‘In the Heights’ not quite great, but hard to hate
Movie review: Based on the stage musical, “In the Heights” has simple arcs and lacks a breakout song, but its people and places are easy to embrace.
Romance
‘In the Heights’ not quite great, but hard to hate
Crichton’s ‘Scratch One’ (1967) a too-tangled web
Michael Crichton Monday (Book review): Crichton introduces an Everyman answer to James Bond in his overly ambitious second John Lange novel.
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.
‘Solaris’ (2002) fails to find purpose of its existence
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): The second big-screen adaptation of “Solaris” doesn’t find enough of a new reason to exist.
Allen loves another city in ‘Midnight in Paris’ (2011)
Woody Wednesday (Movie review): Allen has shown the beauty of New York in several films. Here, he makes Paris magical.
‘Magic in the Moonlight’ (2014) has fleeting charm
Woody Wednesday (Movie review): The shortage of sparks between the leads hurts, but a middling Allen rom-com is still better than the average rom-com.
Depressive ‘Solaris’ (1972) is the anti-‘2001’
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): This Russian sci-fi classic is even slower-paced than “2001.” But it offers more intellectual rewards.
Daniels shines in sweet ‘Purple Rose of Cairo’ (1985)
Woody Wednesday (Movie review): Featuring a nice early Jeff Daniels turn, the fantastical “Purple Rose of Cairo” demonstrates Woody Allen’s love for cinema.
Christie gets theatrical in ‘Murder in Three Acts’ (1935)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): This novel doesn’t have the strictest three-act structure, but it does tap into the notion of life as a performance.
Nostalgic ‘Broadway Danny Rose’ (1984) doesn’t tug at heartstrings
Woody Wednesday (Movie review): “Broadway Danny Rose” is Woody Allen’s love letter to his standup comedy days. But the film didn’t totally connect with me.