Jesse Hassenger

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?

7/14/21

<i>Tournament Of Champions </i>fails to take <i>Escape Room</i> to the next level

Tournament Of Champions fails to take Escape Room to the next level

The characters are empathetic, the set design is neat, and the movie doesn't amount to much

7/12/21

Aussie thriller<i> The Dry</i> proves that you don't need 10 episodes to tell a good small-town mystery

Aussie thriller The Dry proves that you don't need 10 episodes to tell a good small-town mystery

It's townie noir like Mare Of Easttown, in a handy two-hour dose

7/1/21

Chris Pratt joins <i>The Tomorrow War</i>, a battle royale between dozens of other sci-fi movies

Chris Pratt joins The Tomorrow War, a battle royale between dozens of other sci-fi movies

The smash-and-grab rip-offs are sort of fun until the movie gets irretrievably stupid

7/1/21

Blockbuster season heats up in July with <i>Black Widow</i>, <i>Space Jam</i>, and M. Night Shyamalan

Blockbuster season heats up in July with Black Widow, Space Jam, and M. Night Shyamalan

This month's big movie lineup also includes Boss Babies and a G.I. Joe prequel

6/22/21

Not enough people went to see <i>Funny Farm</i>, one of Chevy Chase’s best comedies

Not enough people went to see Funny Farm, one of Chevy Chase’s best comedies

Chase made more popular comedies than this 1988 summer release, but few as funny

6/16/21

Kevin Hart masters <i>Fatherhood</i> in a Netflix dramedy more maudlin than funny

Kevin Hart masters Fatherhood in a Netflix dramedy more maudlin than funny

Hart's obsession with hustle culture creeps its way into this soggy parenting movie

6/10/21

<i>Peter Rabbit 2</i> pokes fun at its own flaws, when it should have just avoided them

Peter Rabbit 2 pokes fun at its own flaws, when it should have just avoided them

This kid-lit sequel is just as good as the original—and just as vexingly self-conscious, too

6/8/21

Pierce Brosnan leads a bunch of supposed <i>Misfits </i>through a daring, silly heist

Pierce Brosnan leads a bunch of supposed Misfits through a daring, silly heist

The thrills are very cheap in the latest from ’90s action specialist Renny Harlin

6/4/21

Before he became a star, Matt Damon joined Francis Ford Coppola to make the best John Grisham movie

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

6/3/21

<i>F9</i>, new Pixar, and a third <i>Conjuring</i> bring blockbusters back this June

F9, new Pixar, and a third Conjuring bring blockbusters back this June

Against all odds, we might get a real summer movie season this year. Hollywood is certainly banking on it. These…

Reviews

<i>Spirit Untamed</i> might confuse fans of those other cartoons about a horse named Spirit

Reviews

Spirit Untamed might confuse fans of those other cartoons about a horse named Spirit

Spirit, the animated equine co-star of the new movie Spirit Untamed, is descended in some unspecified way from his…

Recommends

Al Pacino had a sinfully good time playing the biggest bad in <i>The Devil’s Advocate</i>

Recommends

Al Pacino had a sinfully good time playing the biggest bad in The Devil’s Advocate

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

Reviews

<i>F9</i> has too much family-drama runway between the fast and furious stuff

Reviews

F9 has too much family-drama runway between the fast and furious stuff

There aren’t many jokes to make about part nines. Third installments have outdated cracks about 3-D, and maybe part…

Reviews

Screenlife takes a turn for the dull with Profile, a thriller about catfishing terrorists

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

Reviews

Jason Statham and Guy Ritchie re-team for cheap, satisfying thrills in <i>Wrath Of Man</i>

Reviews

Jason Statham and Guy Ritchie re-team for cheap, satisfying thrills in Wrath Of Man

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

Preview

A Disney villain, <i>Quiet Place</i> aliens, and Zack Snyder zombies bring menace to the movies this May

Preview

A Disney villain, Quiet Place aliens, and Zack Snyder zombies bring menace to the movies this May

May is usually the month that kicks off the summer movie season. For obvious reasons, that wasn’t the case last…

Jesse Hassenger's posts

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

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

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

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

Tournament Of Champions fails to take Escape Room to the next level

Aussie thriller The Dry proves that you don't need 10 episodes to tell a good small-town mystery

Chris Pratt joins The Tomorrow War, a battle royale between dozens of other sci-fi movies

Blockbuster season heats up in July with Black Widow, Space Jam, and M. Night Shyamalan

Not enough people went to see Funny Farm, one of Chevy Chase’s best comedies

Kevin Hart masters Fatherhood in a Netflix dramedy more maudlin than funny

Peter Rabbit 2 pokes fun at its own flaws, when it should have just avoided them

Pierce Brosnan leads a bunch of supposed Misfits through a daring, silly heist

Before he became a star, Matt Damon joined Francis Ford Coppola to make the best John Grisham movie

F9, new Pixar, and a third Conjuring bring blockbusters back this June

Spirit Untamed might confuse fans of those other cartoons about a horse named Spirit

Al Pacino had a sinfully good time playing the biggest bad in The Devil’s Advocate

F9 has too much family-drama runway between the fast and furious stuff

Screenlife takes a turn for the dull with Profile, a thriller about catfishing terrorists

Jason Statham and Guy Ritchie re-team for cheap, satisfying thrills in Wrath Of Man

A Disney villain, Quiet Place aliens, and Zack Snyder zombies bring menace to the movies this May