‘Gladiator II’ fights but fails to capture the magic of the first film

Jeff Mitchell

“Gladiator II” (2024) – The night before attending a screening of director Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II”, I rewatched Scott’s “Gladiator” (2000) for the first time since experiencing the movie in theatres 24 years ago. I remember thoroughly enjoying the pageantry of “Gladiator” back in 2000, but it wasn’t my favorite film that year.  My personal best-picture award went to Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” (2000).  Still, after experiencing “Gladiator” again in 2024, with the opening battle scene, the political intrigue, Joaquin Phoenix’s dastardly supporting performance as Commodus, and a…

Believe it. ‘Heretic’ is a haunting psychological horror film and think piece.

Jeff Mitchell

“Heretic” (2024) – Sister Paxton (Chloe East) and Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) aren’t siblings. These two pleasant, college-age women are postponing their university studies to fulfill their missionary work for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  When we first meet Paxton and Barnes, they sit on a bench and discuss the need for Magnum condoms. What? Their spicy conversation was spurned by a Magnum advertisement plastered on the said bench, as directors/writers Scott Beck and Bryan Woods establish these characters as young and naive, juxtaposed against frank sexuality,…

Moore and Qualley are perfect ingredients for ‘The Substance’

Jeff Mitchell

“The Substance” (2024) – “It changed my life.” Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) is a successful, Oscar-winning actress and proudly has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  These days, she shines on the small screen as a fitness instructor for a television show that looks like a throwback to the 1980s and 1990s, the “:20 Minute Workout” meets “Getting Fit with Denise Austin”.  However, her exercise gig suffers a career-ending injury when her misogynistic boss, Harvey (Dennis Quaid), fires her due to her age and on her 50th birthday…