The Stop Button

The Adventures of Tintin (2011) D: Steven Spielberg. S: Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig, Nick Frost, Simon Pegg, Daniel Mays, Gad Elmaleh. Precious (rather than exquisite) adaptation of the Hergé comic. It’s CGI on top of motion capture, which apparently causes composite problems. But it’s computers so just fix it. Also, the character designs might be a dealbreaker. Craig’s ineffectual as the villain, Bell gets upstaged by the dog, Serkis is an absolute delight. The third act’s just too dang boring.

Local Hero (1983) D: Bill Forsyth. S: Burt Lancaster, Peter Riegert, Denis Lawson, Fulton Mackay, Peter Capaldi, Jennifer Black, Jenny Seagrove. Often charming, gentle fish-out-of-water comedy about American oil up-and-comer Riegert going to Scotland to buy up a town. Throw in Lancaster as the eccentric CEO and a town of lovable, idiosyncratic Scots, and it’s a movie. At least until the third act when writer-director Forsyth runs out of ideas. Gorgeous Chris Menges photography.

The Rundown (2003) D: Peter Berg. S: Dwayne Johnson, Seann William Scott, Rosario Dawson, Christopher Walken, Ewen Bremner, Jon Gries, Ernie Reyes Jr.. Occasionally amusing but profoundly poorly directed action picture mixing ROMANCING THE STONE and MIDNIGHT RUN. Johnson’s a leg-breaking bounty hunter, Scott’s an amateur archeologist lost in the Brazillian jungle. Walkan’s the villain, Dawson’s Scott’s local lady friend (no, Dawson doesn’t maintain her accent), and Bremner’s cashing the quirky Scottish check. Terrible CGI. Also, Harry Gregson-Williams’s score’s awful.

The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat (2024) D: Tina Mabry. S: Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Sanaa Lathan, Uzo Aduba, Mekhi Phifer, Kyanna Simone Simpson, Tati Gabrielle, Abigail Achiri. Wonderfully acted best friends forever tearjerker about Ellis-Taylor, Lathan, and Aduba. The younger versions–Simpson, Gabrielle, Achiri–get the initial spotlight (Simpson’s awesome) to set up future reveals and such. Though with many buried ledes, which often provide some really good comedy drama scenes. Nice direction, well-paced script, and some particularly good editing.

Thelma (2024) D: Josh Margolin. S: June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, Malcolm McDowell, Nicole Byer. Delightful comedy thriller about scammed nonagenarian grandma Squibb who decides she’s righting wrongs. Much to the dismay of listless grandson Hechinger, who’s supposed to be keeping an eye on her. Along the way, Squibb teams up with old friend Roundtree. Squibb’s great, she and Roundtree are terrific together, and the script’s got more moments than not.

Torchy Blane.. Playing with Dynamite (1939) D: Noel M. Smith. S: Jane Wyman, Allen Jenkins, Tom Kennedy, Sheila Bromley, Joe Cunningham, Eddie Marr, Edgar Dearing. Lackluster final TORCHY picture has new leads–Wyman and Jenkins–and a script rehashing bits from previous entries. Wyman’s better than everything else, but she and Jenkins have zero chemistry (appropriate since he’s old enough to be her dad). They’re trying to catch gangster Marr through his moll, Bromley. Kennedy’s still fun. Smith’s direction is rather bad, too.

The Verdict (1982) D: Sidney Lumet. S: Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling, Jack Warden, James Mason, Milo O’Shea, Roxanne Hart, Joe Seneca. Peerless character study in legal drama trappings about alcoholic hasbeen lawyer Newman rediscovering his humanity. He’s got a case he just needs settle to score, only he goes up against super-lawyer Mason. Newman’s enthralling; he and director Lumet create one hell of a motion picture. Mason’s superb. Everyone’s superb. Fantastic performances. Great direction from Lumet. Exceptional all around.