movie reviews
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‘Flag Day’ Film Review: Sean Penn Directs His Daughter in Rocky Family Drama
While the true-life film sometimes struggles with disparate tones, it’s a solid, subtle drama that opts in most cases for restraint over excess
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‘In the Same Breath’ Film Review: Explosive COVID-19 Doc Explores the US and China’s Botched Responses
Director Nanfu Wang (“One Child Nation”) follows the virus — and governmental propaganda — from Washington to Wuhan
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‘Demonic’ Film Review: Neill Blomkamp Disappoints With Another Muddled Tech Thriller
How can a movie with bird demons and Vatican black-ops squads be this dull?
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‘Free Guy’ Film Review: Ryan Reynolds Plays to Win in Video-Game Rom-Com
As a non-player character, Reynolds breaks free of his programming in a comedy that’s not quite as clever as it thinks it is
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‘Don’t Breathe 2’ Film Review: Unpleasant Sequel Tries to Redeem Monstrous Character
The cinematography and set design steal the show in a film designed to make Steven Lang’s sex predator look better by surrounding him with even-worse villains
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‘Days’ Film Review: Tsai Ming-liang Finds Men Living in a Lonely Place
The latest from the acclaimed Taiwanese filmmaker is a spare, nearly silent story of urban solitude and human connection
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‘Dramarama’ Film Review: Theater Kids Throw One Last Pre-College Party in 1994
Writer-director Jonathan Wysocki’s debut is a tad overwritten, but a talented young cast makes the relationships feel vivid
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‘Respect’ Film Review: Jennifer Hudson Brings Soul to Aretha Franklin Biopic
It’s more effective as a jukebox musical than a character piece, but the central performance and those amazing songs pull it all together
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‘CODA’ Film Review: A Heartfelt Crowd-Pleaser About a Deaf Family With a Hearing Daughter
Sian Heder’s film, which set a Sundance sales record, is modest but thoroughly satisfying, corny but effective, never edgy and always likable
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‘Ema’ Film Review: Pablo Larraín’s Latest Dances to Its Own Rhythms
The “Jackie” director boldly uses music video aesthetics in setting a character study to a reggaeton beat
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‘Not Going Quietly’ Film Review: Activist Ady Barkan’s Health-Care Battle Captured with Sensitivity
Passionate documentary goes beyond the sound bites to follow one man’s battle with the system
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What’s New on DVD in August: David Oyelowo, Mads Mikkelsen, John Travolta and Lily Tomlin, and More
Alonso Duralde spotlights the best new physical-media releases
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‘The Suicide Squad’ Film Review: Margot Robbie and New Villains Face Certain Death With Quips
Incoming writer-director James Gunn mostly nails the balance between hard-R violence and outrageous laughs
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‘Val’ Film Review: Val Kilmer’s Old Home Movies Are Only Part of This Story
The documentary from directors Leo Scott and Ting Poo makes abundant use of vintage footage, but it’s really about coming to terms with the present
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‘Ailey’ Film Review: Enigmatic Dance Legend Gets His Due
Jamila Wignot’s portrait of the incomparable Alvin Ailey honors the work but remains mystified by the man
