The Luv Doc: Fortunately Pets Can’t Read

A little wallow in the unpleasantries of modern politics with the greatest patriotic advice columnist in modern history

Nov. 27, 2020 Column by The Luv Doc

Star Trek: Generations

"...of the first Star Trek film, things look bad. Fortunately, the number seven turns out to be very lucky..."

Nov. 25, 1994 Movie Review by Brian Baker

Greed

Winterbottom and Coogan reunite to lampoon billionaires but the one-percenters won't flinch

"...by Gladiator): “What we do now echoes in eternity.” Fortunately, celluloid doesn’t last that long...."

March 6, 2020 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Your friendly neighborhood web-head goes beyond Peter Parker

"...in the space-time continuum for his own reasons, but fortunately that same rift provides Miles with the allies he..."

Dec. 14, 2018 Movie Review by Richard Whittaker

Red Sparrow

Erotic spy thriller is Fifty Shades of Gorky Park.

"...Bolshoi whose career is curtailed by a broken leg. Fortunately her spymaster uncle (Schoenaerts) gives her an option: Become..."

March 2, 2018 Movie Review by Richard Whittaker

The Commuter

Liam Neeson still has a very particular set of skills

"...together on 2011’s equally implausible identity switch thriller Unknown: Fortunately, Collet-Serra knows how to keep this kind of material..."

Jan. 12, 2018 Movie Review by Richard Whittaker

Churchill

An intimate look at a leader's state of mind

"...man” cinematography that poses him commandingly in every shot. Fortunately, Brian Cox delivers a bravura performance that keeps things..."

June 9, 2017 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Spring

A genre-tinged story about a love affair abroad keeps us guessing

"...Fortunately, even as the central mystery dissipates in a sea..."

March 20, 2015 Movie Review by William Goss

Non-Stop

Liam Neeson plays a flawed lawman once again, this time tasked with finding the terrorist on a plane.

"...trying to turn air travel into a white-knuckle adventure. Fortunately, the future of commercial aviation won’t be harmed by..."

Feb. 28, 2014 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Generation Iron

This doc about bodybuilders vying for the Mr. Olympia title is narrated by Mickey Rourke.

"...as the bodybuilders prove to be unique and interesting. Fortunately, they are also articulate and charismatic as well, and..."

Oct. 4, 2013 Movie Review by Louis Black

The Revisionaries

When it comes to choosing public-school textbooks, what happens in Texas is of national concern – and this documentary captures these culture wars in full bloom.

"...Fortunately, Scott Thurman’s timely documentary is now available to break..."

Oct. 26, 2012 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

For Greater Glory

This epic starring Andy Garcia about Mexico’s anticlerical Cristero War of the late 1920s is a plodding and poorly plotted tale.

"...previous characters once the viewer has forgotten their relevance. Fortunately, the simplicity of the story being told, with its..."

June 1, 2012 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Chloe

Atom Egoyan's new film is an erotic thriller that stars Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson, and the mismatched Amanda Seyfried.

"...time in a new direction, toward the utterly ludicrous. Fortunately, the film doesn’t completely capsize until its third act;..."

March 26, 2010 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

17 Again

Tween idol Zac Efron graduates into a nonsinging and nondancing world in this body-switch movie, and the result should keep ’em coming back for more.

"...Down) keeps the movie’s foregone progression moving apace and, fortunately, doesn’t dwell on the inexplicable vortex that sucks present-day..."

April 17, 2009 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

The Jane Austen Book Club

Though it’s as estrogenic as dong quai, this amiable film about six friends and their book club is thoughtfully rendered with a certain universality of spirit.

"...feels a little too chummy, like a group hug. Fortunately Fowler’s characters (like Austen’s) aren’t written as entirely likable,..."

Oct. 5, 2007 Movie Review by Marrit Ingman

Children of Men

Children of Men brims with cinematic gusto, but the plot raises more questions than it answers.

"...so on. The questions are numerous and all unanswered. Fortunately, the movie is also very well-cast, another aspect that..."

Jan. 5, 2007 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

How To Eat Fried Worms

This kids movie, which was filmed in Austin, is not as wormy as it sounds.

"...reticence about the possibilities for an enjoyable moviegoing experience. Fortunately, the result was a pleasant surprise. While the film..."

Aug. 25, 2006 Movie Review by Toddy Burton

Les Choristes

A box-office smash in its native France, this kindly and spirited film doesn’t exactly break the mold of the heartwarming, humanistic boarding-school dramedy.

"...curriculum, but otherwise Les Choristes sticks to the script. Fortunately, Barratier is generous with his actors, particularly the young..."

May 20, 2005 Movie Review by Marrit Ingman

Surviving Christmas

Money can buy happiness goes the moral of this cynical yet mildly amusing comedy starring Ben Affleck and James Gandolfini.

"...to pose as his relatives for a quarter-million dollars. Fortunately, a game and competent cast was assembled to surround..."

Oct. 22, 2004 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Napoleon Dynamite

Indie film about teenage dork celebrates the youthful underdog.

"...family themes. (Todd Solondz, I’m looking in your direction.) Fortunately, writer-director Hess finally steps up in the second act..."

June 25, 2004 Movie Review by Marrit Ingman

Confidence

"...fun ride; when it’s bargain-bin Mamet, it’s a bore. Fortunately, Confidence tips its scales more often to the former...."

April 25, 2003 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

Pop & Me

"...mom for another woman, etc.” Insert muffled sob here. Fortunately, the interview portion of the film is rendered almost..."

June 16, 2000 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

Black Cat, White Cat

"...to make Kusturica swear never to make another film. Fortunately, the multi-award-winning director (When Father Was Away on Business,..."

Oct. 15, 1999 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Dill Scallion

"...an unlucky belt buckle the size of a hubcap. Fortunately for Dill, his Muleshoe, Texas, girlfriend (Griffin) is a..."

Oct. 8, 1999 Movie Review by Hollis Chacona

I'll Be Home for Christmas

"...good-hearted, but the result leaves much to be desired. Fortunately, this movie, like a Christmas toy, has an audience..."

Nov. 20, 1998 Movie Review by Hollis Chacona

A Midwinter's Tale

"...for these people; it restores their faith in themselves! Fortunately, Branagh preserves enough comedy in the tale to keep..."

March 15, 1996 Movie Review by Robert Faires

Dragons Forever

"...plenty of Chan and Hung's trademark humor here, but fortunately Chan manages (somehow -- perhaps repeated threats of violence?)..."

July 15, 1994 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Germinal

"...love and death to labor relations and class war. Fortunately, director Berri is a master of the leisurely epic..."

June 3, 1994 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

World's Best Commercials: Cannes 'ninety-Two

"...mute button for the duration of these intrusive ads. Fortunately, there are creative teams in the international field of..."

Jan. 28, 1994 Movie Review by Pamela Bruce

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

This animated Batman is from the same folks behind the TV cartoon series, and is a diverting take on the Caped Crusader.

"...basically a TV episode at three times the length. Fortunately, the story justifies the expansion: Batman has to catch..."

Dec. 31, 1993 Movie Review by Robert Faires

1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10     NEXT ›    34 »