Reviews
Maybe you heard, but there is a new Toy Story film in theaters and it's here to make a billion dollars and show that Pixar has still got it. This franchise turned 30 last year and if it was not already clear, Toy Story continues to be one of the more inventive and consistent cultural touchstones happening in movie culture.
The Death of Robin Hood (2 stars out of 4)
Anyone who goes to see Michael Sarnoski's "The Death of Robin Hood" should abandon any connection to past movies about the legendary outlaw. If you're expecting something along the lines of Kevin Costner's "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves," Disney's animated feature, or the classic adventure with Errol Flynn, you're in for
Disclosure Day (3 stars out of 4)
Lots of directors have put aliens on the big screen. But it's something else to capture the wonder of encountering an alien in person. That's where Steven Spielberg stands alone. Films like "ET: The Extra-Terrestrial" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" added a human element to science fiction that made them truly unforgettable.
This
Power Ballad (3 stars out of 4)
Few directors have captured the joy of music as effectively as John Carney. Specifically, Carney's films--"Once," "Begin Again," and especially 2016's "Sing Street"--capture the joy of making music. So for musicians, people who appreciate musicians, and people who are somewhere in-between, "Power Ballad" marks the next welcome installment in Carney's portfolio.
"Power Ballad" is
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (2 1/2 stars out of 4)
There isn't much wrong with Jon Favreau's "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu," but there isn't enough right to give it an enthusiastic recommendation. To its credit, it feels like more than just an extended episode of the Disney+ streaming series on which it is based, but it still
The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2 1/2 stars out of 4)
As a showcase for the creative world of modern fashion, "The Devil Wears Prada 2" works just fine. As a commentary on the impact of modern technology on traditional field like journalism, it's OK. As an attempt to humanize its elitist characters, it struggles.
It's been 20 years now since the
I Swear - 3 1/2 stars out of 4
It's nice when a film lives up to the hype.
I feel a little late to the party with "I Swear," the based-on-a-true-story biopic about a Scottish man's lifelong battle with Tourette's Syndrome. Director Kirk Jones's film was released in the UK last year to wide acclaim, and already netted awards (as well
Standout: The Ben Kjar Story (3 1/2 stars out of 4)
Tanner Christensen's documentary "Standout: The Ben Kjar Story" is a showcase for an inspirational story and a welcome option for anyone looking for something different from the mainstream offerings at the multiplex.
"Standout" follows the true story of a young man from Centerville, Utah as he navigates difficult physical and social
I was a little hesitant to be definitive when Mark and I recorded our "best of 2025" episode of the Utah FilmPod in January. Though I'd covered my necessary films for the UFCA vote, there were still a couple of un-nominated films that I suspected could wind up on my personal list once I got to them. Anyway, amid the
The 1990’s wave of crime thrillers feels like a special moment in Hollywood filmmaking. Movies like Seven (1995), acting as one of the most provocative films from that year, Heat (1995), which features a chaotic shoot-out and almost Shakespearian ending, and The Silence of the Lambs (1991), being one of the few films to win the big five awards at