ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
2025 | Dir. Paul Thomas Anderson | 162 Minutes
5 out of 5
A harrowing journey through a deeply troubling vision of America (that might as well be tomorrow if the country stays its baffling course) in which the influence of organized bigotry reaches alarmingly far and revolution against oppression is undermined by division, and while there are some geuinely funny moments throughout, nearly all of the levity comes at the expense of its protagonist's failure to keep up with increasingly confusing circumstances due to years of constant self-medication. It's grim, but the picture offers hope by demonstrating how those who keep a level head will stick around long enough to see the next battle. The pacing is relentless, and while the plot seems to meander, the final act is impeccably satisfying. Sean Penn is at his most despicable as the racist colonel, Benicio del Toro is at his coolest as the wise sensei, Leonardo DiCaprio as the burnt-out retired revolutionary delivers yet another performance worthy of acclaim, and Chase Infiniti who plays the tough daughter of ex-rebels has a bright future ahead of her.
HIM
2025 | Dir. Justin Tipping | 96 Minutes
3 out of 5
Visually bold but disappointingly trite and somewhat shallow in its commentary on the horrors of the pro-athlete experience. It's striking but empty, more or less a walk through an American football-themed amusement park haunted house that clearly has a bone to pick with the NFL. Committed as Marlon Wayans and Tariq Withers are to their respective roles, they can only take the undercooked material so far.
THE LONG WALK
2025 | Dir. Francis Lawrence | 108 Minutes
5 out of 5
Thoroughly engaging and steadily gut-wrenching, this is one of those gold standard exceptional Stephen King adaptations, perfectly capturing one of his high concept premises while fully capitalizing on the appeal of his uniquely idiosyncratic characters caught up in extraordinary circumstances. The social commentary inherent in the grand empty spectacle hosted by a fascistic state to placate and divert the ravenous impoverished masses that plays out over the narrative is timeless but also as timely as ever. The friendship at the emotional core of the picture is incredibly moving due in no small part to the affable chemistry between leads Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson, and their supporting cast of young actors is all-around excellent.
THE CONJURING: LAST RITES
2025 | Dir. Michael Chaves | 136 Minutes
3 out of 5
Narratively rote though entertaining enough for those seeking the franchise's signature blend of jumpscares and sappiness with a dash of Catholocisim, the picture tidily wraps up the cinematic mythologization of Ed and Lorraine Warren. It's fine, totally disinterested in innovating in any department, about as safe as the filmmakers can play it at this point. Perhaps unsurprisingly, though kind of funny in its absurdity, the film gives into the urge to bring back the demonic doll Annabelle for a few sequences -- she's an inextricable part of the package deal for these movies at this point, logical application to the story at hand be damned.
THE TOXIC AVENGER
2025 | Dir. Macon Blair | 102 Minutes
3 out of 5
Unapologetically dumb, gory, and irreverent, this Toxie reboot is disposable fun for folks craving something gross and a little filthy, though far from the levels of old Troma depravity. The picture lays on thick an anti-corporation, anti-polution message interwoven with all its crude jokes and ultra violence. The cast lead by a super earnest Peter Dinklage seems game for just about anything, netting the film some extra points.
