Category: Reviews

‘MaXXXine’: This dull and dark Hollywood mystery doesn’t light up the big screen

Jeff Mitchell

“MaXXXine” (2024) – The year is 1985.  The place is Tinseltown, California. Maxine Minx (Mia Goth) is reaching for glitz and glam.  This adult film actress and dancer at The Landing Strip, located near an airport (LAX, we presume), wants to land a spot in Hollywood as a legit movie star and transition from a rated X career to a rated R or a PG-13 one.  Maxine drives a white Mercedes convertible and possesses a “The Best or Nothing” air of confidence to make it show business, but she just…

‘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…