Movies & Streaming Reviews

The latest movies & streaming reviews from Jim Schembri, professional film reviewer since 1980.

Tiger King: this deep dive into the American netherworld of the Big Cat trade is as compelling as the hype suggests

Cat man: Joe Exotic (right) is the flamboyant star of the extraordinary true-crime series ‘Tiger King’. TIGER KING: Murder, Mayhem ...
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Your CV-19 Streaming Guide – What to Watch During Our Communal Home Detention

On the hunt: There’s action and impressive VFX aplenty in the Star Wars series ‘The Mandalorian’. Reviewed below: Hunters; Morning ...
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Moody local drama delivers strong performances but a weak third act

Moody thriller: Laura Gordon stars as a traumatized woman in ‘Undertow’. UNDERTOW **1/2 (95 minutes) MA A woman traumatized by ...
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Polished cliches lead to moving finale in the uplifting dramedy ‘Military Wives’

Giving voice: Sharon Horgan and Kristin Scott Thomas star in the comedy-drama ‘Military Wives’. MILITARY WIVES *** (112 minutes) M ...
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‘Queen & Slim’ – a politically charged road movie with four flat tyres

Road to nowhere: Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith star in the road movie ‘Queen & Slim’. QUEEN & SLIM * ...
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Ben Affleck treads the hard road to redemption in raw, honest drama about the allure of alcohol

Drinking issue: Ben Affleck portrays an alcoholic in the drama ‘The Way Back’. THE WAY BACK ***1/2 (108 minutes) M ...
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Bees take their toll in the outstanding documentary in ‘Honeyland’

Hard life: The daily grind of beekeepers in the Macedonian mountains is explored in the documentary ‘Honeyland’. HONEYLAND **** (86 ...
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‘Downhill’ – an appropriately titled so-called comedy remake

Snowed under: Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell star in the comedy remake ‘Downhill’. DOWNHILL * (86 minutes) M Will Ferrell ...
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Australian PTSD drama falls short of lofty goals

ESCAPE AND EVASION *1/2 (95 minutes) MA You certainly can’t argue with the good intentions of Escape and Evasion, an ...
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Corporate crimes run deep in timely, top-notch legal drama ‘Dark Waters’

Bookish hero: Mark Ruffalo puts in a strong performance in the legal drama ‘Dark Waters’. DARK WATERS ***1/2 (127 minutes) ...
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