Noel Murray

12/2/21

The best movies of 2001

Where do Memento, Lord Of The Rings, and Mulholland Drive fall on our retrospective countdown?

12/1/21

The animated <i>Flee</i> paints a refugee’s story in vivid colors

The animated Flee paints a refugee’s story in vivid colors

Director Jonas Poher Rasmussen uses the medium to protect his subject’s anonymity and to bring his experiences to…

11/21/21

In the latest <i>Yellowstone</i>, the Duttons regroup and plot their next move

In the latest Yellowstone, the Duttons regroup and plot their next move

Like much of this season, this week’s “Winning Or Learning” features more setup than action.

11/17/21

Apple TV Plus docuseries <i>The Line</i> examines the impossible contradictions of military service

Apple TV Plus docuseries The Line examines the impossible contradictions of military service

The controversial case of Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher is explored in this four-part documentary, produced by Alex…

10/25/21

The intense <i>Attica </i>looks back at America’s most infamous prison riot

The intense Attica looks back at America’s most infamous prison riot

Stanley Nelson’s documentary for Showtime is a comprehensive account of the 1971 uprising

10/19/21

<i>Becoming Cousteau </i>is a deep dive into the French icon’s life aquatic

Becoming Cousteau is a deep dive into the French icon’s life aquatic

The documentary features stunning underwater footage and keen insights into how Jacques Cousteau’s image changed…

9/15/21

The director of <i>Pulse</i> tries his hand at Hitchcockian melodrama with <i>Wife Of A Spy</i>

The director of Pulse tries his hand at Hitchcockian melodrama with Wife Of A Spy

Kiyoshi Kurosawa's WWII thriller could use a little more pulpy energy, but it’s thoughtful and provocative

9/13/21

Ken Burns’ <i>Muhammad Ali</i> documentary is comprehensive, expertly crafted, and inessential

Ken Burns’ Muhammad Ali documentary is comprehensive, expertly crafted, and inessential

The four-part PBS series covers its subject well, but not as well as the many, many other films about Ali

9/9/21

B.J. Novak’s disappointing anthology <i>The Premise </i>tackles hot topics, tepidly

B.J. Novak’s disappointing anthology The Premise tackles hot topics, tepidly

The Office alum B.J. Novak has big ideas for this series, but most episodes are undone by phoniness and a lack of…

8/24/21

National Geographic’s 9/11 docuseries is a harrowing recreation of a terrible day

The six-part series uses rare footage and new interviews to immerse viewers in what firsthand witnesses experienced

8/19/21

The trippy<i> Cryptozoo </i>cages fantastic beasts inside a boring story

The trippy Cryptozoo cages fantastic beasts inside a boring story

Cartoonist Dash Shaw’s latest exercise in hand-drawn weirdness is imaginative but disappointingly dull

8/10/21

This year's big Sundance winner, <i>CODA</i>, is moving in spite of its clichés

This year's big Sundance winner, CODA, is moving in spite of its clichés

In the award-winning tearjerker, a child of deaf adults pursues her musical dreams

7/27/21

The “before life” drama <i>Nine Days</i> is a bold vision of the great beyond

The “before life” drama Nine Days is a bold vision of the great beyond

Winston Duke and Zazie Beetz are terrific in a movie that makes strong choices, but often at the expense of subtlety

7/26/21

Prince’s posthumous release <i>Welcome 2 America</i> is fantastic. So why did he leave it in the vault?

Prince’s posthumous release Welcome 2 America is fantastic. So why did he leave it in the vault?

Recorded in 2010, then inexplicably shelved, the album features some of Prince's feistiest lyrics and catchiest…

5/31/21

Jimmy Stewart and George C. Scott faced off in one of film’s greatest courtroom dramas

Watch This offers movie recommendations inspired by new releases, premieres, current events, or occasionally just…

5/17/21

One of the best Elvis movies is a smokin’ hot salute to Vegas flash

Watch This offers movie recommendations inspired by new releases, premieres, current events, or occasionally just…

3/24/21

HBO’s Tina Turner documentary retells—and re-balances—the rock legend’s story

For most of the first 15 years of Tina Turner’s career, her name was inextricably linked with Ike Turner, her…

3/12/21

<i>Operation Varsity Blues </i>digs deep into the true story of the celebrity college admissions scandal

Operation Varsity Blues digs deep into the true story of the celebrity college admissions scandal

The juiciest celebrity scandals often expose something that deep down many of us already suspect about the way the…

3/3/21

Eddie Huang’s high school basketball melodrama <i>Boogie</i> bricks most of its shots

Eddie Huang’s high school basketball melodrama Boogie bricks most of its shots

Note: The writer of this review watched Boogie on a digital screener from home. Before making the decision to see…

2/23/21

One of last year’s best screenplays may be too morally ambiguous for the Oscars

Oscar voters have always had a soft spot for villains. In the 90-plus years since The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts…

Noel Murray's posts