed worth a shot; the trailer features most of the staples, and several elements seem to be lifted directly from 1973’s The Exorcist. It’s a crisply shot film to […]

The Last Rite

Netflix

7 New Netflix Shows in December and the Best Reasons to Watch

1. “The Witcher” Season 2 (available December 17) Why Should I Watch? It’s been two years since Henry Cavill cast his spell on the world, and the titular Witcher’s long-awaited return to Netflix is finally upon us. I’m going to be honest: I do not remember much about this show. Twenty-four months — especially these…

7 New Netflix Shows in December and the Best Reasons to Watch

Festivals&Academy

Here Are the 2021 Nominations of the Washington D.C. Area Film Critics!

The Washington D.C. Area Film Critics have announced their nominees for the best of 2021!  The winners will be announced tomorrow so that means you have exactly one day to see all the nominees.  GET TO IT! Best Film Belfast The Green Knight The Power of the Dog tick, tick…BOOM! West Side Story Best Director […]

Here Are the 2021 Nominations of the Washington D.C. Area Film Critics!

Comedy

Ruthless People

I wasn’t old enough to beat the 18 certificate back in 1986, and it’s been a long, long wait for me to finally catch up on Ruthless People, 35 years to be exact. Directed by the Airplane team of David Zucker, Jerry Zucker and Jim Abrahams, and written by Dale Launer, it’s never been remade […]

Ruthless People

Drama

Rebel Without a Cause (1955) Confession, Preconception And My Punishment.

Here’s some random waffle from your friendly movie blog host Mikey Wolfman and a review, of sorts, for Rebel Without a Cause. I do hope you are sitting down, not because the length of the upcoming ramblings but for the shock horror factor that this here “movie fan” had never seen it! Insert blood curdling […]

Rebel Without a Cause (1955) Confession, Preconception And My Punishment.

Apple TV

Happy Days Are Here Again for “The Morning Show”

The news doesn’t stop, no matter what’s going on behind the scenes. You either keep up or get left behind. In this case, however, it’s not so much about keeping up. It’s about recapping a terrible, terrible year. Well, enough of the events contained within it. Time will tell if these storyline approaches will […]

Happy Days Are Here Again for “The Morning Show”

Action

Del Toro remakes a dark classic,”Nightmare Alley”

Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro’s take on “Nightmare Alley,” a noirish carny novel first adapted for a Tyrone Power film in 1947, is a pitiless vision of an underworld of grifters and tent-show hustlers. Stunningly-detailed, with an A-list cast up and down the line, it’s a gorgeous and gloomy dip into the dark side, immersive […]

Movie Review: Del Toro remakes a dark classic,”Nightmare Alley”

Drama

Out of the Blue

Dennis Hopper’s 1980 film, released by the BFI for this special, restored two-disc reissue, is a genuine one-off; a dark family drama that few have seen, and there’s a reason for that. This is the darkest of films, as befits Hopper’s reputation as a provocateur; he boarded this project and retooled it as a follow-up […]

Out of the Blue