Film Reviews

This image released by Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures shows Mike Faist, from left, Zendaya and Josh O'Connor in a scene from "Challengers." (Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures via AP)

Movie Review: Prepare to get hot and bothered with stylish, synthy tennis drama ‘Challengers’

Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor are tennis players in and out of love in “Challengers.” Directed by Luca Guadagnino and told in present day and flashback, it’s about friendships, love, competition and sport set to a synthy score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

This image released by Universal Pictures shows Alisha Weir in a scene from the film "Abigail." (Bernard Walsh/Universal Pictures via AP)

Movie Review: A heist movie that gleefully collides with a monster movie in ‘Abigail’

If you always thought your garden-variety heist movies could do with a bit more blood-sucking vampire, have we got a flick for you.

This image released by Lionsgate shows Alex Pettyfer, Alan Ritchson, Henry Cavill, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, and Henry Golding in a scene from the film "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare." (Daniel Smith/Lionsgate via AP)

Movie Review: ‘Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’ amps up a true-tale WWII heist

The latest Guy Ritchie flick “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” has a spine of true story to it, even if it does all it can to amplify a long-declassified WWII tale with enough dead Nazis to make “Inglourious Basterds” blush.

This image released by Participant/Sony Pictures Classics shows Blake Cameron James in a scene from the film "We Grown Now." (Participant/Sony Pictures Classics via AP)

Movie Review: A lyrical portrait of childhood in Cabrini-Green with ‘We Grown Now’

Two 11-year-old boys navigate school, friendship, family and change in Minhal Baig’s lyrical drama “We Grown Now.”

This image released by Magnolia Pictures shows a scene from the documentary "Food, Inc. 2." (River Road/Participant/Magnolia Pictures via AP)

Movie Review: ‘Food, Inc. 2’ revisits food system, sees reason for frustration and (a little) hope

The makers of the Oscar-nominated 2008 documentary “Food, Inc.” never planned to make a sequel. They figured they’d said it all in their harrowing look at what they called a broken, unsustainable food system, controlled by a few all-powerful corporations.

This image released by Bleecker Street shows Jesse Eisenberg in a scene from the film "Sasquatch Sunset." (Bleecker Street via AP)

Movie Review: Should you watch ‘Sasquatch Sunset’ about a family of Bigfoots? Not yeti

One of the wildest movies of the year — or the century, for that matter — suggests that Bigfoots mourn, cuddle, bury their dead, enjoy throwing rocks in rivers, make art and wonder if they’re alone in the world.

This image released by A24 shows Kirsten Dunst in a scene from "Civil War." (A24 via AP)

Movie Review: In Alex Garland’s potent ‘Civil War,’ journalists are America’s last hope

The United States is crumbling in Alex Garland’s sharp new film “Civil War,” an A24 release in theaters Friday.

This image released by Zeitgeist Films shows a scene from "The Old Oak." (Zeitgeist Films via AP)

Movie Review: Ken Loach, longtime chronicler of social ills, seeks a hopeful note in ‘The Old Oak’

After nearly 30 films over six decades, British director Ken Loach, at 87, has said he’s calling it a day with “The Old Oak.”

This image released by Universal Pictures shows a scene from the film "Monkey Man." (Universal Pictures via AP)

Movie Review: Dev Patel’s ‘Monkey Man’ is a political allegory bathed in blood

Like “Slumdog Millionaire,” Dev Patel’s “Monkey Man” is set in Mumbai and has a touch of fable to it. But in tone and texture, it could hardly be more different.

This image released by Apple TV+ shows a scene from "Girls State." (Apple TV+ via AP)

Movie Review: In ‘Girls State,’ Missouri teens start a mock government

What would an all-female government look like in the U.S.? Or even a majority female government? It’s something that remains a fantasy.

This image released by Focus Features shows Dzada Selim, left, and Anamaria Marinca in a scene from "Housekeeping for Beginners." (Focus Features via AP)

Movie Review: Love wins in the triumphant ‘Housekeeping for Beginners’

“Housekeeping for Beginners” begins with a shot of a painting on a wall hanging just a little askew.

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Godzilla, left, and Kong in a scene from "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire." (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

Movie Review: ‘Godzilla x Kong’ has scales and scale but not much else

As the old saying goes, there are two kinds of people on this Earth: Those who like their movies with a giant evil ape swinging a vertebrae like a lasso while riding a kaiju controlled by a crystal, and those who don’t.

This image released by Neon shows Josh O'Connor, center, in a scene from "La Chimera." (Neon via AP)

Movie Review: Alice Rohrwacher’s tombaroli tale ‘La Chimera’ is pure magic

When we talk about “movie magic,” the first thing that comes to mind is often something like the bikes achieving liftoff in “E.T.”

This image released by Apple TV+ shows Steve Martin in a scene from the documentary "Steve! (Martin) a Documentary in 2 Pieces." (Apple TV+ via AP)

Movie Review: ‘STEVE! (martin)’ looks at past, present in a lovely, intimate 2-part documentary

The first official documentary about Steve Martin, from Oscar-winner Morgan Neville, is a freewheeling story told in two parts, one part focused on “Then” and one part focused on “Now” with both parts debuting on Apple TV+ on Friday.

This image released by Netflix shows Micheal Ward, foreground left, and Bill Nighy in a scene from "The Beautiful Game." (Alfredo Falvo/Netflix via AP)

Movie Review: Bill Nighy, Michael Ward shine in Netflix’s Homeless World Cup crowd-pleaser

“The Beautiful Game,” a new movie starring Bill Nighy and Michael Ward coming to Netflix on Friday, is about a real international soccer tournament called the Homeless World Cup.

This image released by Columbia Pictures shows, from left, Celeste O'Connor, Kumail Nanjiani, Finn Wolfhard and James Acaster in a scene from "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire." (Jaap Buitendijk/Columbia Pictures/Sony via AP)

Movie Review: ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ clears a low bar

Forty years after “Ghostbusters” and following a string of sequels that never measured up to the original it’s fair to wonder, well, who else ought we to call?

This image released by Neon shows Sydney Sweeney in a scene from the film "Immaculate." (Neon via AP)

Movie Review: Things get scary for Sydney Sweeney in a creepy Italian convent in ‘Immaculate’

Sydney Sweeney plays a nun abroad in the new horror movie “Immaculate.” Her character is recruited to join an Italian convent that also provides a home for dying nuns, but the picturesque setting soon curdles into nightmare territory in this film written by Andrew Lobel and directed by Michael Mohan

This image released by Prime Video shows Conor McGregor, left, and Jake Gyllenhaal in a scene from "Road House." (Laura Radford/Prime Video via AP)

Movie Review: A remake of ‘Road House’ with Jake Gyllenhaal turns into a muscular, Florida romp

Jake Gyllenhaal steps into a role previously made famous by Patrick Swayze when he becomes a bouncer in the new remake of “Road House.”

This image released by Lionsgate shows a scene from "Arthur The King." (Carlos Rodriguez/Lionsgate via AP)

Movie Review: Man and dog and adventure racing in ‘Arthur the King’

Mark Wahlberg plays an adventure racer who befriends a dog on a 435 mile trek through the jungle in “Arthur the King.”

This image released by Bleecker Street shows Anthony Hopkins in a scene from "One Life." (Bleecker Street via AP)

Movie Review: Anthony Hopkins, Johnny Flynn find poignant synergy in real-life war tale ‘One Life’

It’s a perfect role for Anthony Hopkins: a modest, elderly man who disdains fuss, keeping his secrets to himself.

This image released by Amazon Prime shows John Cena, right, in a scene from "Ricky Stanicky." (Ben King/Amazon via AP)

Movie Review: John Cena gets the laughs in middling comedy ‘Ricky Stanicky’

Peter Farrelly returns to his broad comedy roots with “Ricky Stanicky,” about three childhood friends and their imaginary fall guy.

This image released by A24 shows Katy O’Brian, left, and Kristen Stewart in a scene from "Love Lies Bleeding." (Anna Kooris/A24 via AP)

Movie Review: ‘Love Lies Bleeding’ is peak Kristen Stewart

Muscles ripple, veins pop and electronic music throbs in “Love Lies Bleeding,” a heaving, hyper-sexy neo-noir drenched in sweat, blood and bug guts, writes Associated Press Film Writer Jake Coyle in his review.

This image released by Universal Pictures shows characters Po, voiced by Jack Black, left, and Zhen, voiced by Awkwafina, in a scene from DreamWorks Animation's "Kung Fu Panda 4." (DreamWorks Animation/Universal Pictures via AP)

Movie Review: ‘Kung Fu Panda 4' is a sweet, fun and well executed passing of the torch

“Kung Fu Panda 4” finds our trusty, rotund hero Po at a career crossroads and he’s nervous. “Kung Fu Panda 4” also finds the franchise at an inflection point, but there’s no reason to be nervous, Associated Press critic Mark Kennedy says: DreamWorks knows what it’s doing.

This image released by Janus and Sideshow Films shows a scene from "About Dry Grasses." (Sideshow and Janus Films via AP)

Movie Review: The colossal melancholy of Ceylan’s ‘About Dry Grasses’

Nuri Bilge Ceylan makes long films, by movie standards, but short ones by Russian literature standards.

This image released by Netflix shows Adam Sandler in a scene from "Spaceman." (Netflix via AP)

Movie Review: It’s lonely out in space for Adam Sandler in pensive sci-fi psychodrama ‘Spaceman’

Adam Sandler in a spacesuit as an anxious astronaut headed toward Jupiter? At one point in his career that could only have been a comedy.

This image released by Sony Pictures Classics shows Zar Amir Ebrahimi in a scene from "Shayda." (Jane Zhang/Sony Pictures Classics via AP)

Movie Review: An Iranian woman and her daughter flee abuse in moving indie ‘Shayda’

Noora Niasari’s delicately moving “Shayda” puts the viewer in the shoes of an Iranian woman in Australia living in a women’s shelter with her 6-year-old daughter.

This image released by A24 Films shows Julio Torres, left, and Tilda Swinton in a scene from "Problemista." (A24 via AP)

Movie Review: Writer-director Julio Torres proves a storyteller to cheer with awesome ‘Problemista’

“Problemista” is clearly Julio Torres’ labor of love. He stars, directs and has written a movie that reflects his singular, idiosyncratic mind, says Associated Press critic Mark Kennedy.

This image released by Lionsgate shows Hilary Swank in a scene from "Ordinary Angels." (Allen Fraser/Lionsgate via AP)

Movie Review: Hillary Swank gives inspirational ‘Ordinary Angels’ both the heart and heft it needs

“Ordinary Angels” is based on a real story, and it’s a good thing we know that — otherwise, we’d be tempted to think the filmmakers had dreamed up a story too sappy and inspirational to be true.

This image released by Focus Features shows Geraldine Viswanathan, right, and Margaret Qualley in a scene from "Drive-Away Girls." (Focus Features via AP)

Movie Review: Buckle up for a queer road trip caper in Ethan Coen’s spry ‘Drive-Away Dolls’

Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan star as Jamie and Marian, best friends and total opposites who are looking to escape their surroundings for a bit in this queer road trip caper directed and co-written by Ethan Coen.

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Timothee Chalamet in a scene from "Dune: Part Two." (Niko Tavernise/Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

Movie Review: ‘Dune: Part Two’ sustains the dystopian dream of ‘Part One’

Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part II” is almost as intoxicating as “Part One.” Like its predecessor, “Part Two” thrums with an intoxicating big-screen expressionism of monoliths and mosquitos, fevered visions and messianic fervor.

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FILE - Irish writer Anne Enright holds a copy of her book after she won the Man Booker fiction prize for "The Gathering," an uncompromising portrait of a troubled family that its author called the literary equivalent of a Hollywood weepie, in London on Oct. 16 2007. Novels that give voice to the often unheard stories of migrants around the world are among the nominees for the 2024 Women’s Prize for Fiction. The 16-book long list announced Tuesday, April 24, 2024, for the 30,000 pound ($38,000) award includes works by writers from Ghana, Barbados, Britain, the United States, Ireland, South Korea and Australia. One of the most published authors is Ireland’s Anne Enright, nominated for her seventh novel, “The Wren, The Wren.” (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

Complex stories of migration are among the finalists for the Women’s Prize for Fiction