Detroit Cineaste
Reviews of movies and television programs
Zootopia 2
Zootopia 2 has a lot going for it, including splendid animation, excellent voice acting, sight gags and witty movie references. The central mystery is more convoluted and less involving than before, but the wacky new characters make for an entertaining watch. Recommended.
The Thing With Feathers
Cumberbatch is in peak form in The Thing With Feathers, where he brings the emotional turmoil of the widowed father to gut-wrenching life. The film’s literal depiction of grief and despair, as well as Dad’s battle to overcome both, is as audacious as it is honest. Recommended.
Wicked: For Good
Wicked: For Good is a morose conclusion to this duology, which has been theme park filmmaking at its worst. What saves it are the heartfelt performances of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo and a handful of good songs. Dorothy deserved better. Mildly recommended.
Frankenstein (2025, Netflix)
In Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, the myth roars back to life in this mostly successful adaptation. Jacob Elordi’s performance is a standout, while Oscar Isaac is miscast. Filled with beautiful and grotesque imagery, the film struggles for greatness and occasionally reaches it. Recommended.
Nuremberg
Nuremberg brings a little-known WWII story to life in this crowd-pleasing genre piece. Oscar winners Rami Malek and Russell Crowe deliver big time performances that play to their strengths. Although the film is traditional in every respect, it speaks to our present with surprising resonance. Recommended.
Roofman
Roofman is a heartfelt movie that entertains the old fashioned way, with interesting characters and winning performances. Channing Tatum and Kristen Dunst are engaging in the leading roles, and Tatum’s performance represents a career best. It’s movie magic rendered at human scale. Recommended.
Blue Moon
Blue Moon is an engrossing snapshot of the artist in free-fall, with a delightful performance by Ethan Hawke at its center. Its insistence on shrinky-dinking Hawke down to size is a humorous distraction, but not a fatal one. Margaret Qualley radiates glamour as his potential love interest and lifeline. Recommended.
Black Phone 2
Black Phone 2 manages a difficult balancing act of continuing the story while also taking things in a new direction. As a love letter to A Nightmare on Elm Street and Eighties horror movies, it’s scary but not as tense as the original. Amidst all the blood and gore, Madeleine McGraw emerges as an actor…
Tron: Ares
Like its predecessors, Tron: Ares is a visual feast for the eyes and ears. If you put your brain on hold and ignore how ludicrous it is, the movie is entertaining fluff. Greta Lee brings a welcome human touch to the techno-leaden proceedings. Mildly recommended.
Good Boy
Good Boy takes its novel premise–a horror story told from the point of view of a dog–and uses it to deliver a surprisingly compassionate ghost story. Although the movie is scary enough, its insight into the relationship between humans and dogs is haunting and memorable. Recommended.
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Detroit Cineaste 