Movies & Streaming Reviews
The latest movies & streaming reviews from Jim Schembri, professional film reviewer since 1980.
Deliriously fun from go-to-whoa, ‘The Bad Guys’ delivers a thrill ride blending great action with a strong story that challenges stereotypes
Say cheese: The gang from ‘The Bad Guys’, likely the first of a series of animated larks. THE BAD GUYS ...
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It’s a fine, understated tearjerker, yet ‘Nowhere Special’ can leave you wishing there was more to the tale of a terminally ill dad and his son
Father and son: Daniel Lamont and James Norton in ‘Nowhere Special’. NOWHERE SPECIAL **1/2 (95 minutes) M The deal we ...
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Horror movie ‘X’ embraces a slow-burn old-school style, to great effect
Shooting stars: A group of porno filmmakers in 1979 get their schedule derailed in ‘X’. X ***1/2 (106 minutes) R18+ ...
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Eco-doc ‘River’, a lyrical, visually beautiful ode to the power and fragility of rivers that mesmerizes – despite an unnecessary narration
River of life: Music and cinematography are splendidly blended in the documentary ‘River’. RIVER **** (75 minutes) There’s an absolutely ...
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Sincerity overcomes some clumsy direction in the dog movie ‘Dog’
Bonding time: Channing Tatum plays an ex-soldier who befriends an unruly army dog in ‘Dog’. DOG *** (101 minutes) M ...
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‘Friends and Strangers’: a deliciously absurdist riddle of a film that toys with audience expectations and plays against convention
Friendly visit: Fergus Wilson and Greg Zimbulis talk renovations in ‘Friends and Strangers’. FRIENDS AND STRANGERS **** (82 minutes) MA15+ ...
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Visually stunning surf movie ‘Facing Monsters’ takes us into the heart and head of a premium surfer and raises tough questions about risk
Waterwall: Surfer Kerby Brown rides the face of a giant wave in ‘Facing Monsters’. FACING MONSTERS ***1/2 (94 minutes) M ...
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Shambolic rom-com ‘Book of Love’ can’t generate chemistry, comedy or even a decent degree of believability in its predictable premise
No spark: Verónica Echegui and Sam Claflin in the rom-com ‘Book of Love’ BOOK OF LOVE * (106 minutes) M ...
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‘Blind Ambition’: an inspiring, humanist tale of personal courage, spiritual endurance, refugees seeking a better life – and wine
Eyes on the prize: Four refugees from Zimbabwe dream big in ‘Blind Ambition’. BLIND AMBITION *** (96 minutes) M Just ...
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‘Fresh’, a pitch-black #metoo horror comedy for those hungry for something different, with echoes of Davids Lynch & Cronenberg
Dance break: Sebastian Stan and Daisy Edgar-Jones get down in ‘Fresh’. FRESH *** (114 minutes) MA Those sorry old sods ...
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