‘Tis the season for movies that seem to exist solely as awards vehicles for their lead actors. Two years ago it was Renée Zellweger in “Judy.” Last year saw Carey Mulligan in … more

Editor’s note: Journalism professor Buck Ryan and English lecturer Lei Jiao — based in Wuhan, China — are back with their third film review for the CN+R as they seek the holy grail of … more

The problem with the movie plot twist as a narrative device is that it has become too ubiquitous. They have become so expected among certain genres, particularly mysteries and horror flicks, that … more

The oft-discussed paradox of the otherwise revered 1992 horror film “Candyman” is that its titular villain, an apparition born of slave-era white atrocity, exacted his bloody retribution … more

A Frankenstein’s neo-noir, “Reminiscence” is a mélange of mystery and sci-fi tableaux. Written and directed by “Westworld” co-creator Lisa Joy, the film is like “Chinatown” mashed up … more

“Respect” follows the music biopic playbook, starting with a film title that borrows its name from one of its subject’s well-known songs or lyrics, a la “Walk the Line,” “Get on Up,” … more

Airlifted in from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, writer-director James Gunn blends the zany irreverence of his “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise with the bleak nihilism largely scrubbed … more

Blunt and Rock repartee not enough to carry off-course ‘Jungle Cruise’ In “Jungle Cruise,” Dwayne Johnson plays a wisecracking, muscle-bound mariner who teams … more

It is a heady concept, but like most of Shyamalan’s oeuvre, “Old’s” ambitions outstrip its execution. Saddled by wooden dialogue and stilted acting, the disposable characters range from uninteresting to annoying. Shyamalan’s camera work — a swirl of acute angles, out of focus, slow-motion, tracking shots, and everything in between — adds to the disquieting sensation of the film until it starts to feel excessive. more

Space Jam: A New Legacy Grade: D+ Director: Malcolm D. Lee Starring: LeBron James, Don Cheadle and Cedric Joe MPAA Rating: PG Running Time: 1 hr. 55 min. Early on in “Space Jam: A … more

Coming after a decade of developmental dithering, “Black Widow” literally feels like adding insult to injury. Not only does the long-discussed and delayed standalone come after the Marvel title … more

“The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” is the sort of lamebrained film in which the main character yells (without an ounce of irony), “If we don’t stop the drill, they’ll upload the virus and … more

“Army of the Dead” begins promisingly enough, with a cold open featuring a mysterious über-zombie escaping from and decimating a Area 51 military convoy, punctuated by it and two newly undead … more