Behind The Curtain

Concise Reviews for Movie Addicts Who Don't Have Time to Waste

Recent Reviews

Still of Joaquin Phoenix and Russell Crowe in ‘Gladiator’ (2000)

Gladiator (2000)

Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix make this tale of betrayal and revenge a memorable spectacle

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Still of Jade Quon and Ben Kingsley in ‘Jules’ (2023)

Jules (2023)

This quirky tale of three elders helping an endearing alien has something to say about life’s regrets and growing older

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Still of Brittany Murphy and Holly Hunter in ‘Little Black Book’ (2004)

Little Black Book (2004)

Brittany Murphy and Holly Hunter may be the stars, but it's Julianne Nicholson who breaks your heart

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Still of Kim Kang-woo and Seo Ye-ji in ‘Recalled’ (2021)

Recalled (2021)

Can you figure out Seo Ye-ji’s terrifying premonitions before she can?

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Still of Peter Dinklage, Glenn Close, and Josh Brolin in ‘Brothers’ (2024)

Brothers (2024)

If you can believe Peter Dinklage and Josh Brolin are twins, maybe you’ll believe this movie is funny

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Still of George Clooney and Brad Pitt in ‘Wolfs’ (2024)

Wolfs (2024)

Lone wolves George Clooney and Brad Pitt in a comedic romp smart enough not to become a mushy buddy movie

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Still of Ethan Hawke and Sarah Snook in ‘Predestination’ (2014)

Predestination (2014)

Have a look at this Ethan Hawke, Sarah Snook brain-bender. If you can figure it out, let me know

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Still of Robert Redford and Brad Pitt in ‘Spy Game’ (2001)

Spy Game (2001)

Robert Redford keeps you – and his colleagues – guessing as he races to save protégé Brad Pitt

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Still of Josh Harnett and Ariel Donoghue in ‘Trap’ (2024)

Trap (2024)

Josh Harnett is the only reason to see Trap, for a closing shot that evokes Norman Bates in that Hitchcock classic

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Still of Amy Adams in ‘The Woman in the Window’ (2021)

The Woman in the Window (2021)

Let this be a lesson to filmmakers trying to emulate a masterwork like ‘Rear Window’: Less is more

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Still of Stephanie Hsu, Michele Yeoh, and Ke Huy Quan in ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ (2022)

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

Buckle up. Michele Yeoh is perfectly cast as the reluctant hero at the chaotic center of countless parallel lives

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Still of Adam Driver in ‘Megalopolis’ (2024)

Megalopolis (2024)

Even if this isn't your type of movie, see it anyway. You want to be able to say: I was there when it happened

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Recent Quick Takes

Ca$h (2010)

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The only thing remotely entertaining is seeing slimy Sean Bean get what he deserves

Okay Madam (2020)

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Uhm Jung-hwa and Park Sung-woong score a near miss in this comedy whose silliness overwhelms the fun

The 33 (2015)

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Antonio Banderas gives it his all in this real-life tale of trapped Chilean miners beating the odds

Secretly Greatly (2012)

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Uncommonly ridiculous tale of North Korean spies whose mission in the South is to act like idiots and then die

The Devil’s Deal (2021)

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A twisty tale of corrupt politicians, the gangsters behind them, and the innocents caught in the crossfire

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)

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In this not terribly inventive sword and sorcery caper, Chris Pine has enough snappy dialog to keep you chuckling.

The Man Standing Next (2020)

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Despite fine turns by Lee Byung-hun and Lee Sung-min, this languid, somber historical drama is hard to stick with

Run All Night (2015)

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More output from the Liam Neeson action assembly line, with a chilling supporting turn by Ed Harris

The Mother (2023)

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Jennifer Lopez brings the intensity, but the plot is outrageously overblown at every turn

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