Behind The Curtain

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

Recent Reviews

Still of Winston Duke in ‘Nine Days’ (2021)

Nine Days (2020)

What will you learn about yourself as you witness these souls being evaluated for mortality?

See It
Full Review
Still of Song Kang-ho, Lee Young-ae, and Lee Byung-hun in ‘Joint Security Area’ (2000)

Joint Security Area (2000)

A Korean tale of tragedy that illuminates how much the citizens of these two nations have in common

See It
Full Review
Still of Joe Pesci and Marissa Tomei in ‘My Cousin Vinny’ (1992)

My Cousin Vinny (1992)

In this comedic caper featuring Joe Pesci and Marissa Tomei, the verdict is the annoyances outweigh the laughs

Skip It
Full Review
Still of Seo Yea-ji and Park Hae-soo in ‘By Quantum Physics: A Nightlife Venture’ (2019)

By Quantum Physics: A Nightlife Venture (2019)

Can smooth-talking Park Hae-soo stay one step ahead of the bad guys, or will physics catch up with him?

See It
Full Review
Still of Cho Jin-woong and Lee Je-hoon in ‘An Ethics Lesson’ (2013)

An Ethics Lesson (2013)

You may feel guilty watching this whacky dark comedy, which is a tad bloody and perverse; but also oddly fun

See It
Full Review
Still of Lee Byung-hun, Jung Woo-sung, and Song Kang-ho in ‘The Good, the Bad, the Weird’ (2008)

The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008)

Director Kim Jee-won’s ‘Kimchi Western’ tour-de-force that you can follow even without subtitles

See It
Full Review
Still of Aiden Quinn and Tom Berenger in ‘At Play in the Fields of the Lord’ (1991)

At Play in the Fields of the Lord (1991)

Tom Berenger and Aidan Quinn in a heart-wrenching tale that again shows good intentions are not enough

See It
Full Review
Still of John Savage and David Morse in ‘Inside Moves’ (1980)

Inside Moves (1980)

John Savage and David Morse in a buddy movie that skirts the line between sentimentality and melodrama

See It
Full Review
Still of Liv Ullmann and Bibi Andersson in ‘Persona’ (1960)

Persona (1966)

Despite enthralling performances by Liv Ullmann and Bibi Andersson, this classic is only for cinema aficionados

Skip It
Full Review
Still of Navid Mohammadzadeh and Taraneh Alidoosti in Leila’s Brothers (2022)

Leila’s Brothers (2022)

In this searing portrait of a modern-day Iranian family in crisis, victims are many and answers are few

See It
Full Review
Still of Renato Salvatori and Alain Delon in ‘Rocco and His Brothers’ (1960)

Rocco and His Brothers (1960)

This hard-to-watch drama illuminates the harsh choices facing poor families in post-war Italy

See It
Full Review
Still Of Gladiator Ii 2024

Gladiator II (2024)

Laughable CGI undercuts the impact, but Denzel Washington saves Gladiator II (though not Rome)

See It
Full Review
Previous Next

Recent Quick Takes

Canary Black (2024)

Skip It

Kate Beckinsale gives it her all, but she can’t save this predictable spy thriller whose twist you spot right away

Family Pack (2024)

See It

A silly and mildly entertaining tale of a family transported to the middle ages to fight werewolves

Night of the Assassin (2023)

Skip It

An ailing assassin with a price on his head slices through innumerable badguys and a predictable plot

Knights of the Zodiac (2023)

Skip It

So sad to see Sean Bean wasted in this adolescently scripted mashup of martial arts and mythology

Land of Bad (2024)

Skip It

Yet another "things go sideways" rescue mission. Rousing gun fights. Lots of explosions. Capture and torture

Ruthless (2023)

Skip It

Dermot Mulroney goes bare knuckles against sex traffickers, but can't punch his way out of this mediocre script

A Special Lady (2017)

Skip It

A twisty plot, Godfather-reminiscent set pieces, and a gutsy heroine can't make up for the exploitive brutality

Night in Paradise (2020)

Skip It

Gangster gets sold out, with bloody results. But Jeon Yeo-been shines as a terminal case with a deadly aim

Meg 2: The Trench (2023)

Skip It

It’s not as bad as you’d think. So while it’s a waste of time, it’s your time to waste