Behind The Curtain

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

Recent Reviews

Still of Marisa Tomei and Christian Slater in ‘Untamed Hearts’ (1993)

Untamed Heart (1993)

Marisa Tomei, Christian Slater, Rosie Perez. What more could you want? How about a plausible screenplay.

Skip It
Full Review
Still of Judit Polgár in ‘Queen of Chess’ (2026)

Queen of Chess (2026)

What grandmaster Judit Polgar has to teach you has little to do with chess and much to do with life

See It
Full Review
Still of Stephen Graham and Tom Hanks in ‘Greyhound’ (2020)

Greyhound (2020)

No grandiose speeches, no daredevil maneuvers – just an authentic, gripping portrayal of war in the North Atlantic

See It
Full Review
Still of Jaden Martell and Clive Owen in ‘The Confirmation’ (2016)

The Confirmation (2016)

Clive Owen navigates a weekend full of bad luck as he struggles to confirm he deserves redemption

See It
Full Review
Still of Tsutomu Tatsumi and Ayano Shiraishi in ‘Grave of the Fireflies’ (1988)

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

This lyrical, beautiful, and profoundly sad tale is one you should experience, though once may be enough

See It
Full Review
Still of Glenn Close and Josh O’Connor in ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ (2025)

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025)

The well-worn mystery format gets an adequately thrilling spin thanks to Glenn Close and Josh O'Connor

See It
Full Review
Still of Maggie Smith and Tom Courtenay in ‘Quartet’ (2012)

Quartet (2012)

You don’t need to be a classical music fanatic to be enthralled by these veteran performers

See It
Full Review
Still of Rafael Vitti and Amendoim in ‘Caramelo’ (2025)

Caramelo (2025)

Here’s a syrupy sweet tale of a shaggy dog and a shaggy man, who save each other’s lives

See It
Full Review
Still of Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey in ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ (2004)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet are charming and heartbreaking as oil-and-water lovers trying to escape their pain

See It
Full Review
Still of Toshiro Mifune and Tatsuya Nakadai in ‘High and Low’ (1963)

High and Low (1963)

Toshiro Mifune is superb as the conflicted father, but enjoy this one as a trend-setting police procedural

See It
Full Review
Still ofSally Hawkins and Doug Jones in ‘The Shape of Water’ (2017)

The Shape of Water (2017)

Sally Hawkins is enchanting in this masterfully told tale of love, loss … and monsters

See It
Full Review
Still of Park Gyu-young and Im Si-wan in ‘Mantis’ (2025)

Mantis (2025)

Park Gyu-young stands out in this stylish martial arts tale as an assassin aiming to get the respect she deserves

See It
Full Review
Next

Recent Quick Takes

Act of Valor (2012)

Skip It

The well staged action sequences can't make us overlook the stilted dialog and cardboard characterizations

Sand Storm (2016)

See It

It's not a war story – only it is, of sorts – about modern Arab women's struggle against millennia-old traditions

The Skeleton Twins (2014)

See It

Estranged, dysfunctional twins Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig somehow manage to make suicide mirthful

Alien Outpost (2014)

Skip It

Another tired "advanced beings from outer space invade with WWII-level tactics." OK battle scenes, zero plot

Black or White (2014)

See It

A hard-edged, thought-provoking drama of a widowed father fighting for custody of his biracial daughter

Young Ones (2014)

See It

In a water-parched future, a refreshingly original and complex story of greed, betrayal, and family loyalty

The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)

See It

A do-gooder lawyer who works from the back of his car begins to realize his case isn't exactly open-and-shut

Conan the Barbarian (2011)

Skip It

For a guy facing the fight of his life, Conan sure does spend a lot of time sword-twirling.

Albert Nobbs (2011)

Skip It

A refreshingly unique tale, splendidly acted, that still leaves you unaffected and a bit adrift at the end