|
|
SING SING
(****)-VITO CARLI
"...close to matching
the all-time great American prison films..." |
|
|
|
BEETLEJUICE,
BEETLEJUICE
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...it’s hard to imagine a better
Halloween treat than Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice." |
|
|
|
WYNONNA EARP: VENGEANCE
(*)-VITO CARLI
"...exist(s) to squeeze out the
last dollars from the final fans of a mediocre show" |
|
|
|
3 BODY PROBLEM-SEASON
ONE
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...more successful on an intellectual
than emotional level." |
|
|
|
VAMPIRE NEXT DOOR
(*½)-VITO CARLI
"...a low-brow
vampire variation on a teen male initiation story." |
|
|
|
ALIEN ROMULUS
(**½)-VITO CARLI
"...always watch able but it is also
frequently predictable." |
|
|
|
ROBOT DREAMS
(****)-VITO CARLI
"...should go to the top of your
must watch list." |
|
|
|
LONGLEGS
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...a fine, moody and atmospheric
film that will disturb and enthrall you." |
|
|
|
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...just the high-quality Marvel
product that Disney needed at the perfect time" |
|
|
|
DEAD BOY DETECTIVES (DC Universe
limited series)
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...it feels overstuffed-with more
ideas and characters than necessary" |
|
|
|
MAXXXINE
(***½)--VITO CARLI
"...an
invigorating and consistently enjoyable piece of cinematic sleaze" |
|
|
|
THE HIT MAN
(***½)--VITO CARLI
"...intelligent
and philosophical-without ever being heavy handed" |
|
|
|
the FALL GUY
(**½)--VITO CARLI
"The dialogue
never pops and it’s all sort of predictable." |
|
|
|
CINEMA RETROSPECTIVE
(MID YEAR 2024)-VITO CARLI
The "Big Tuna" Vito Carli weighs in
with Year in Film at the half way point |
|
|
|
INSIDE OUT 2
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...more than just a kid’s film
and it is better than it had to be" |
|
|
|
ORIGIN
(****)--VITO CARLI
"...one of of the best films of
the year" |
|
|
|
I SAW THE TV GLOW
(***½)--VITO CARLI
"...it could become a
modern cult classic" |
|
|
|
FURIOSA: A MAD MAX
SAGA
(***½)--VITO CARLI
"...one of the best adventure
films of the year" |
|
|
|
DAISY JONES AND THE
SIX
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"...a solid,
enjoyable, and lively effort." |
|
|
|
CHALLENGERS
(***)--VITO CARLI
"In the hands of
a lesser director this could have been as banal as a Lifetime
film" |
|
|
|
SCOTT PILGRIM TAKES
OFF
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...as creative,
stylish, and entertaining as any other horror show currently on TV." |
|
|
|
CIVIL WAR
(***)--VITO CARLI
"...skillfully
done and engaging..." |
|
|
|
LA CHIMERA
(***)--VITO CARLI
"...provides a few moments of merriment..." |
|
|
|
JUNJI ITO MANIAC: JAPANESE TALES OF THE MACABRE
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"...as creative, stylish, and
entertaining as any other horror show currently on TV." |
|
|
|
LOVE LIES BLEEDING
(***½)--VITO CARLI
"...one of the better recent
suspense films..." |
|
|
|
DRIVE AWAY DOLLS
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...an exercise in some good mindless fun..."
|
|
|
|
DUNE: PART 2
(****)--VITO CARLI
"...science
fiction films simply do not get much better than this." |
|
|
|
LISA FRANKENSTEIN
(**½)-VITO CARLI
"If I was an
alienated 15-year-old girl this might be my favorite movie" |
|
|
|
ZONE OF INTEREST
(***)-VITO CARLI
"I admired Zone
of Interest from a distance more than I loved it." |
|
|
|
PERFECT DAYS
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"...it makes visual poetry out
of-everyday occurrences." |
|
|
|
AMERICAN
FICTION
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"...a very good,
provocative film which would be ideal for seeing and discussing..." |
|
|
|
MAESTRO
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"The biggest crime this film
commits is it only very good in an excellent year..." |
|
|
|
AQUAMAN AND THE LOST
KINGDOM
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...the film’s strong elements
outnumber its weaknesses..." |
|
|
|
FALLEN LEAVES, (Kuolleet
lehdet)
(****)-VITO CARLI
"...one of the
finest romantic films of the year" |
|
|
|
HEART OF STONE
(*)-VITO CARLI
"...abysmal,
still born cinematic failure in almost every sense" |
|
|
|
POOR THINGS
(****)-VITO CARLI
"...lingers in your imagination
like a vivid fever dream." |
|
|
|
LITTLE RICHARD: I AM
EVERYTHING
(****)-VITO CARLI
"...mandatory viewing for fans of
early rock n’ roll." |
|
|
|
CINEMA RETROSPECTIVE
(2023)-VITO CARLI
The "Big Tuna" Vito Carli weighs in
with Summation of the Year in Film |
|
|
|
BARBIE
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...has great visuals, the script
is not quite as impressive" |
|
|
|
GODZILLA MINUS ONE
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"...shockingly
and surprisingly good" |
|
|
|
SALTBURN
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"...an exquisitely shot and wickedly
amusing class comedy." |
|
|
|
the KILLER
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"...works as
efficiently as a well-oiled machine..." |
|
|
|
the
MARVELS
(*½)-VITO CARLI
"There is nothing marvelous about
the film..." |
|
|
|
the CREATOR
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"Creator is not perfect, but it’s
thoughtful, exciting, and compelling." |
|
|
|
ANATOMY OF A FALL
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"...darkly
rewarding... " |
|
|
|
KILLERS
OF THE FLOWER MOON
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...a bit overrated because of its
politics." |
|
|
|
EL CONDE
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...gets more points for its
ambition than its actual execution." |
|
|
|
BLACK MIRROR SEASON 6
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"...six good to great little mini
sci-fi movies." |
|
|
|
DEAD RINGERS (mini-series)
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"...sure to make you think as it horrifies and repulses
you." |
|
|
|
A
HAUNTING IN VENICE
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...a perfect fun film for the
Halloween season" |
|
|
|
FREMONT
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"...looks and feels different
than everything else that’s playing anywhere." |
|
|
|
TIN AND TINA
(**½)-VITO CARLI
"...slow moving and it takes a
very long time-for the horror to really start" |
|
|
|
PERSONALITY CRISIS:
ONE NIGHT ONLY
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...many great
revelatory moments-but it is inconsistent and overlong..." |
|
|
|
BLUE BEETLE
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...charming blend of family drama, action, ethnic observation, and comedy" |
|
|
|
PAST LIVES
(****)-VITO CARLI
"...will leave you
pondering where you ended up and where you could have gone" |
|
|
|
JOHNNY AND CLYDE
(*)-VITO CARLI
"It's rare to see a professional
production-with such sub-par acting..." |
|
|
|
OPPENHEIMER
(****)-VITO CARLI
"...one of the
great movie events of this year" |
|
|
|
ASTEROID CITY
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...style is much
more impressive than the content" |
|
|
|
FOR ALL MANKIND (Season 1-3)
(***½)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...a
refreshingly retro devotion to honor and the common good."
|
|
|
|
CINEMA RETROSPECTIVE
(MID YEAR 2023)-VITO CARLI
The "Big Tuna" Vito Carli weighs in
with Year in Film at the half way point |
|
|
|
FLASH
(**½)-VITO CARLI
"...a great hour and a half ride that
ends in a car crash..." |
|
|
|
R.M.N.
(****)-VITO CARLI
"...the most
timely, powerful, and absorbing film I have seen so far this year." |
|
|
|
SHOWING UP
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"...nothing major
happens in Showing Up, so every little thing is important..." |
|
|
|
HOUSE OF THE DRAGON SEASON 1
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...it could
become a classic sci-fi program. It is just not there yet."
|
|
|
|
ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME,
MARGARET.
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"...plays like
the best After School Afternoon Special you never saw" |
|
|
|
INFINITY POOL
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"...a perplexing,
puzzling, and disturbing film..." |
|
|
|
SUZAME (Suzume No Tojimari)
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"...a wacky and
imaginative piece of entertainment..." |
|
|
|
GUARDIANS OF THE
GALAXY 3
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"It's like a rollicking, fun
filled roller coaster ride-shared with good friends" |
|
|
|
HIS ONLY SON
(**½)-VITO CARLI
"...there isn’t
really enough visual material or plot to make a good feature film..." |
|
|
|
RENFIELD
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...not
particularly deep or artistic but it does hit a vein, and it Is a whole
lot of fun" |
|
|
|
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS:
HONOR AMONG THIEVES
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...lively,
energetic, invigorating and loads of fun" |
|
|
|
CHILDREN OF THE MIST
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...viewers will be horrified
that this kind of thing still goes on" |
|
|
|
THE LOST KING
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...minor but pleasant
crowd-pleasing film..." |
|
|
|
STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS SEASON 1
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...it could become a classic
sci-fi program. It is just not there yet."
|
|
|
|
MY
YEAR OF DICKS
(****)-VITO CARLI
"...I discovered more and liked
it more each time I saw it." |
|
|
|
ANT-MAN AND WASP: QUANTUMANIA
(*1/2)-VITO CARLI
"...a failure on
almost every level." |
|
|
|
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...a commendable
version that keeps your interest..." |
|
|
|
AVATAR THE WAY OF
WATER
(**½)-VITO CARLI
"...I stopped caring about the
story-but not the visuals..." |
|
|
|
LIVING
(****)-VITO CARLI
"...captures the tedium of
government bureaucracy as well as Gilliam’s Brazil" |
|
|
|
M3GAN
(**½)-VITO CARLI
"...those not expecting too much
originality may have a reasonably good time" |
|
|
|
THE WHALE
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"...(you) will never forget the astonishingly convincing lead
performance" |
|
|
|
WOMEN TALKING
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"Everyone in the
film is almost equally terrific" |
|
|
|
TOP 10 FILMS-2022
(2022)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
Good Old JR Picks his TOP 10 Films of the Last
Year |
|
|
|
CINEMA RETROSPECTIVE
(2022)-VITO CARLI
The "Big Tuna" Vito Carli weighs in
with Summation of the Year in Film |
|
|
|
GLASS ONION: A KNIVES
OUT MYSTERY
(***1/2)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...as much a
creative success as its predecessor." |
|
|
|
WEDNESDAY (a Netflix
limited series)
(**1/2)-VITO CARLI
"...hum drum and ordinary, with
similar plotlines having been done better..." |
|
|
|
BLACK ADAM
(*1/2)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...Black Adam contains little that’s new, enervating, or interesting." |
|
|
|
TRIANGLE OF SADNESS
(****)-VITO CARLI
"...some of the
best scenes and most memorable characters of the year" |
|
|
|
TROLL
(***)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...a decent ride
of large-scale action and near-misses..." |
|
|
|
TAR
(****)-VITO CARLI
"...it's rare to see a cinematic
character as-multidimensional as Lydia Tar" |
|
|
|
A CHRISTMAS STORY
CHRISTMAS
(***)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...a worthy
sequel that doesn’t reinvent or upstage the first." |
|
|
|
WOMAN
KING
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...an inspiring
tale of female autonomy and sisterhood" |
|
|
|
WEIRD: THE AL YANKOVIC
STORY
(***)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...some inspired
madness..." |
|
|
|
WEREWOLF BY NIGHT
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"...a veritable feast for the eyes" |
|
|
|
TOP GUN: MAVERICK
(***½)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...a better time than
Top Gun — more nimble, more exciting, more soulful." |
|
|
|
MOONAGE DAYDREAM
(***)-VITO CARLI
"The more normal/popular Bowie
got the more conventional/boring he became..." |
|
|
|
the MUNSTERS
(*½)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...more of a
train wreck viewing experience..." |
|
|
|
PEARL: AN X-TRAORDINARY
ORIGIN STORY
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"...a cross between an
old-melodrama and a traditional slasher horror film" |
|
|
|
SANDMAN
(DC Universe limited series)
(***½)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...a heartfelt tale full of
emotional depth and-an incredible amount of humanity..." |
|
|
|
EMILY THE CRIMINAL
(****)-VITO CARLI
"...Plaza’s
groundbreaking performance is a-career making thing of
beauty" |
|
|
|
THOR: LOVE & THUNDER
(**)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...veers from dark and dour tragedy
to glib, dismissive comedy..." |
|
|
|
NOPE
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...imaginative, thought
provoking and exciting, but it feels a little too long." |
|
|
|
LIGHTYEAR
(***)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"The best thing
in Lightyear is the surprisingly mature story" |
|
|
|
APOLLO 10½: A
SPACE-AGE CHILDHOOD
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"I cannot think
of a better film that could be seen with the whole family..." |
|
|
|
PREY
(***)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...it smashes through a low bar
with ease" |
|
|
|
BOTH
SIDES OF THE BLADE
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"...emotionally
bruising-is definitely worth sitting through..." |
|
|
|
the GRAY MAN
(**)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"The gears keep turning in a
routine and predictable motion." |
|
|
|
NEPTUNE FROST
(****)-VITO CARLI
"...a veritable
feast for both the eyes and ears" |
|
|
|
the AUTOMAT
(***½)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...a slice of
nostalgia as sweet and fluffy as a piece of-lemon meringue pie..." |
|
|
|
PISTOL
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...if you are a punk fan it is must
see TV" |
|
|
|
RRR
(****)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...like taking
that first breath of outside air after being cooped up all day..." |
|
|
|
CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH
(***)-VITO CARLI
"... a film of
exceedingly small, human pleasures..." |
|
|
|
AFTER YANG
(****)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...a profound film for the
glass-half-full atheist" |
|
|
|
CRIMES OF THE FUTURE
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...a fitting last film-it serves
as a summation of his (Cronenberg's) career..." |
|
|
|
EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE
ALL AT ONCE
(****)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...an all-out assault of metaphysical
possibility" |
|
|
|
MOON KNIGHT (Marvel
Universe limited series)
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...often entertaining, exciting
and delightfully imaginative" |
|
|
|
DR.STRANGE AND THE MULTI-VERSE OF MADNESS
(**½)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...generally operates
more on the level of self-pastiche than any real inspiration" |
|
|
|
EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
(***1/2)-VITO CARLI
"...a truly original risk-taking
cinematic gem..." |
|
|
|
SPIDER-MAN:
NO WAY HOME
(**½)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"... a spider’s
web comic what-iffing its way through two and a half hours" |
|
|
|
the NORTHMAN
(****)-VITO CARLI
"...this film makes its
characters as exotic, unknowable and brutal as possible..." |
|
|
|
the BATMAN
(***½)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...arguably the best superhero
movie since Logan..." |
|
|
|
X
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...finds clever
ways to enliven and update a fairly formulaic plot..." |
|
|
|
TURNING RED
(***1/2)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...the broadness of
anime to the usual bitter sweetness of a Pixar production" |
|
|
|
MORBIUS
(**)-VITO CARLI
"...a totally underwhelming
mixture of the superhero and horror genre tropes..." |
|
|
|
ENCANTO
(***1/2)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...thought-provoking and stimulating" |
|
|
|
ACADEMY AWARDS PREDICTIONS-2022
EDITION
2021,
2020,
2019,
2018,
2017,
2016,
2015,
2014,
2013,
2011,
2010,
2009,
2008,
2007,
2006
Two Critics, 23 nominations with 38
total predictions for 2022 |
|
|
|
DRIVE MY CAR
(****)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...its patient
storytelling is only matched by its temporal scope." |
|
|
|
CODA
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"While-predictable, it
has more resonance than many more original films..." |
|
|
|
NIGHTMARE ALLEY
(***)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...reliably
beautiful in its visuals-a lack of flair in the storytelling..." |
|
|
|
KING RICHARD
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...the film is
not really about the girls so much as it is about the-God like dad." |
|
|
|
WEST SIDE STORY
(****)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...a resplendent entertainment..." |
|
|
|
LICORICE PIZZA
(****)-VITO CARLI
"...takes you back to a time
when-anything was possible" |
|
|
|
the ETERNALS
(**½)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...a gutsy
mess..." |
|
|
|
A
HERO
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"...a stern cautionary tale about
the fickleness of people and-social media" |
|
|
|
NO TIME TO DIE
(***)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...destined to change how the franchise proceeds in the
future" |
|
|
|
WHEEL OF FORTUNE AND
FANTASY
(****)-VITO CARLI
"I've rarely enjoyed
watching-people talk more on screen" |
|
|
|
DON'T LOOK UP
(**½)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...not as shrewd
nor smart as it obviously think(s) it is" |
|
|
|
the POWER OF THE DOG
(****)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...cold, cruel,
and impossible to ignore" |
|
|
|
the POWER OF THE DOG
(***1/2)-VITO CARLI
"...wiser
and more powerful than the majority of films I've
seen this year" |
|
|
|
LAST NIGHT IN SOHO
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...recommended to Anglophiles,
horror fans, and lovers of 60s films..." |
|
|
|
BELFAST
(***)-VITO CARLI
"...a crowd-pleasing
film that will undoubtedly please fans of classic Hollywood..." |
|
|
|
SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS
(***)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"...the type of
superhero introduction that every fringe character should
enjoy." |
|
|
|
the FRENCH DISPATCH
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"Anderson tells the stories using
almost every imaginable form and technique(s)..." |
|
|
|
INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US
(*1/2)-JIM RUTKOWSKI
"What begins as a
thoughtful exploration of grief-turns into mindless blood
sport" |
|
|
|
THIS IS NOT A BURIAL,
ITS A RESURRECTION
(***½)-VITO CARLI
"...serves as a
fine tribute to the skills of the late great lead actress..." |
|
Images © Copyright 2024 by their respective owners No rights given or
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Review © 2024 Alternate Reality, Inc.
All Graphics © 2024 by their respective rights holders. No rights/ownership inferred or
claimed by Alternate Reality, Inc. |
|