Luke Y. Thompson

5/13/22

<i>Conan The Barbarian</i> at 40: An early Arnold star turn pumps up a Nietzschean superman

Conan The Barbarian at 40: An early Arnold star turn pumps up a Nietzschean superman

John Milius' self-serious, social-Darwinist effort remains the best take on Robert E. Howard's iconic character,…

5/12/22

<i>The Innocents</i> finds horror in super-powered children

The Innocents finds horror in super-powered children

Turns out an empowered 9-year-old with no empathy can be way scarier than a Multiverse of Madness

5/5/22

16 summer movies that serve as perfect blockbuster counterprogramming

Experiencing superhero fatigue? Ask your doctor what these original offerings can do for you

5/3/22

<i>The Twin</i> wishes it were identical to better horror films

The Twin wishes it were identical to better horror films

Taneli Mustonen's genre project evokes the work of contemporaries like Ari Aster, but without their originality or…

5/2/22

Gaspar Noé's splendid <i>Vortex</i> explores a more conventional, but no less harrowing horror—old age

Gaspar Noé's splendid Vortex explores a more conventional, but no less harrowing horror—old age

The film takes an unflinching look at a couple, played by Francoise Lebrun and legendary Italian director Dario…

5/2/22

20 of this summer's most anticipated films

From a pair of Marvel sequels to a high-flying Top Gun comeback, here's every popcorn movie we can't wait to see…

4/27/22

Despite a gifted cast,<i> Memory</i> only evokes better films

Despite a gifted cast, Memory only evokes better films

If only the forgettable nature of this hitman film featuring Liam Neeson, Guy Pearce, and Monica Bellucci was…

4/22/22

<i>Massive Talent</i> filmmakers reveal their choice to play Nicolas Cage if Cage had said no

Massive Talent filmmakers reveal their choice to play Nicolas Cage if Cage had said no

Director Tom Gormican and co-writer Kevin Etten also talk about convincing the icon, Cage films that didn't make the…

4/21/22

The Bad Guys is just good enough

Led by Sam Rockwell, DreamWorks’ latest cartoon crew delivers anarchic fun and at least one superfluous musical…

4/15/22

<i>Chariot</i> aspires to Lynchian surrealism, but falls short

Chariot aspires to Lynchian surrealism, but falls short

Thomas Mann and Rosa Salzar try to make sense of recurring dreams and neighborly romances while John Malkovich holds…

4/12/22

Nicolas Cage rises to the <i>Unbearable Weight</i> of fan expectations

Nicolas Cage rises to the Unbearable Weight of fan expectations

Cage embraces—and surpasses—the viral meme version of himself in this meta-movie celebration of his 'nouveau…

4/11/22

(Almost) Every Nicolas Cage movie reference—and more—in <i>The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent</i>

(Almost) Every Nicolas Cage movie reference—and more—in The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent

From film clips to more oblique references to his rich body of work, The A.V. Club has catalogued as many Nicolas…

4/7/22

In <i>All The Old Knives</i>, Chris Pine's spy lacks Jack Ryan's edge

In All The Old Knives, Chris Pine's spy lacks Jack Ryan's edge

Amazon Prime's geopolitical thriller can't match Tom Clancy's franchise, despite a sexual charge from the pairing of…

4/4/22

<i>a-ha: The Movie</i> takes on much more than the one song you know

a-ha: The Movie takes on much more than the one song you know

The ubiquitous hit “Take On Me” is just a starting point in a deeper documentary about the perfectionist ’80s band

4/3/22

Troma founder Lloyd Kaufman traces his career from <i>Squeeze Play!</i> to <i>Shakespeare's Shitstorm</i>

Troma founder Lloyd Kaufman traces his career from Squeeze Play! to Shakespeare's Shitstorm

The schlock peddler and showman goes deep on "devil-worshipping conglomerates," more than 50 years of cult…

3/31/22

Judd Apatow’s <i>The Bubble</i> traps fictional A-listers—and his audience—in a pandemic-era film production

Judd Apatow’s The Bubble traps fictional A-listers—and his audience—in a pandemic-era film production

The usually empathetic director offers up a Netflix comedy as soulless as the industry impulses it’s spoofing

3/29/22

<i>You Won’t Be Alone</i> asks women, which witch are you?

You Won’t Be Alone asks women, which witch are you?

In Goran Stolevski’s feature debut, generational hatred and empathetic feminism fuel this mix of Malick and the…

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