Detroit Cineaste
Reviews of movies and television programs
A Man Called Otto (2022)
Otto (Tom Hanks) is a curmudgeon who hates idiots who don’t follow the rules. He also has a death wish. What could be funnier? Hanks is hilarious as the perpetually angry Otto and Mariana Treviño is a scene-stealer as kindly neighbor Marisol. Recommended. Continue reading A Man Called Otto (2022)
The Whale
Brilliant performances by Brendan Fraser and Hong Chau make this no-frills adaptation of the stage play compelling. Recommended. Continue reading The Whale
Wednesday (2022, Netflix)
Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) is no average teenage girl. With her pallid complexion, black attire, matching pigtails and a personality overflowing with misanthropy, she’s every parent’s nightmare, except for Morticia and Gomez. They love their little viper, storm cloud, etc. and would do anything for her, including keeping her out of trouble when she exacts… Continue reading Wednesday (2022, Netflix)
Lady Chatterley’s Lover
The movie opens with several touches of visual cleverness. Connie (Emma Corrin) and Clifford (Matthew Duckett) standing against a fake landscape that is revealed to be the painted backdrop of their wedding portrait. (A metaphor for the awkward pretense their marriage will become?) The couple then attend an awkward wedding reception where Connie’s role of… Continue reading Lady Chatterley’s Lover
Emily the Criminal
To paraphrase the late Charles Bukowski, nobody suffers like the working poor. Emily (Aubrey Plaza), the eponymous character of Emily the Criminal, is a perfect example of that truism. She works for a food delivery service, making just enough to afford her car and room in someone else’s apartment. Emily is a heads-down, hard-working type,… Continue reading Emily the Criminal
Devotion
Devotion is a biopic about Jesse Brown (Jonathan Majors), the first African American naval aviator. The movie begins in early 1950, when Lieutenant Tom Hudner (Glen Powell) transfers to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, stationed at Rhode Island. Tom meets Jesse, an ensign who has already distinguished himself flying the Bearcat. Tom, a genial and easygoing… Continue reading Devotion
The Menu
In the day’s twilight, a group of obnoxious super-rich types take a boat to a remote island for dinner. This isn’t just any dinner, though. It’s a $1,750 per head dining experience by Chef Slowik (Ralph Fiennes). Among the guests are Tyler (Nicholas Hoult) and Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy), a couple that doesn’t quite fit. After… Continue reading The Menu
The Wonder
Set in Ireland in 1862, The Wonder tells the story of a young girl named Anna (Kíla Lord Cassidy) who hasn’t eaten in four months. Everyone around her considers her to be a wonder. The town leaders (a priest, a doctor, a landlord and a Lord) want to confirm whether she is a living miracle… Continue reading The Wonder
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Marvel)
As far as the MCU goes, Wakanda Forever takes one of the biggest risks, if not the biggest risk of all of the movies in the franchise. Instead of recasting the part of T’Challa, it directly acknowledges Chadwick Boseman’s death and its effect on his family. This decision gives the movie a somber tone at… Continue reading Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Marvel)
All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) Netflix
In 1917, the third year of WWI, Germany continued to suffer heavy losses for meager gains on the battlefield. Instead of admitting to the futility of the war effort, the army recruited younger and younger men to continue the push forward despite the growing allied counteroffensive. Among the recruits is Paul (Felix Kammerer) and his… Continue reading All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) Netflix
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Detroit Cineaste 