Critical Mass:Fifty Shades Darker,The LEGO Batman Movie

Theyre cozying up to the Warner Bros. ## Fifty Shades Darker Opens Feb. 10 in theaters nationwide. It flirts with being too much of a good thing. It helps, too, to have two actors so immensely appealing in the lead roles. The film tries going in a few too many directions at once, and some wires get crossed. Characters appear and then fade back into the background. But for the most part, theyve been bloated Broadway adaptations full of sound and fury....

May 1, 2025 · 1 min · 133 words · Robert Smith

Critical Mass:Free Firea bullet-riddled joyride,Unforgettableis campy fun

Free Fire Opens April 21 in theaters nationwide. Its hard to take any of it seriously. Which is what makes it work as well as it does. Credit: A24; Warner Bros.; Open Road Films (Hammers and Copleys hilarious performances dont hurt either.) Just imagine what an Itchy and Scratchy short directed by Sam Peckinpah would look like. ThatsFree Fire.B+ Read the full review here. Rotten Tomatoes: 100% Metacritic: 84 The Fate of the Furious Now playing....

May 1, 2025 · 2 min · 282 words · Scott Walker

Critical Mass:Ghost in the Shellis a hollow spectacle,Boss Babyis fired

Ghost in the Shell Opens March 31in theaters nationwide. Eventually the movie gives up theGhost, and settles for a gorgeous shell.B Read the full review here. Consider the whole quotemarky Its just a joke! Credit: Dreamworks; Focus Features; Dreamworks tone of online discourse, the rise of smirking insincerity as a political mode and an intellectual dialectic. Even at its most engaging (those cubs! [Charlie] McDowell, who co-wrote the script with Justin Lader, had an intriguing what-if idea....

May 1, 2025 · 2 min · 375 words · Jason Gibson

Critical Mass:Hidden Figuresshines,Underworldsequel a bloody mess

Joining the Oscar-bound film on the nationwide front is J.A. Hidden Figures Now playing. Michael Sheen is great. Credit: Hopper Stone; Larry Horricks; Jose Haro (Thankfully, Moana doesnt have a love interest.) All family problems and economic struggles can be overcome: After all, it is Christmas. ButWhy Him?has no fun along the way solving its central conflict. Its built on smoke and mirrors. Moose urine, too.C Rotten Tomatoes: 40% Metacritic: 38

May 1, 2025 · 1 min · 71 words · Natalie Owen

Critical Mass:Kongroars,Personal Shopperworth buying

Kong: Skull Island Opens March 10in theatersnationwide. EWs Chris Nashawaty says: As for subtlety, there isnt a whole lot of that either. Meanwhile, Reilly and the mighty Kong are left to save the picture. Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Everett Collection; IFC Films And mostly, they succeed. Or, at least, well enough. Kong swats the military helicopters out of the sky like a giant swatting pesky flies. Jackson barks his great vengeance and furious anger....

May 1, 2025 · 2 min · 421 words · Jillian Smith

Critical Mass:Loganslays, critics leaveTable 19vacant

Logan Opens March 3in theatersnationwide. Mangold shoots the film in a grungy, south-of-the-border Peckinpah palette. There isnt a lot of hope in the movie. The stakes arent grandiose, no ones saving the world. Since Lauras mutant physical gifts are so identical to Logans, theres a melancholy to their relationship. Shes the daughter he never slowed down enough to allow himself to have. The loner has to learn to put someone else first....

May 1, 2025 · 2 min · 220 words · John Stevens

Critical Mass:Power Rangerssputters out,Lifeworth living

Power Rangers Now playing. During her quest, she will summon a humongous gold beastie called Goldar. The only thing that makes this battle-heavy second half orgy of green-screen destruction remotely interesting is Elizabeth Banks Repulsa. The crew tries every way it can to kill the thing, but Calvin wont die. But it is a really fun one. Somehow it manages to keep pushing enough joy-buzzer buttons to keep the audience on edge until the last scene....

May 1, 2025 · 2 min · 375 words · Austin Simpson

Critical Mass:Splita return to form for M. Night Shyamalan

Split Opens Jan. 20 in theaters nationwide. Rotten Tomatoes: 37% Metacritic: 41 The Red Turtle Opens Jan. 20 in limited release. Nighttime scenes are gorgeously monochrome. Credit: Sony Pictures Classics; George Kraychyk; Daniel McFadden; Universal Pictures Beautiful motifs, such as an underwater cave that represents a rite of passage, are returned to. Director John Lee Hancock has some history with biopics, having directedThe Blind Sideand the Walt Disney/P.L. But for the most part, theyve been bloated Broadway adaptations full of sound and fury....

May 1, 2025 · 1 min · 138 words · Donald Barry

Critical Mass:The Circlea cinematic round of mediocrity

Thesummer movie seasonis nearly upon us, but April still has one more Friday to win audiences over. The Circle Now playing. As Mae gets sucked deeper and deeper into The Circle (more Kool-Aid, c’mon! ), she becomes less and less convincing and sympathetic. If we can all see how baldly nefarious The Circle is, why can’t she? And if she can’t, then why should we care about her? Rotten Tomatoes: 22%...

May 1, 2025 · 2 min · 319 words · Rodney Adams

Critics Choice 2016: People v. O.J. Simpson wins best limited series or TV movie

The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Storys awards streak continues! On a personal note, I think we all want to thank our families, Karaszewski added. Credit: Ray Mickshaw/FX For us, its our wives Emily and Debbie and our kids for supporting us in this three-year effort. It took forever to make this show. For everyone who watched at home, we hope we moved the conversation forward. Thank you so much....

May 1, 2025 · 1 min · 127 words · Lorraine Mullins

Critics Choice Awards 2016: Bob Odenkirk wins best actor in a TV drama

Sorry, Bob Odenkirk: This officially confirms you are indeed in a drama series. Your vote machines broke. Okay, hi, I know most of you. Credit: Ursula Coyote/Sony Pictures Television/AMC Do you remember me fromMr. That was pretty good, right? Ok, phew, thats crazy. What an amazing category, just all super amazing actors. Jonathan Banks, of course, you love him. Michael McKean, who is setting new standards. Thank you for noticing him tonight....

May 1, 2025 · 1 min · 116 words · Megan Murphy

Critics Choice Awards 2016: Courtney B. Vance wins for People v. O.J. Simpson

Courtney B. Vance has acquitted himself well. What a year, he said while accepting the award at the 22nd annual ceremony Sunday in Los Angeles. The Critics Choice Award is Vances first, on his first nomination. Credit: Byron Cohen /FX Earlier this year, he also won the equivalent Emmy Award. In aninterview withVarietyin February, Vance said the most challenging aspect was figuring out a way into the role. Johnnie Cochran is an overwhelming kind of guy, he said....

May 1, 2025 · 1 min · 85 words · Joseph Brown

Critics Choice Awards 2016: Donald Glover wins best TV comedy actor for Atlanta

Donald Glover isall about that paper(and awards), boy. Its amazing to see and meet everybody whos doing great things. Im really appreciative being up here. Credit: Christopher Polk/Getty Images ; and Will Forte as the titular formerLast Man on Earth. He left the late NBC/Yahoo Screen sitcom in the middle of season 5. Atlantais up for Best Comedy Series later on Sunday night. See the full list of winnershere.

May 1, 2025 · 1 min · 69 words · Travis Lawrence