‘Witness for the Prosecution’ (1957) an elite court drama
Sleuthing Sunday (Movie review): Billy Wilder’s adaptation of Christie’s play/story shows droll comedy and high drama can smoothly blend.
Oscars
‘Witness for the Prosecution’ (1957) an elite court drama
‘Crimes and Misdemeanors’ (1989) mulls murder, heartbreak
Woody Wednesday (Movie review): This dual-plotted masterpiece tackles Allen’s favorite issues: unrequited love and the moral cost of murder.
MCU machine rolls into China for ‘Shang-Chi’
Movie review: Asian fans have their huge Marvel movie with “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” It’s a lot like other Marvel movies.
Slow-burn ‘Dune’ illustrates imperial machinations
Movie review: Villeneuve’s film is homework more than entertainment. But it’s interesting to see how “Star Wars” was influenced by “Dune.”
‘Alice’ (1990) luxuriates in the lifestyle it criticizes
Woody Wednesday (Movie review): Mia Farrow is outshone by the supporting cast, but “Alice” is wonderful to look at under Carlo di Palma’s lens.
‘The Sixth Sense’ (1999) invigorates meditative horror
A Week of Night (Movie review): “The Sixth Sense” put M. Night Shyamalan on the map, but the film’s quality goes beyond the twist.
‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ (2008) is sumptuously Spanish
Woody Wednesday (Movie review): Allen’s tropes smoothly translate to Spain in this romance yarn featuring a standout Javier Bardem.
At 50, Roundtree’s ‘Shaft’ (1971) is still a cool cat
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): Beyond “Shaft’s” music and stylish look, its main value is historical rather than entertainment.
Besson’s ‘Fifth Element’ (1997) an art-design paradise
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): Deliciously designed with a funny and adventurous story, this remains writer-director Luc Besson’s standout film.
In ‘Blue Jasmine’ (2013), there are no shortcuts
Woody Wednesday (Movie review): Cate Blanchett steals the show from a stellar ensemble in one of Allen’s best straight dramas.