Mike Cuthbert reviews “Jojo Rabbit,” “Motherless Brooklyn,” “Harriet” and “Terminator: Dark Fate.”
Mike at the Movies: Friday Edition
Category: Mike at the Movies
Mike at the Movies: The Lighthouse and more
The Lighthouse (R) Dominated by two amazing performances, near-deafening and extremely effective music and sound, this film hearkens back to a much earlier time in film. First, it’s in stark black and white. Second, it is framed in a square,…
Mike at the Movies
The Addams Family (PG) A nice, nostalgic trip back in time to the days of the TV series of the same name, this one features a smart script and the usual impossible family members who combine to drive Margaux Needler…
Mike at the Movies
Abominable (PG) Finally, an animated film that keeps its script intact and forward-moving with the magic and light shows as part of the story rather than the driver of the action. The storyline is simple: A Yeti eventually known as…
Mike at the Movies
It Chapter Two (R) Jessica Chastain (Beverly) and James McEvoy (Bill) mark a major upgrade for the franchise, but they are still not enough to improve the quality of the film much over the original “It” (2017). The plot is…
Mike at the Movies
The Peanut Butter Falcon (PG-13) This low-budget sleeper features sterling performances by Shia LaBeouf as Tyler and Dakota Johnson as Eleanor with a wonderful turn by newcomer, Down Syndrome actor Zack Gottsagen as Zak. The strong cast also features Thomas…
Mike at the Movies
The Farewell (PG) This is one of my favorite films for the entire year. An exquisite study of the American belief in independent spirit versus the Chinese belief in family above all, this film is introduced by the warning: “This…
Mike at the Movies
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (R) It is 1969. Everything is big cars, scantily clad hippies, overpaid starlets, drugs and, eventually, the Tate murders. The Tate murders are not previewed until a shot of the street name “El Cielo,”…
Mike at the Movies
Pavarotti (PG-13) Director Ron Howard was able to somehow capture the sound of this miraculous talent through archive and live recordings. For it is sound that Luciano Pavarotti was known for—his was a voice like no other that, even on…
Mike at the Movies
Yesterday (PG-13) If Lily James didn’t steal your heart in “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” or “Downton Abbey,” Director Danny Boyle gives you plenty of chances to lose it in this movie. As Ellie Appleton, she is the long-…