John’s top 10 movies of 2021
2021 movies: The pandemic is getting old, but you gotta admit getting new movies straight to our homes is a silver lining. Here are my 10 favorites of 2021.
Action
John’s top 10 TV shows of 2021
2021 television: Mystery miniseries dominated 2021. But at least one reliable old standby cracks my list of the year’s 10 best TV shows.
Crichton’s directorial career begins in not-so-hot ‘Pursuit’ (1972)
Michael Crichton Monday (Movie review): The author starts his pursuit of a directorial career, but it’s not exactly hot pursuit in this bland thriller.
Matrix reboots for thrilling remix ‘Matrix Resurrections’
Movie review: Among the last decade’s spate of nostalgic reboots, a new “Matrix” film is perhaps the most appropriate. It’s also one of the best.
Crichton previews ‘24’ in last Lange book, ‘Binary’ (1972)
Michael Crichton Monday (Book review): If you want to know where “24’s” creators (maybe) got their ideas, check out the eighth John Lange novel.
Craig’s Bond bows out with uneven ‘No Time to Die’
Movie review: “No Time to Die” is a little better than 2015’s “Spectre,” but the best of the Craig Bonds remain in the past.
‘Great Train Robbery’ (1978) a sharp but stiff procedural
Michael Crichton Monday (Movie review): In faithfully adapting his own novel, Crichton makes a film with historical heft but little zest.
‘Drug of Choice’ (1970) a pulpy ride of pharma paranoia
Michael Crichton Monday (Book review): In his sixth John Lange book, Crichton peppers big ideas about Big Pharma into the pulp template.
‘Army of Thieves’ a ‘safe’ ‘Army of the Dead’ prequel
Movie review: An appealing bunch of thieves makes this zombie-prequel-without-zombies into an enjoyable throwaway romp.
If ‘Rocky IV’ can change, everyone can change
Movie review: Stallone tinkers with perfection in “Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago,” but he can’t break a classic. Both versions are great.