Russ Simmons gives his take on upcoming movies.
Happy New Year. It’s time for my annual countdown of the best films of 2021: #10) CODA is a heartfelt comic drama about a hearing teenager whose deaf parents can’t understand why she wants to pursue a career in music. #9) THE MITCHELLS VS THE MACHINES is a funny and surprisingly touching...
Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the world's top filmmakers, specializing in dark, thoughtful dramas like “There Will Be Blood,” “Boogie Nights” and “Magnolia.” His latest movie, "Licorice Pizza" is a real departure. It's a nostalgic coming-of-age comedy and his most audience-friendly work. Newcomers Cooper Hoffman and Alana Haim are very appealing...
It's been 18 years since the last installment of the lauded sci-fi "Matrix" franchise. Is the fourth movie "The Matrix Resurrections" necessary? Not really, but it's a welcome mind-trip down memory lane. Neo tries to save his beloved Trinity from the conniving puppeteer behind the matrix…but who’s saving whom? The...
In “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” our hero’s identity as Peter Parker is revealed to the world. He recruits Dr. Strange to employ dangerous magic to conceal the truth, inadvertently unleashing villains from alternate universes. Involving, eye-popping and filled with welcome surprises, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” is a super superhero entry. Guillermo...
The rule should be "Classic movies don't need to be remade. Remake the bad ones and improve them." But Steven Spielberg's new take on the musical "West Side Story" is an exception. It's better than the 1961 Oscar-winning Best Picture. Pulitzer Prize winner Tony Kushner has made some sly changes in the...
The gothic arthouse western "The Power of the Dog" is one of those movies that causes critics to flip and general audiences to shrug. Benedict Cumberbatch leads an accomplished cast in director Jane Campion's adaptation of Thomas Savage’s 1967 novel that tells the tragic tale of a despicable cowboy who...
Infidelity, scandal, intrigue, murder. These are the topics of many a soap opera. They also emerge in the true story “House of Gucci,” currently available in theaters only. Lady Gaga gives a wily performance as the ambitious and cunning wife of fashion house heir Maurizio Gucci, played by Adam Driver....
Time for Will Smith to dust off his shelf and make room for an Oscar. In “King Richard,” he gives a riveting performance as the obsessive and galvanizing Richard Williams, the driving force behind the tennis domination of his daughters Venus and Serena Williams. This wildly entertaining biopic transcends the...
