In the holiday spirit: All 10 Shane Black films, ranked
Movie rankings: Just in time for Christmas, here are my rankings of the 10 films written and/or directed by Shane Black.
Mystery
‘Wheel of Darkness’ (2007) riffs on Titanic tragedy
Preston & Child flashback (Book review): This isn’t the authors’ strongest work, but you can’t say no to a high-seas adventure with Pendergast and Constance.
Frenetic ‘Flight Attendant’ Season 1 sticks the landing
TV review: Kaley Cuoco breaks free of her “Big Bang Theory” days as the titular hot mess who gets caught up in a serious mystery.
‘Hercule Poirot’s Christmas’ (1938) a solid stocking stuffer
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): This is another solid mystery set in a house full of suspects. But it could’ve benefited from more holiday flavor.
‘The Thing’ (2011) too much of the same thing
Frightening Friday (Movie review): Confusingly sharing the same title, this is a prequel to “The Thing.” It covers the same territory less skillfully.
‘Book of the Dead’ (2006) a trilogy-capping epic
Preston & Child flashback (Book review): P&C take us through Egyptian history to a prison break to the effects of a sound and light on the brain.
Legends launch in ‘Mysterious Affair at Styles’ (1920)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): A century ago, readers were introduced to two icons: Author Agatha Christie and her star sleuth Poirot.
‘Psycho’ remake (1998) stands as a fascinating experiment
‘Psycho’-analysis (Movie review): Stage plays are remade all the time, so is the hatred of Gus Van Sant’s shot-for-shot remake of “Psycho” warranted?
‘Psycho IV: The Beginning’ (1990) a shadow of ‘Bates Motel’
‘Psycho’-analysis (Movie review): The fourth “Psycho” film gives us the backstory of Norman Bates. “Bates Motel” would later do it better.
Grant, Kidman shine in Kelley’s ‘The Undoing’
TV review: HBO’s “The Undoing” is the latest dark murder mystery from David E. Kelley, and it’s a compelling one thanks in part to a stellar cast.