Dressing up a dead corpse

History is, basically, the stories we tell ourselves. Fact is muddled somewhere in it, but it is some human element that binds it together. Much of historical dramas operate on this principle. No film could completely depict the events as they unfolded. However, we don’t expect it to be created from whole cloth either. A balance is struck between the machine of Hollywood filmmaking and the adherence to the truth. In some ways, this can yield middling results. Much of Netflix’s latest Operation Mincemeat falls into this region.

Comedy through the ages

Well for those who saw the last film I reviewed, you might need a much needed break from brutality. As good as The Northman was, it’s not a film to easily shake off after viewing. As I saw the box office numbers come in, it was both disheartening and understandable the weak totals that Viking epic brought in. A needed dose of mirth is just what the doctor would order. With the wealth of options what does one choose? And, after all, humor is highly subjective. In my fumbling way, let me guide those over to HBO Max for a couple choice program to get your yucks in.

Pagan rite and firelight

Mythos and their power over us have been in the zeitgeist in the last decade. A glut of superhero films continues to fill multiplexes, our modern equivalent to ancient tales. It is enough to take them for granted as base culture. However, this was not always the case. Equal parts anthropology and religion, these tales passed down were inspiration for many writers going forward. No greater motivation has ignited plots as revenge. And no grander presentation has graced the screen as Robert Eggers’s latest.

Googly eyes and hotdog fingers

Agreed, that title is very weird. You, dear readers, may be scratching your head in confusion and bafflement. Honey, you don’t even know the half of it. Trust me, this was my first feeling when I saw the trailer for Everything, Everywhere, All At Once. The latest from distributor A24 in theaters, we should know a bit of what we are in for if you saw my reviews for The Lighthouse or The Green Knight. Arthouse and avant-garde are the best descriptions for their output. And this release is no exception.

A soggy tale

Adrian Lyne has been a strange case in the annals of film history. Two words that best used to describe his work would be sexy and opulent. His characters exist in realms of privilege; shiny exteriors that mask true emotions under cool surfaces.

Growing Pains

A change is in the air as Spring kicks into high gear. Mother Nature’s tempestuous mood swings have us in its throughs, much like those growing into adulthood. Some readers may not remember what it is like to be in those formative years. Or, at least, they recollect those halcyon days through more rose-tinted glasses.

As spring break is upon us, some younger relatives may be visiting. If so, these films will make for a good way to pass the time. Maybe even help to start a conversation.

A little murder among friends

Thaw is on, and the buds are giving way to spring. For most, restrictions are alleviating. Wanderlust gives way to a sense of adventure. A vacation is in order after all we have been through. Only problem is where to go? What is better than somewhere more exotic. International voyages can be an option. Just make sure that the accommodations are safer than those conjured by a certain mystery writer.

Agatha Christie has long been the grand-dame of the genre ever since she put word to paper. Solving clues with each turn of the page, filmmakers never fail to resist adaptation of her most famous investigator: Hercule Poirot.

“King Richard” is now available in theaters and HBO Max. Based on the life of the Williams sisters but from a different angle, we follow Venus and Serena through the eyes of their father. An odd trajectory for a sports film, in hindsight it’s clearly the most compelling.