Katie Walsh – Page 22

Even with Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan front and center, little in the trailer of "The Dig" seemed particularly promising, but I gave it a go and it's good. Some of it's true, too: Along the east coast of Britain in 1939, with war clouds looming, self-taught Suffolk archeologist Basil Brown was hired by ailing widow Edith Pretty to discover if anything of value lay beneath the earth mounds on her property. There was indeed, and the remains and artifacts of a sixth-century Anglo-Saxon burial ship stunned the world. Fiennes is Basil; Mulligan is Edith; around the halfway point of director Simon Stone's film, the focus (for better or worse) shifts to others in the orbit of the excavation effort, particularly characters played by Lily James and Johnny Flynn. Based on the 2007 novel by John Preston, "The Dig" freely mixes fact and invention, overloading the crises a bit but generally succeeding. A fair amount of screenwriter Moira Buffini's dialogue plays out as Terrence Malick-styled voiceover, while the camera focuses on the stark beauty of the surroundings, and men and women actually doing the work. The results are trim, well-made and quite moving. So much for my prejudgments. (Netflix) — Michael Phillips

‘Blithe Spirit’: Despite jaw-dropping production design, adaptation is a ghost of its former self

February 16, 2021 at 12:29 p.m.

Noel Coward's 1941 play "Blithe Spirit" is classic material: a comic screwball play about a mystery novelist who is haunted by his ex-wife, summoned by a medium while trying to...

Olivia Cooke as' Emma', Jack O' Connell as' Jude', Raul Castillo as' Ben' and Soko as' Samantha' in Chad Hartigan' s LITTLE FISH.

Movie review: ‘Little Fish’ heartbreaking, relevant rumination on collective grief, loss

February 3, 2021 at 1:18 p.m.

About halfway through "Little Fish," a romantic drama directed by Chad Hartigan, Emma, played by Olivia Cooke, poses an impossible, heartbreaking question to the audience in a narrated voice-over. "When...

Even with Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan front and center, little in the trailer of "The Dig" seemed particularly promising,? I gave it a go and it's good. Some of it's true, too: Along the east coast of Britain in 1939, with war clouds looming, self-taught Suffolk archeologist Basil Brown was hired by ailing widow Edith Pretty to discover if anything of value lay beneath the earth mounds on her property. There was indeed, and the remains and artifacts of a sixth-century Anglo-Saxon burial ship stunned the world. Fiennes is Basil; Mulligan is Edith; around the halfway point of director Simon Stone's film, the focus (for better or worse) shifts to others in the orbit of the excavation effort, particularly characters played by Lily James and Johnny Flynn. Based on the 2007 novel by John Preston, "The Dig" freely mixes fact and invention, overloading the crises a bit but generally succeeding. A fair amount of screenwriter Moira Buffini's dialogue plays out as Terrence Malick-styled voiceover, while the camera focuses on the stark beauty of the surroundings, and men and women actually doing the work. The results are trim, well-made and quite moving. So much for my prejudgments. (Netflix) — Michael Phillips

Review: Heart-wrenching ‘Two of Us’ follows secret love derailed by tragedy

February 2, 2021 at 11:03 a.m.

The deeply felt specific becomes staggeringly universal in Filippo Meneghetti's stunning directorial debut, "Two of Us." This finely wrought tale of love, loss, aging and the secrets we keep contains...

Souheila Yacoub as Sarya Dogan in "No Man's Land."

‘No Man’s Land’ review: Skillfully executed story of redemption, but the message is muddled

January 20, 2021 at 12:31 p.m.

For director Conor Allyn, making films has always been a family affair. He got his start helming action movies in Indonesia produced by his father, former Dallas political consultant Rob...

Tamara Bass (from left) as Patrice, Meagan Holder as Deidre and Mekia Cox as Suzanne in the drama, "If Not Now, When?"

‘If Not Now, When’ review: A heartfelt portrait of Black female friendship

January 6, 2021 at 12:23 p.m.

Actresses Meagan Good and Tamara Bass have been working in film and television for decades (Good since the age of 4). And with the friendship drama "If Not Now, When?"...

Gary Dourdan as Brad Paxton in the action film "Redemption Day."

‘Redemption Day’ review: A no-frills thriller in desperate need of more thrills

January 5, 2021 at 3:37 p.m.

Gary Dourdan deserves better. The former "CSI" star, also known for "Alien: Resurrection," has a strong screen presence that suggests something deeper beneath the surface. Unfortunately, his star turn in...

‘Greenland’ review: Fueled by a comet, apocalypse tale is not just plausible, but recognizable

December 16, 2020 at 12:11 p.m.

Ever seen one of those joke political bumper stickers reading "Giant Comet 2020"? That's essentially the premise of "Greenland," a disaster thriller starring Gerard Butler, helmed by his "Angel Has...

Adam Sandlers' "Eight Crazy Nights" will begin streaming Nov. 1.

What to stream: Don’t miss these Hanukkah picks

December 15, 2020 at 2:17 p.m.

Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, culminates this week, on Friday. Which means it's perfect timing to curl up by the light of the menorah with a plate of...

Aubrey Plaza and Christopher Abbott in a scene from "Black Bear."

‘Black Bear’ review: Aubrey Plaza stars in a meta-thriller on relationships and filmmaking

December 4, 2020 at 8:25 a.m.

Lawrence Michael Levine's third feature, "Black Bear," ends with an appropriate dedication: "For Sophia." His wife, filmmaker Sophia Takal, produced and co-starred in his first two features, 2010's "Gabi on...

‘Another Round’ review: Walking the line between drunken fun and dark threat of alcoholism that looms

December 2, 2020 at 12:25 p.m.

Danish filmmaker Thomas Vinterberg has long been one of the country's most influential and respected directors. Along with Lars von Trier, he penned the Dogme 95 manifesto, a pledge to...

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