Category Archives: Comedy

Can You Ever Forgive Me? review — Perfectly pitched tale of forgery and loneliness

November 20, 2018 flawintheiris

Directed by Marielle Heller | Written by Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty, based on the book by Lee Israel | 106 min You might never have heard of Lee Israel, and that wouldn't be a surprise. She was a journalist, a writer of celebrity profiles when once you could make a living doing just that.…Read More

Johnny English trilogy review — Inept spy squeaks by on physical gags

November 11, 2018 flawintheiris

Johnny English Strikes Again | Directed by David Kerr | Written by William Davies | 89 min I'll admit it, I wasn't all that excited to see these films. The reviews have never been great—on Rotten Tomatoes, the second film has the best score at a whopping 38%. I have plenty of respect for Rowan…Read More

The Old Man & The Gun review — A feel-good tribute to a cinema icon

October 29, 2018 flawintheiris

Directed by David Lowery | Written by Lowery from a New Yorker article by David Grann | 93 min Few icons can cast Robert Redford's cultural shadow. We've known his work for more than 50 years as a leading man, director, and filmmaking force, founder of the Sundance Film Festival. This utterly disarming feature film…Read More

Burt Reynolds’ Best on LENS ME YOUR EARS

October 3, 2018 flawintheiris

This week's episode of the podcast I do with Stephen Cooke, LENS ME YOUR EARS, is about Burt Reynolds, who died recently. Stephen and I are of the generation where Reynolds was one of the first movie stars either of us got to know, whose work left a big impact on our childhood moviegoing. Stephen…Read More

A Simple Favor review — Suburban thriller crammed with dark delights

September 23, 2018 flawintheiris

Directed by Paul Feig | Written by Jessica Sharzer, based on the novel by Darcey Bell | 117 min Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) is a bit of an overachiever, a perky Connecticut single mother who volunteers at every opportunity at her son's school while building an online following as a mommy vlogger. She meets another…Read More

#FIN2018 reviews — The Bookshop, Under The Silver Lake

September 21, 2018 flawintheiris

The final day of the 2018 festival comes with mixed feelings. I'm exhausted, and picked up a cold on my way, but had a great week nonetheless. Big props to the organizers and programmers for bringing together a great collection of films. I especially enjoyed the quality of the documentaries this year, and while I…Read More

BlacKkKlansman review — Spike Lee returns with a vengeance

August 12, 2018 flawintheiris

Directed by Spike Lee | Written by Lee, Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, and Kevin Willmott, from the book by Ron Stallworth | 135 min Thirty years out from Lee's underappreciated second joint, School Daze, it's a blast to be able to see a feature film of his that brings his recognizably visceral vision to bear,…Read More

Eighth Grade review — Excruciating, heartfelt look at teen angst

August 2, 2018 flawintheiris

Written and Directed by Bo Burnham | 93 min Leaving the screening, I mentioned to my cinepanion that I couldn't remember a film I've enjoyed as much as Eighth Grade while still praying, from scene to scene, it would release us from its grip. Actor/comedian/writer Bo Burnham gets so much terrifyingly right in his first…Read More

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again review — ABBA musequel delivers fragrant cheese and fun

July 23, 2018 flawintheiris

Directed by Ol Parker | Written by Parker, Richard Curtis, and Catherine Johnson, based on the musical by Johnson | 114 min I know I saw the first Mamma Mia! from 10 years ago, but I don't remember much beyond Meryl Streep having a blast. I recall the on-location cinematography clashing badly with the stagey…Read More

Sorry To Bother You review — Satire stings, then stumbles

July 15, 2018 flawintheiris

Written and Directed by Boots Riley | 105 min It's near-future Oakland, and Cassius (Cash to his friends) Green (Lakeith Stanfield) needs a job. He's living in his uncle's garage, broke and obsessed with death, though his performance- and installation-artist girlfriend, Detroit (the reliably excellent Tessa Thompson), still digs him. He gets a telemarketing gig…Read More