Month: June 2024

‘Tuesday’ is an eccentric, emotional story that might resonate on any day of the week

Jeff Mitchell

“Tuesday” (2024) – Fifteen-year-old Tuesday (Lola Petticrew) is sick.  Tuesday can no longer walk.  This kind, gentle soul sits in a wheelchair or in bed and sometimes breathes with the daunting assistance of an oxygen tank and its cumbersome plastic tubes.  She is dying. Her mom, Zora (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), has the impossible task of coping with the reality of losing her little girl.  The reality is that director/writer Daina Oniunas-Pusic’s feature film debut is an emotional experience.  It works with big, sweeping ideas that are resourcefully presented by a small…

‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ is a familiar, formulaic trip

Jeff Mitchell

“Bad Boys: Ride or Die” (2024) – “I need this.  Bad Boys, one last time.” – Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) Mike Lowrey says the above declaration to his long-time detective lieutenant partner, Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence), in the third “Bad Boys” film, “Bad Boys for Life” (2020), 17 years after “Bad Boys II” (2003).  Promises, promises.  Mike meant to say, “I need this.  Bad Boys, one last time before the next time.” Mike and Marcus are back for another buddy-cop action comedy, “Bad Boys: Ride or Die”, where again, as…

Shyamalan’s ‘The Watchers’ is an intriguing and eerie watch

Jeff Mitchell

“The Watchers” (2024) – Mina (Dakota Fanning) runs an errand.  She’s a 20-something American living in Ireland’s County Galway, but this glum loner also runs from her past, estranging herself from her family, including her sister, Lucy.  In the present, she’s asked to transport a bird, a parakeet or parrot of sorts, to Belfast, and this talking feathered friend frequently repeats, “Try not to die,” because the night before, Mina unfortunately said to it, “I’m going out.  Try not to die.” Oh, Mina, please be more deliberate with your words. …