Jesse Hassenger

10/22/21

Every Wes Anderson movie, ranked from worst to best

Where do Rushmore, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and The French Dispatch land in the hierarchy of Wes Anderson?

10/9/21

<i>Ghostbusters: Afterlife</i> is a dispiriting nostalgia exercise

Ghostbusters: Afterlife is a dispiriting nostalgia exercise

If you’ve always wanted a Ghostbusters with maximum reverence and minimum comedy, this one’s for you!

10/7/21

How Pierce Brosnan pushed James Bond forward—and paved the way for Daniel Craig

Brosnan may not have been as brutish or soulful, but his version of 007 seeded some much-needed doubt

10/4/21

<i>Lamb </i>is as much a strange domestic drama as an A24 horror movie

Lamb is as much a strange domestic drama as an A24 horror movie

Noomi Rapace is excellent in yet another genre-movie exploration of grief and parenthood

9/30/21

October gets spooky at the movies with Michael Myers, the Addams Family, and Venom

Plus: Dune, No Time To Die, The Many Saints Of Newark, and more

9/30/21

Venom returns in the faster, funnier, still underwhelming <i>Let There Be Carnage</i>

Venom returns in the faster, funnier, still underwhelming Let There Be Carnage

Tom Hardy gives his all to the Spider-Man antihero, but it doesn't add up to much

9/28/21

Goodbye to Beck Bennett, who quietly became one of <i>Saturday Night Live</i>’s best

Goodbye to Beck Bennett, who quietly became one of Saturday Night Live’s best

Bennett filled roles similar to classic SNL players like Phil Hartman and Will Ferrell.

9/9/21

The aspiring drag queen of <i>Everybody's Talking About Jamie </i>is an accidental throwback

The aspiring drag queen of Everybody's Talking About Jamie is an accidental throwback

This well-meaning musical has plenty of empowerment but not much depth

9/8/21

Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste turn to a life of coupon crimes in the mildly amusing <i>Queenpins</i>

Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste turn to a life of coupon crimes in the mildly amusing Queenpins

Ultimately, this watchable crime comedy falls between Bad Moms zaniness and Hustlers commentary

8/26/21

<i>Shang-Chi</i>, <i>Cry Macho</i>, and 20 more movies coming this September

Shang-Chi, Cry Macho, and 20 more movies coming this September

This month's other new films include Malignant, a new Cinderella, and Prisoners Of The Ghostland

8/24/21

James McAvoy and Sharon Horgan are stuck <i>Together </i>in another damn COVID movie

James McAvoy and Sharon Horgan are stuck Together in another damn COVID movie

Both stars excel at acting out feuding-couple material that might have played better on stage

8/19/21

Maggie Q, Michael Keaton, and slick direction elevate the assassin boilerplate of <i>The Protégé</i>

Maggie Q, Michael Keaton, and slick direction elevate the assassin boilerplate of The Protégé

It's a silly throwback of an action thriller outfitted in high-quality costume changes

8/16/21

Ethan Hawke and Jude Law brought human frailty to the polished sci-fi of <i>Gattaca</i>

Ethan Hawke and Jude Law brought human frailty to the polished sci-fi of Gattaca

Writer-director Andrew Niccol mixes sci-fi empathy with the stylish trappings of film noir

8/12/21

<i>Don’t Breathe 2 </i>goes full <i>T2</i>, turning a memorable monster into some kind of hero

Don’t Breathe 2 goes full T2, turning a memorable monster into some kind of hero

It’s less suspenseful than the well-wrought original, but true to that movie’s B-movie absurdity

8/9/21

The interminable <i>PAW Patrol</i> movie will make parents howl for release

The interminable PAW Patrol movie will make parents howl for release

As a feature film, the unsettling children's television phenomenon is well outside its jurisdiction

8/5/21

<i>Saturday Night Live</i> wants its stars to stay longer. Will it help or hurt the show?

Saturday Night Live wants its stars to stay longer. Will it help or hurt the show?

Lorne Michaels is reportedly hoping some cast members will stay for another four seasons, which could turn the NBC…

7/29/21

The Suicide Squad and the Candyman bookend a packed August at the movies

Next month also brings Annette, Free Guy, Don't Breathe 2, Reminiscence, and The Kissing Booth 3

7/28/21

Matt Damon fights for his daughter in <i>Stillwater</i>, an unusual drama from the director of <i>Spotlight</i>

Matt Damon fights for his daughter in Stillwater, an unusual drama from the director of Spotlight

The movie takes writer-director Tom McCarthy's usual quiet character studies in a different, fascinating direction

7/27/21

The Rock and Emily Blunt can't steer Disney's <i>Jungle Cruise </i>towards bigger thrills

The Rock and Emily Blunt can't steer Disney's Jungle Cruise towards bigger thrills

This adaptation of a theme-park attraction is also an effects-heavy remake of The African Queen

7/22/21

Henry Golding plays <i>Snake Eyes </i>in a slick G.I. Joe origin story

Henry Golding plays Snake Eyes in a slick G.I. Joe origin story

Why is there a new G.I. Joe movie in 2021? And how is it this much fun?

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