Adam Blair

Dull movie about that fascinating monster Howard Hughes; a charming performance by Alden Ehrenreich is wasted.

Enjoyable if somewhat slow-moving comedy-drama makes selling mops fun and sexy.

Sharp insights and touching reminiscence about a Hollywood icon struggle to shine through a mountain of repetitive filler.

It seems to be a harmless, charming little trifle, but this Nancy Meyers movie’s antiquated attitudes got my blood boiling.

The Milgram obedience experiments haunt this strange movie, overstuffed with interesting ideas and a compelling but cold performance by Peter Sarsgaard.

A deep dive into every aspect of The Shining combines academic analysis, technical explanations and fun facts for fanboys.

Twisty tale of monstrous mother love wastes talents of Diane Lane, Elizabeth Banks, and Dakota Fanning in downbeat police procedural.

The relaxed, sexy vibe of this ode to the male body beautiful almost makes up for its lack of narrative momentum.

The unique comedic chameleon gets a bio that contextualizes her career but comes up short on the person behind the performer.

Confusing, cringe-inducing Jack Black comedy offers moments of poignance and insight along with a few laughs.

Matthew Broderick timidly takes a walk on the wild side in Neil LaBute’s funny but ultimately flaccid satirical fable.

Tomlin inhabits a tailor-made role in this funny, touching gem; strong cast saves the film from sentimentality and plot’s too-convenient construction.

Innocents Taylor Schilling and Adam Scott are seduced, sort of, in this weird, funny but ultimately skin-deep comedy/drama.

Disappointed by dating? Documentary shows what happens when a young woman decides to let God play matchmaker.

1970s comedy nexus National Lampoon fondly remembered in a documentary with humor and humanity.

Julianne Moore, John Cusack, and Mia Wasikowska in David Cronenberg’s dark Hollywood satire/ghost story that’s both unsettling and compelling.

My 10 most overlooked and eight most overpraised.

A luminous Julianne Moore takes us inside the horror of Alzheimer’s by disappearing while in plain sight.

Need a break from oh-so-serious Oscar bait? Chris Rock’s raucous, original comedy is funny, touching, and unexpectedly relevant.

Film critic extraordinaire Roger Ebert gets the compelling documentary he deserves, celebratory but unafraid to show his flaws and weaknesses.

Harry Potter trades his magic wand for a devil’s pitchfork in a horror movie providing scares and chuckles before turning loony-cartoony

Mark Ruffalo and Keira Knightley trapped in a sappy, predictable music industry backstager from the maker of Once.

Viggo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst, and Oscar Isaac in an entertaining tangle of greed, lust, and guilt from Patricia Highsmith.

Maggie Smith and Kevin Kline fans beware: this self-indulgent, manipulative movie is a cold, soggy French fry.

Sharp, perceptive, subtly mind-blowing movie that explores reality and relationships with a light touch, helped by stars Mark Duplass and Elisabeth Moss.

Charming portrait of courageous, good-humored George Takei that nevertheless lacks the urgency and conflict that the best documentaries can provide.

“I just couldn’t figure out how the U. S. Government could have imprisoned Mr. Sulu as a five year old.”

Harmless, mildly enjoyable corn featuring strong performances by Fonda, Dorothy Lamour, Linda Darnell, a lion, a horse, and an elephant.

Fascinating, lively group bio chronicling the WWII service of Hollywood legends Frank Capra, George Stevens, John Ford, William Wyler, and John Huston.

Director Richard Linklater and stars Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, and Ellar Coltrane on creating an “epic of minutia.”

Literally 12 years in the making, Richard Linklater creates a naturalistic slice of life that’s equal parts interesting and maddeningly anti-dramatic.

Slight satirical comedy becomes something better as it goes along.

Michael C. Hall and other good actors wasted in a pseudo-profound drama culminating in a pointless blood bath.

Stylish noir thriller with touches of humor gives a glimpse into the run-down, everyday China most Westerners don’t see.

A graceful, witty culture-clash comedy that overcooks into a ridiculously sappy doomed romance.

High-powered panel discusses whether data can contribute to creative storytelling and why binge-watching is really nothing new.

Scorsese collaborator Thelma Schoonmaker reveals the influences, artistry and happy accidents that go into a great film.

Downbeat drama with too few flashes of crazy black humor, but strong performances from Hoffman, John Turturro and Christina Hendricks

Three little-known films from Joan’s MGM years show how the studio placed, and kept, this star in the spotlight for over a decade.

A time capsule from the bad old days of crime-ridden 1970s New York, almost saved by a touching love story enacted by octogenarian pros Lee Strasberg and Ruth Gordon.

If you think the first season of Legit is funny, you should feel ashamed of yourself. I know I do.

Still one of TV’s best shows, but midway through season five there are ominous signs of future shark-jumping.

Documentary about the quest to re-create a Vermeer masterpiece is alternately fascinating and like watching paint dry.