"Napoleon," Ridley Scott's historical epic about the infamous French emperor, comes up a bit short. Joaquin Phoenix mumbles his way through this visually spectacular, often funny, but dramatically lackluster extravaganza. This Napoleon is a petulant and childish ruler cuckolded by his wife Josephine, played by Vanessa Kirby. His megalomania is strangely...
The second time isn't the charm for Disney's "Haunted Mansion." This movie based on the Disneyland attraction is, at best, an adequate timewaster for older kids. Director Justin Simien has made some very good movies, but he's clearly out of his element here. The cast is capable, yet this musty...
Try to forget the negative headlines about troubled actor Ezra Miller. As the DC comics troubled superhero "The Flash," he's terrific. This lightning fast member of the Justice League opens a Pandora's Box when he uses his speed to time travel, linking dangerous pathways between multiple universes. The action is swift,...
For fifty years, Steven Spielberg has been Hollywood's preeminent filmmaker. His latest movie, "The Fabelmans," is his most personal yet. This semi-autobiographical story is about a young boy who discovers the magic of filmmaking. But more than that, it's about how his thorny family dynamics shaped him as an artist....
What do you get when you combine an intriguing story, great cast, impressive production values and a top-notch director? In the case of "Amsterdam," you get a real mess. Christian Bale, Margot Robbie and John David Washington lead a terrific ensemble in David O. Russell's bold experiment gone awry. It's...
When comedian Taika Waititi wrote and directed the 2017 Marvel epic "Thor: Ragnarok," he injected the Avengers series with a playful, irreverent twist, emphasizing humor as well as action. He made Thor a bit of a goof. Still heroic, but also flawed and fearful. Watiti employs that same template with...
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....
Dwayne Johnson ("Jumanji: The Next Level") and Emily Blunt ("A Quiet Place") star in the comic adventure "Jungle Cruise," based on the Disneyland theme park ride.
