Culture
‘The 15:17 to Paris’ is exciting when in crisis, a bore when not
The portion of the movie devoted to the thwarting of a terrorist attack is taut and compelling. But in retelling three friends' lives before that, the film fails to evoke interest in the lads' humdrum childhoods and fitful careers.
Not enough quality films for families to make a top 10 list
Few of 2017's outstanding films aimed at adults were entirely free of gritty or controversial elements. And the aesthetic standard of movies acceptable for almost all age groups was so low that our usual round number of 10 in that category could not be reached without scraping a bit too far down in the barrel.
Girl falls for gills in ’60s period film, ‘The Shape of Water’
Think "Beauty and the Beast" meets "Creature from the Black Lagoon" -- that's this mix of gentle observations on prejudice set in 1962 Baltimore amidst a lush romance with far too strong sexual content.
End of elegance: ‘Peter Rabbit’ descends into cheap gags at a manic pace
That rustling sound you hear is famed children's author Beatrix Potter spinning in her grave. Her title character has become a fast-talking hipster with a murderous streak in this adventure comedy mixing live-action with animation.
Author brings Pilgrims’ compelling, contradictory tale to life
Jay Milbrandt puts flesh on the bones of the oft-told tale of our Pilgrim forebears, giving a readable and nuanced interpretation of their struggles and triumphs.
‘Darkest Hour’ tells of a time when statesmanship mattered most
The spotlight shines brightly on British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in this historical drama about political leadership and backroom intrigue during a pivotal moment of World War II.
After net neutrality, is children’s TV next in FCC’s sights?
FCC commissioner Michael O'Rielly said it was "time for the commission ... to reconsider the ineffective and burdensome requirements imposed on our nation's broadcasters to air educational and informational children's programming."
‘The Gilded Age’ asks poignant questions for today
The PBS documentary that airs Feb. 6 examines the inequalities of late 19th century America and asks, in the words of a historian, "Do governments represent wealth or do they represent people?"
Part 3 of ‘Maze Runner’ has run its course, mercifully
An intrepid band of teens looks positively worn out, having now spent three movies running for their lives from an evil entity in a dreary post-apocalyptic world. Unmistakable is the city with a wall impenetrable to undesirables (hint, hint).
Complex, conflicted ‘I, Tonya’ has no moral uplift but is fascinating
Nothing in this film about star-turned-disgraced figure skater Tonya Harding is pleasant. Her smile under the lights is merely a mask to cover anguish. She's a stoic, but she never seems to become any smarter.