MOVIE REVIEW: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

 

Bob is a washed-up revolutionary who lives in a state of stoned paranoia, surviving off-grid with his spirited and self-reliant daughter, Willa. When his evil nemesis resurfaces and Willa goes missing, the former radical scrambles to find her as both father and daughter battle the consequences of their pasts.

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti

Release Date: September 26, 2025

Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller

Rated R for pervasive language, violence, sexual content, and drug use

Runtime: 2h 50m

Review:

Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another delivers a little bit of everything with bits of humor, drama and heartfelt emotion, melded into an epic chase movie that’s populated by a collection of caricatures brought to life by its top tier cast.   Anderson’s film pulsates with energy from the moment it starts and rarely lets up which is an impressive feat for a film that’s nearly three hours long.  He stages big set pieces throughout the film that give the film an epic feel, culminating in a cleverly shot car chase over a series of hills.  There’s a constant beat to the whole thing as we follow Leonardo DiCaprio’s Bob journey from revolutionary to paranoid, burnout single father who’s just trying to do the best he can with his daughter.  We follow his torrid love affair with Teyana Taylor’s all-in extremist, Perfidia Beverly Hills, which takes a turn once she’s pregnant and Bob reassesses his life.  The story is draped in a series of hot topic issues such as domestic terrorism and extreme immigration enforcement, but it never delves into them in any substantive way.  The characters exist on opposite ends of the power structure, and both use the levels available to them to reach their ultimate goals which allows for a rather colorful collection of characters to be thrown onscreen. Leonardo DiCaprio leads the way with an unglamourous role that he dives right into with impressive gusto.  There is a fair amount of depth to his character as he evolves from his frenetic love affair with Perfidia to what he becomes sixteen years after the fact.  He does his best work after the time jump by delivering a level of authenticity behind his bumbling burnout with his heartbreak for his lost love and genuine drive to save his daughter.  DiCaprio and Chase Infiniti have a moment near the end of the film that delivers an emotional, heartfelt exclamation to the whole story.  Infiniti, in her big screen debut, proves to be more than capable of holding up her side of the story by giving her character a believable naiveite to start before moving into self-survival mode.  She’s able to convey a hefty amount of emotional information with simple looks or gestures as she’s swept up in the insanity that her character is dropped into.  Sean Penn’s Col. Steven J. Lockjaw is a rather fascinating collection of facial tics and pent-up self-hatred.  Penn is clearly having a ball playing with the clear contradictions that make up the character from giving him a very specific gait when he walks, likely due to his secret proclivities, or his measure but off-putting speech pattern.  Benicio Del Toro is perfectly suited for his role as the laid-back karate sensi/migrant mover, but you wish the film had spent a bit more time on fleshing out the character to give him a bit of depth.  Likewise, Teyana Taylor’s Perfidia is a kinetic ball of anarchic energy in the film’s opening act leaving a strong impression, but the story takes her offscreen rather quickly never to return.  Small nitpicks aside, One Battle After Another is an engaging ride that is hard not to enjoy thanks to its razor sharp direction and strong performances.  

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: HIM

 

Cameron Cade is a rising quarterback who suffers a potentially career-ending injury after being attacked by an unhinged fan. Just when all seems lost, Cam receives a lifeline when his hero, Isaiah White, offers to train him at an isolated compound. However, as the training accelerates, Isaiah's charisma turns into something darker, sending Cam down a disorienting rabbit hole that may cost him more than he ever bargained for.

Director: Justin Tipping

Cast: Marlon Wayans, Tyriq Withers, Julia Fox, Tim Heidecker, Jim Jefferies, Naomi Grossman

Release Date: September 19, 2025

Genre: Horror, Sport

Rated R for strong bloody violence, language throughout, sexual material, nudity and some drug use.

Runtime: 1h 36m

Review:

Justin Tipping's Him frames football and its undying fanaticism in an insane mythological, paganistic veneer which is tearing at the seams with thematic subtext.  Tipping's visually are bombastic but impactful as he throws a series of striking moments onscreen.  He's got a clear vision in mind that's reflected in his confidence behind the camera which gives the film a devil may care vibe.  Those expecting something more grounded or straightforward might be turned off as he takes increasingly wild swings with each chapter.  It's in your face and heavy handed which is sure to be divisive when it’s all said and done.  Those that find it engaging will find plenty to enjoy especially as the film's horror aspect start to take hold in the second half.  It’s decent into cult like paganism is pretty easy to predict from the onset with the ultimate reveal being telegraphed a mile away.   The central duo of Marlon Wayans and Tyriq Withers are given copious amount of time to shine with both delivering impressive performances.  Wayans gives his character a readily apparent charm paired with an undercurrent of unpredictable danger which makes for a fascinating tightrope for him to balance on.  Withers handsome boyish looks give his character an air of innocence that works well with his damaged, single-minded determination.  They have strong chemistry together which works well for the film as it carries some of the script's clunkier moments.  Jim Jeffries, Julia Fox and Tim Heidecker are fun in small supporting roles with Jeffries leaving the biggest impression.  The film moves at such a break neck speed that you're left wishing it'd taken a moment to flesh out some of its ideas and characters a bit more.  Regardless, Him is the kind of film that'll leave a marked impression good or bad depending on the viewers.

B

MOVIE REVIEW: PSYCHO THERAPY: THE SHALLOW TALE OF A WRITER WHO DECIDED TO WRITE ABOUT A SERIAL KILLER

 

A writer befriends a retired serial killer in a desperate attempt to find inspiration for his next novel and save his marriage. Covering as his marriage counselor, the killer teaches him his methods as reality becomes deadlier than fiction.

Director: Tolga Karaçelik

Cast:  John Magaro, Steve Buscemi, Britt Lower, Ward Horton, Sydney Cole Alexander

Release Date: April 4, 2025 (United States)/September 15, 2025 (UK)

Genre: Comedy, Crime, Thriller

Unrated 

Runtime: 1h 42m

Review:

Tolga Karaçelik's English language debut is a manic, black comedy that's as chaotic as it is funny thanks to excellent turns from its central cast.  Karaçelik film possesses a palatable energy from the start which it maintains for the majority of the film's runtime.  He moves the film along at a steady pace even as it threatens to veer off the rails as the situation gets increasingly insane.  As the film's overly long title suggests, this isn't the type of film that takes itself seriously with the script providing a handful of laugh out loud moments thanks to wonderful performances from its trio of stars.  John Magaro brings a kind of aloof energy to his character who's desperate to find inspiration for a new project.  There's something likable about the character even though he's nearly incapable of making a decision on his own without being pushed into it.  Britt Lower is a perfect foil to him as his exhausted, passive aggressive wife who resents her husband with increasing intensity.  When the pair is onscreen, they have wonderful chemistry together as a longtime couple who are on totally different wavelengths after years of resentment and miscommunication.  They make for a fascinating onscreen couple, especially as Lower hurls acidic comments that reflect the level of disdain her character has for her aloof husband.  Steve Buscemi is perfectly cast as the disarmingly friendly, retired series killer who is more than happy to provide background for Magaro's Keane.  The film is at its best when the three share the screen together like an impromptu meeting in the middle of night or the pseudo marriage counseling session, topped off by a riotous sequence in the final act.  Psycho Therapy proves to be one of those hidden gems that deserves a larger audience in the long run.

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: SPINAL TAP II: THE END CONTINUES

 

Documentarian Marty DiBergi follows estranged Spinal Tap bandmates David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel and Derek Smalls as they search for a drummer and prepare for a reunion concert in New Orleans. Joined by music royalty Paul McCartney and Elton John, Spinal Tap wrestles with their checkered past to put on a show that they hope will solidify their place in the pantheon of rock 'n' roll.

Director: Rob Reiner

Cast: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Rob Reiner, Fran Drescher, Valerie Franco, Chris Addison, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Garth Brooks, Questlove, Trisha Yearwood, Chad Smith, Lars Ulrich

Release Date: September 12, 2025

Genre: Comedy, Music

Rated R for language including some sexual references.

Runtime: 1h 22m

Review:

Spinal Tap II: The End Continues might not reach the heights of the original, but it still serves as a fitting encore to the story and characters.  Rob Reiner returns behind the camera and onscreen as documentarian Marty DiBergi with impressive ease on both counts.  The 40-year gap between the two films makes for plenty of fertile ground for the mockumentary to spoof since we have our fair share of aging rockstars still on the scene.  The offscreen drama after the original film revitalized the band’s career isn't too complicated or deep but it makes perfect sense for these characters.  Michael McKean's David St. Hubbins is still the chaotic mess we met in the original film and is as petty as ever as he's forced to rejoin the band due to some fine print in their original contract.  It’s the perfect kind of pretext to bring the Michael McKean, Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer's characters back together.  A montage of what these characters have been doing in the years since their break up is a hilarious appetizer for the main entree of these three guys trying to prep for a 1-night reunion performance.  Their ability to recapture the character's general vibe is pretty impressive as all three jump back into each one skin without missing a beat.  The assorted obstacles they run into as they reform and attempt to get this show off the ground is perfectly in line with the kind of self-inflicted silliness of the original even if they're not quite as memorable as the original.  It was always going to be a tough act to follow, and they don't have that seminal moment like this "this one goes to 11" but there's still plenty to enjoy especially their ongoing search for a new drummer and their living quarters in New Orleans.  Valerie Franco's Didi Crockett ends up tempting fate and joining the band as the new drummer.  Franco brings a breath of fresh air to the ensemble with her effervescent, positive energy coming through the screen.  Chris Addison, as their new concert promotor who can't comprehend music, Simon Howler gets more than a few moments to shine with his deadpan delivery of a variety of increasingly insensitive and silly suggestions for the aging rockers.  A series of cameos are all fun but Paul McCartney and Elton John get the biggest amount of screen time and they're clearly having a ball goofing around with the "legendary" band.  The film moves at an incredibly fast pace which leaves you wishing Reiner had given some moments a bit more time to germinate before moving on since some of the latter moments have a rather reflective quality that brings the character's full circle emotionally.  It would have added another layer to the whole thing but as is Spinal Tap II: The End Continue delivers the goods especially for fans of the original film.      

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: THE LONG WALK

 

Teens participate in a grueling high-stakes contest where they must continuously walk or be shot by a member of their military escort.

Director: Francis Lawrence

Cast: Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Roman Griffin Davis, Jordan Gonzalez, Josh Hamilton, Judy Greer, Mark Hamill

Release Date: September 12, 2025

Genre: Horror

Rated R for strong bloody violence, grisly images, suicide, pervasive language, and sexual references.

Runtime: 1h 48m

Review:

Francis Lawrence's adaptation of Stephen King's The Long Walk is a bleak trek into a dystopian landscape that manages to capture the humanity at the heart of the story thanks to excellent turns from Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson.  Lawrence takes a rather interesting approach to the subject matter by using a Stand By Me aesthetic, bathed in sepia tones to illicit a nostalgic feeling that's initially disarming.  This allows the audience to get to know the cast of characters before the stark reality of the game is put on graphic display.  There's no supernatural power at play here just the barebones simplicity of walk or die with warnings building up moments of tension throughout.  As the film goes on, it starts to feel more like a horrific war movie as we witness characters get killed off, often with an unflinching focus, in steady succession.  The script is filled with thoughtful dialogue as the characters discuss a variety of topics that leave its ultimate meaning open to multiple interpretations about death, rebellion and perseverance against unwinnable odds.  There are moments of poetic beauty amid all the brutal horrors that unfold which speaks to the effectiveness of the direction and performances by its cast.  Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson are given the lion's share of the focus as the central characters tasked with carrying the story.  There's very little actual action going on besides just walking so this serves as a wonderful showcase for both performers as they bring tangible sense of humanity to their characters that feels instantly authentic.  They ultimately elevate the film above simple terror porn by making these characters live and breathe which makes their trek engaging and painfully tragic.  Ben Wang, Charlie Plummer and Tut Nyuot all get their moments to shine in supporting roles with Wang and Nyuot being instantly likable.  Plummer's antagonistic but disturbed Barkovitch is fascinating enough that you are left wishing he'd been given a bit more screentime.  Mark Hamill is given the thankless role of The Major which doesn't require much outside of delivering orders in an imposing, gravelly voice.  The character serves as more of an idea than anything as he's written as generally as possible leaving him more of an enigma than anything.  In the end, The Long Walk gives you plenty to appreciate with it proving to be a top tier King adaptation that manages to capture his sense of character and ultimately our humanity even in the most extreme situations.   

A

MOVIE REVIEW: THE TOXIC AVENGER

 

A janitor becomes a social outcast when a freak accident at a chemical factory turns him into a mutant. However, he soon uses his newfound superhuman strength to battle slimy criminals and a corrupt CEO.

Director: Macon Blair

Cast: Peter Dinklage, Jacob Tremblay, Taylour Paige, Julia Davis, Jonny Coyne, Elijah Wood, Kevin Bacon

Release Date: August 29, 2025

Genre: Action, Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi

Rated R for strong violence and gore, language throughout, sexual references and brief graphic nudity

Runtime: 1h 42m

Review:

Remaking Troma's The Toxic Avenger initially sounded like a fool's errand, but Macon Blair's re-imagining manages to recapture the original's manic, over the top spirit while bringing a new spin to the material.  Blair brings a colorfully, cartoonish aesthetic to his film that fits the action perfectly even as it gets increasingly bloody.  The film's anarchic spirit is instantly apparent, and Blair manages to do a solid amount of world building before we get to the action in earnest.  The set up is fairly simple but those looking for a carbon copy of the original plot will be disappointed since this film is clearly trying to pave its own way.  This entry tries to establish a bit more of an emotional center to the proceedings thanks to making the main character a stepdad simply trying to take care of his stepson.  Peter Dinklage brings an air of gravitas to the proceedings even though he's clearly all in with the silliness on display, especially once he takes the mantle of the titular character.  It's all tongue in cheek especially in back half of the film as everybody is gleefully hamming it up in their respective roles. Kevin Bacon and Jonny Coyne serve as the dual villain's here and both are so incredibly over the top as a snake oil salesman and gangster.  Bacon chews up the screen every time his character pops up with circa 2000's Justin Bieber hair.  Julia Davis proves to be more than up to the task as his devoted assistant with her and Bacon having fun onscreen chemistry.  Taylour Paige is a bit more reserved than most of her screen mates as a determined whistleblower who ends up joining Dinklage's Toxie on his journey to expose Bacon's misdeeds after his heroic transformation.  Elijah Wood steals every scene he's in as the little brother of Bacon's brother and lackey who bears a striking resemblance to The Penguin from Tim Burton's Batman Returns. There are a few dead spots that pop up along the way with the action taking a tad too long to start up and the final act feeling overlong and unfocused to the extent that you get the feeling that Blair doesn't know how to wrap it all up.  That being said, it's hard not to appreciate how fun this iteration of The Toxic Avenger is and how it serves as a perfect tribute to the classic B movie madness of the Troma films as a whole.  

B