The Stop Button

The Adventures of Hercules (1985) D: Luigi Cozzi. S: Lou Ferrigno, Milly Carlucci, Sonia Viviani, William Berger, Carla Ferrigno, Claudio Cassinelli, Maria Rosaria Omaggio. Weird but not in a good way sequel has Ferrigno trying to find Zeus’s missing thunderbolts. Despite truly bewildering set pieces and narrative decisions, it’s just too cheap, too poorly made, and too sedate to offer any amusement. Even when it hits extremes. Presumably a Cannon production but the boys left their names off it for some reason.

Blood Quantum (2019) D: Jeff Barnaby. S: Michael Greyeyes, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Forrest Goodluck, Kiowa Gordon, Olivia Scriven, Stonehorse Lone Goeman, Gary Farmer. Not bad idea for a zombie picture–an Indigenous tribe is immune to the zombie plague but everyone (and everything else) is not. Unfortunately, writer, director, and, unfortunately, editor Barnaby can’t make it happen on the dirt-cheap budget. Greyeyes is fine as the “dad” hero (and Goeman’s a hoot as his dad), but otherwise the acting’s… prosumer.

Death to Smoochy (2002) D: Danny DeVito. S: Robin Williams, Edward Norton, Catherine Keener, Danny DeVito, Jon Stewart, Pam Ferris, Michael Rispoli. Delightfully strange “black comedy” version of a Frank Capra with earnest children’s show host Norton taking over for scuzball Williams. Williams goes after Norton, who’s also navigating the mob-backed children’s television industry. Great performances (Williams, Norton, Keener, Ferris), some mid-miscasts, and bewilderingly inept direction from DeVito (who goes for zany). Williams and Norton go all out.

The Fantastic 4: First Steps (2025) D: Matt Shakman. S: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Ralph Ineson, Julia Garner, Natasha Lyonne. Narratively rushed, visually spectacular FIRST (fifth, but who’s counting) outing for the Marvel Comics characters. Fine performances from the quartet and frantic enthusiasm keep the ship afloat until the action kicks in to higher and higher gear. Set in the 1960s in an alternate reality (to the Marvel movie universe), there’s no continuity, for better and worse.

Hard Truths (2024) D: Mike Leigh. S: Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Michele Austin, David Webber, Tuwaine Barrett, Ani Nelson, Sophia Brown, Jonathan Livingstone. Absurdly well-acted family drama about Jean-Baptiste’s detoriating mental state. She’s fantastic but showy, while Austin (as her sister) alternates between frustration, confusion, and devastation. Leigh’s intentionality about showing and not telling maintains an intensity throughout, but then the third act calls too much into question without that same thoughtfulness. But peerless acting from the cast. Beautifully done.

Moonlight (2016) D: Barry Jenkins. S: Trevante Rhodes, André Holland, Janelle Monáe, Ashton Sanders, Alex R. Hibbert, Naomie Harris, Mahershala Ali. Wrenching, trending, exhilarating tale of a gay Black man at three stages of life; two childhood, one adult. Fantastic performances all around, with Ali (as a father figure) and Harris (as the troubled mother) inhabiting. Hibbert, Sanders, and Rhodes are outstanding in the lead, with some beautiful character work progressing through. Truly exceptional filmmaking from writer-director Jenkins.

Murder in Greenwich Village (1937) D: Albert S. Rogell. S: Richard Arlen, Fay Wray, Raymond Walburn, Wyn Cahoon, Scott Kolk, Thurston Hall, Marc Lawrence. Murder mystery about society girl Wray getting mixed up with VILLAGE (commercial) artist Arlen. Most of the picture plays like screwball romantic comedy with red herrings instead of gags. Wray and Arlen are game and the production is solid, the script’s just not interested in the actual MURDER. Rogell’s direction could be a lot better, too. But generally fine.

Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939) D: William Clemens. S: Bonita Granville, Frankie Thomas, John Litel, Frank Orth, Renie Riano, Vera Lewis, Louise Carter. Final entry in the series adapts the first novel (HIDDEN STAIRCASE), but it’s a lackluster effort. Litel’s barely around, Orth’s back and around way too much. And the stakes are all off (Granville’s ego is keeping old ladies terrified). She and Thomas are still charming, with Thomas getting to do more of the slapstick again. But an inglorious finish.

Nancy Drew… Reporter (1939) D: William Clemens. S: Bonita Granville, John Litel, Frankie Thomas, Dickie Jones, Mary Lee, Larry Williams, Betty Amann. Granville’s competing for a young newspaper reporter award and finds herself a murder investigation to cover. Except then she draws the attention of mysterious character Perry (who’s bewilderingly uncredited despite being the heavy). Thomas, with his great comic timing, reluctantly aids Granville’s investigation. Annoying younger kids Jones and Lee get old fast (and never go away). It’s fine.

Nancy Drew… Trouble Shooter (1939) D: William Clemens. S: Bonita Granville, Frankie Thomas, John Litel, Aldrich Bowker, Charlotte Wynters, Edgar Edwards, Willie Best. When family friend Bowker is falsely accused, lawyer Litel heads to the county to represent him. Litel inexplicably brings Granville, thinking she won’t investigate. She does, but Litel’s too busy romancing Wynters to care. At least until the danger’s too great. It’d be a lot better if Litel weren’t so mean, and there wasn’t the racism directed at Best.

Nancy Drew… Detective (1938) D: William Clemens. S: Bonita Granville, John Litel, James Stephenson, Frankie Thomas, Frank Orth, Helena Phillips Evans, Renie Riano. Engaging outing for Granville (as NANCY) and her faithful sidekick Thomas as they try to discover the whereabouts of mysteriously missing rich lady Evans. Light on actual DETECTIVE work (the bad guys have their own story arc), enthusiasm, Thomas’s well-timed slapstick, and tenacity carry it through. Litel’s good as Granville’s dad, Orth’s distinct (positively?) as the local copper.

The Poseidon Adventure (1972) D: Ronald Neame. S: Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Red Buttons, Carol Lynley, Roddy McDowall, Stella Stevens, Shelley Winters. Reasonably compelling disaster picture about a capsized ocean liner and the assorted survivors trying to make it to the surface. Dynamite pyrotechniques and production design. Hackman’s renegade preacher (with the personality of a drill instructor) is the leader, bickering constantly with cop Borgnine. Nice support from Winters, Buttons, and Stevens, in particular. The end’s just a tad too flat.

The Survivors (1983) D: Michael Ritchie. S: Robin Williams, Walter Matthau, Jerry Reed, James Wainwright, Kristen Vigard, Joseph Carberry, Anne Pitoniak. Not bad odd couple buddy comedy about yuppie Williams becoming a gun nut, with new pal Matthau unwillingly along for the ride. The third wheel is hit man Reed, who can’t decide if he should kill the duo or befriend them. Even though Reed’s shoehorned in, he helps. Williams can’t handle the second half acting. Matthau saves the day.