Oracene is a force and Ellis does her justice, going toe-to-toe with Smith in multiple scenes and giving the movie an emotional core it would have otherwise lacked. Tennis is always a back and forth and thanks to her, King Richard serves it.
All tagged 3 Stars
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
The very real toll this existence takes on the characters in the film are the play within the play. The staging of August Wilson’s words are ostensibly about a legendary blues singer, but in reality, they are about everything Black people do to stay sane in an insane world.
Good Point - Bad Hair
For all of its manic hilarity, the film is actually a fairly nuanced take on the ways in which Black women’s choices are constrained by their daily circumstances. But it definitely has a point of view about how Black women should approach those choices and it is not clear Simien has a right to comment.
Dolemite Is My Name
With “Dolemite Is My Name,” Eddie Murphy is back; and not just back in the sense of limelight, but back to doing what he does best. Making people laugh with his unique brand of incisive humor and irreverence.
Spin Cycle - The Laundromat
It’s either the fancy version of a TV dinner or the fast food version of a premium steak. Either way, it gives you a lot to chew on.
Light Can't Hide The Darkness - Midsommar
Ari Aster isn’t afraid of you. But you should be afraid of him.
Toy Story 4
Toy Story 4 has just enough fresh perspective to justify its own existence—which is more than can be said about the fourth entry in nearly every other franchise.
More of Everything...And Then Some - John Wick 3
If you like your movies filled with beyond gratuitous violence, you will probably appreciate that the filmmakers have done everything they can to raise your eyebrows—or perhaps even blow them off.
End of an Era - Avengers: Endgame
In a way, it was all always one story. It was always Endgame.
Mostly Just Marvel - Captain Marvel
We get the origins of S.H.I.E.L.D., the origins of Captain Marvel and a good look at how she fits into where the franchise is headed from here. But all of that was to be assumed. How successfully they pulled that off is another matter entirely.
Almost Mine - The Favourite
It is raunchy, but smart; low-brow, but wry. It is truly unlike anything else you’ve seen lately.
They Got There Eventually - First Man
The original footage of the moon landing is so primitive that seeing this version is jarring and incredible. But it took us almost as long to get to that as it did in real life. The first hour and a half is spent with our feet firmly planted on the Earth and therein lies the problem.
When You Don't Know What You Don't Know - Searching
This is not the first time we have seen this technique, of course, as the Unfriended franchise relies on the same method. The difference here is that it never feels like a gimmick.
It Ain't Easy - Eighth Grade
It's a movie about the hardest of years in the easiest of lives.
In The Eyes of the Beholder - Blindspotting
Daveed Diggs, of Hamilton fame, goes all-in with the entertainment capital he’s earned thus far to make this passion project that he and his longtime friend, Rafael Casal, started working on almost a decade ago. It is at once timely and timeless, as it tackles issues that have bubbled under the surface for years and are now staples in the nightly news.
Running Through The Temple - Star Wars: The Last Jedi
If The Force Awakens was a re-tread bridge to the past, this is a bold, new bridge to the future and I am here for it.
Review: Detroit
When Bigelow wants you to feel our protagonists’ fears, you will feel them. Whether it is a shot we hear but don’t see or a body making contact with the floor, this is trauma turned up to 11.
Review: War for the Planet of the Apes
Some combination of Andy Serkis and advancements in technology have made possible a story where you can truly forget the line between ape and human.