Category: Reviews

‘Memory’ is forgettable

Jeff Mitchell

“Memory” (2022) – “I’m the bad man.  Have been for a long time.” – Alex Lewis (Liam Neeson) Liam Neeson doesn’t always portray bad men in movies, but he’s played violent ones on the big screen for decades.  His prominent milestone performance – that most folks, including this critic, reference – is his turn as Bryan Mills, a one-man wrecking crew, in “Taken” (2008) and its sequels. “I will look for you.  I will find you, and I will kill you,” Mills famously says. “Taken” is the film that launched…

‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent’ isn’t a heavy burden. It’s a light, enjoyable, and surreal escape, and at times, it’s a blast.

Jeff Mitchell

“The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” (2022) – “This is a big night for me.  This is the first time I’ve been on national television on a talk show in 14 years.” – Nicolas Cage on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, April 20, 2022 Nicolas Cage has 110 acting credits (according to IMDb).  He has worked with the best in the business, including the Coen Brothers, David Lynch, Werner Herzog, John Woo, Spike Jonze, Ridley Scott, John Travolta, Kathleen Turner, Holly Hunter, John Cusack, John Malkovich, Penelope Cruz, Chris Cooper, Dennis Hopper,…

‘The Northman’: The emotional connection meanders, but the production and Skarsgard’s physical performance fly sky-high

Jeff Mitchell

“The Northman” (2022) – “I will avenge you, Father.  I will save you, Mother.  I will kill you, Fjolnir.” – Amleth (Oscar Novak) Director Robert Eggers, cinematographer Jarin Blaschke (who also worked on Eggers’ “The Witch” (2015) and “The Lighthouse” (2019)), and the production team fill “The Northman” with glorious, jaw-dropping sequences over 136 minutes, but be warned; several moments are soaked in blood and littered with hyper-violence.  “The Northman” is a visceral Viking epic, initially set in 895 A.D., that will delight cinephiles, action-adventure types, the Dungeons and Dragons…