Behind The Curtain

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

Recent Reviews

Still Of A Haunting In Venice 2023 Resized

A Haunting in Venice (2023)

Can a ghost, an impaled victim, and a locked-door mystery re-invigorate an aging Poirot? Let's see ...

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Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the ‘Dial of Destiny’ (2023)

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

Through sheer bravado, Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge make "Dial" enjoyable enough

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Photo of Frances Pugh, Morgan Freeman, and Celeste O'Connor in ‘A Good Person’ (2023)

A Good Person (2023)

Florence Pugh and Morgan Freeman will break your heart in this tale of tragedy and (hoped for) redemption

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Photo of Jennifer Jason Leigh, Natalie Portman, Tuva Novotny, Tessa Thompson, and Gina Rodriguez in Annihilation (2018)

Annihilation (2018)

Natalie Portman’s trek into The Shimmer feels like a Conradian journey into the heart of darkness

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Photo of Simon Pegg, David Schwimmer, and Alice Eve in Big Nothing (2006)

Big Nothing (2006)

David Schwimmer and Simon Pegg in a not-too-squeamish dark comedy. What could go wrong?

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Photo of Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves in Destination Wedding

Destination Wedding (2018)

Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder: A perfect pairing of oddball characters (and actors)

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Photo of Amy Adams and Emily Blunt in ‘Sunshine Cleaning’ (2008)

Sunshine Cleaning (2008)

Amy Adams and Emily Blunt clean up their lives in this mirthful tale of redemption

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Photo of Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence in ‘Passengers’ (2016)

Passengers (2016)

Sadly, the distasteful cliche they chose is worse than the cliches they avoided

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Photo of Judi Dench and Ali Fazal in ‘Victoria and Abdul’ (2017)

Victoria and Abdul (2017)

Judi Dench is the only beacon of light in this dark and joyless tale

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Photo of Fionn Whitehead in Dunkirk (2017)

Dunkirk (2017)

Follow the action at ‘Dunkirk’ for the experience, not the message

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Photo of Amanda Seyfried, Shirley MacLaine, and AnnJewel Lee Dixon in The Last Word (2017)

The Last Word (2017)

Prepare to be pleasantly surprised by this superbly acted, if slightly cliched, comedy

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Photo of Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz in "The Lobster" (2015)

The Lobster (2015)

Fine performances by Farrell and Weisz can't make you overlook the relentless dreariness

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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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