Movie Reviews

"Body of Lies" is an action-adventure spy thriller where Leonardo DiCaprio plays a CIA operative hunting a terrorist across Europe. Director Ridley Scott ("Alien" 1979) put together a "thriller" with a conventional plot, predicable storyline, and a big emphasis on bombings and other action scenes to [..]

"Trumbo" is a biographical drama film about the life of one of Hollywood's most talented screenwriters, Dalton Trumbo (1905-1976), who faced blacklisting from about 1947 to 1960. Director Jay Roach ("Meet the Parents" 2000) put together a classy production basically featuring "only the facts" without [..]

"Carefree" is the eighth film in which Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers appeared together, and also the shortest picture at only 83 minutes running time and four songs. Director Mark Sandrich nevertheless put together a quality production featuring some breezy screwball comedy. The storyline has Ralph Bellamy asking [..]

"Flying Down to Rio" is a musical-comedy film about a couple in Miami who relocate to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with their musical talents in tow. Director Thornton Freeland put together a pre-Code motion picture which is a little rough around the edges with a [..]

"Spa Weekend" is something of a modern-day screwball comedy which features three friends going on a spa weekend. Everything is going fine until their chaos-magnet friend joins them, with the comedy proceeds from there. Directors-screenwriters Jon Lucas and Scott Moore do a good job of putting together a [..]

A suburban neighbor in 1982 Michigan somehow gets transported back to the age of dinosaurs which could mean "The End of Oak Street." Giant prehistoric creatures roam the streets and patrol the skies while everyone in the neighborhood and one family in particular fights for survival. Director-screenwriter David [..]

Jason Statham plays a bodyguard who is framed for his billionaire boss's murder and stows away on a cargo ship to attempt to clear his name in "Mutiny." Director Jean-Francois Richet ("Plane" 2023) put together a run-of-the-mill action-adventure film from an adequate screenplay by Lindsay Michel [..]

The Marx Brothers' shenanigans continue in "The Big Store." Director Charles Reisner has Groucho, Chico, and Harpo Marx trying to save a department store from being stolen from its owner, played by Margaret Dumont, a frequent co-star in the trio's pictures, this one being her last. This was [..]

"Cheers for Miss Bishop" is a drama film about a retired school teacher reminiscing about her decades in the classroom and the many students she influenced. Director Tay Garnett ("My Favorite Spy" 1942) put together a warm and sentimental and inspiring story for all ages to [..]

"Dumbo" is Walt Disney's enduring story of a circus elephant whose large ears draw unwanted attention and gives him a chance to learn to fly. Director Ben Sharpsteen ("Pinocchio" 1940) expertly assembled this classic movie which is the 4th Animated Feature Film of the Walt Disney [..]