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.

American Gothic (1995) s01e22 “Requiem” [1996] D: Lou Antonio. S: Gary Cole, Lucas Black, Paige Turco, Brenda Bakke, Sarah Paulson, Nick Searcy, John Mese. Busy but bland finale has Black breaking bad. Bakke’s trying to encourage it, Turco snd Searcy are trying to stop it. Black’s not very good as the problem child variant. Paulsen gets the biggest diss? The women all get bad endings but Paulsen’s is particularly thankless. GOTHIC creator Shaun Cassidy scripted this finish; feels like he wasn’t watching anymore.

FROM (2022) s03e03 “Mouse Trap” [2024] D: . S: Harold Perrineau, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Eion Bailey, David Alpay, Elizabeth Saunders, Scott McCord, Ricky He. Things go from bad to worse (as usual), except this time it’s also because Pegah Ghafoori gets a subplot. She hasn’t improved any. Guest star Robert Joy is still a delight (as far as things go) but his arc with Moreno clunks out. It’s a bridging episode (or a treading water one), and reasonably compelling. Most of the time.

Grantchester (2014) s09e07 “Episode 7” [2024] D: . S: Robson Green, Al Weaver, Tessa Peake-Jones, Kacey Ainsworth. Best episode for Ainsworth in ages. She gets to puzzle through her season subplot with Peake-Jones (who isn’t getting one of her own). Meanwhile, Nair has his first murder case related to his personal life, and Weaver’s getting sick of whatever woo Dimsdale has going on. It’s a good episode, but hurried. And too full of plot.

Grantchester (2014) s09e08 “Episode 8” [2024] D: . S: Robson Green, Al Weaver, Tessa Peake-Jones, Kacey Ainsworth. Turns out everything in the season is connected and there’s a threat lurking. An obvious one, but still; there’s a full on action sequence (as far as GRANTCHESTER goes), with some real stakes. There’s a little too much whinging from some quarters, but it’s a nice enough season finale. Nair and Green have easily found their buddy vibe.

Only Murders in the Building (2021) s04e06 “Blow-Up” [2024] D: Jessica Yu. S: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Michael Cyril Creighton, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Zach Galifianakis, Richard Kind. Major investigation developments–eventually–this episode but until then it’s a concept episode. The directors of the ONLY MURDERS movie in the show do a found footage thing, with some narrative tricks to contextualize it. There are some good moments, but only Short and Creighton really thrive in the format. As a concept, it makes sense. Just doesn’t play.

Slow Horses (2022) s04e05 “Grave Danger” [2024] D: Adam Randall. S: Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jonathan Pryce, Hugo Weaving, Saskia Reeves, Rosalind Eleazar. All the concerning plot developments hinted last episode return here in stereo. And Weaving (who seems like he’s going to get better but does not) is just a supervillain international terrorist. It’s SLOW HORSES VS. SPECTRE. Lots of it is excellent, including Lowden getting some animation from Ruth Bradley (too knowingly playing her character’s bad job decision?). Asterisked good.

Tulsa King (2022) s02e04 “Heroes and Villains” [2024] D: Joshua Marston. S: Sylvester Stallone, Martin Starr, Jay Will, Max Casella, Tatiana Zappardino, Annabella Sciorra, Garrett Hedlund. As usual, lots going on with little going on. Stallone’s got a great scene where he has too many pot edibles, someone thinks Starr hasn’t gotten to look unenthusiastic about being in the show enough lately, and guest star Frank Grillo plots his revenge. And other season villain Neal McDonough goes cartoonish, which doesn’t fit the vibe.

The Adventures of Tintin (2011) D: Steven Spielberg. S: Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig, Nick Frost, Simon Pegg, Daniel Mays, Gad Elmaleh.

Local Hero (1983) D: Bill Forsyth. S: Burt Lancaster, Peter Riegert, Denis Lawson, Fulton Mackay, Peter Capaldi, Jennifer Black, Jenny Seagrove.

The Rundown (2003) D: Peter Berg. S: Dwayne Johnson, Seann William Scott, Rosario Dawson, Christopher Walken, Ewen Bremner, Jon Gries, Ernie Reyes Jr..

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.

Thelma (2024) D: Josh Margolin. S: June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, Malcolm McDowell, Nicole Byer.

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.

American Gothic (1995) s01e19 “Strangler” [1998] D: Doug Lefler. S: Gary Cole, Lucas Black, Paige Turco, Brenda Bakke, Sarah Paulson, Nick Searcy, John Mese. Cole and Paulson go full magical in the opening, resulting in Cole hiring the ghost of the Boston Strangler (Gareth Williams) to take Paulson out. Ghosts can kill ghosts. Williams tries to bring her out by befriending Black. Williams is pretty dang evil, and it’s a great episode for Searcy, but there’s a lot wrong. Especially the direction.

American Gothic (1995) s01e20 “Triangle” [1996] D: James Frawley. S: Gary Cole, Lucas Black, Paige Turco, Brenda Bakke, Sarah Paulson, Nick Searcy, John Mese. Icky episode about Cole mind controlling Turco and Bakke into needing him over self. Except it started as a showcase for Turco until she completely disappears for the finish. And Mese gets a bunch. It has occasional moments but it’s got a bad vibe. And the special effects are all either bad or ugly. It’s a sharp decline.

American Gothic (1995) s01e21 “The Buck Stops Here” [1996] D: Lou Antonio. S: Gary Cole, Lucas Black, Paige Turco, Brenda Bakke, Sarah Paulson, Nick Searcy, John Mese. Lots of problems with the episode, but considering how more mythology they get into the one episode… It’s impressive. They do a fine job getting the show to a finale. Too bad the budget’s gone (it looks very daytime soap), and all the ideas for Black are bad. But guest star Brent Jenning does get one surprisingly outstanding scene.

FROM (2022) s03e02 “When We Go” [2024] D: . S: Harold Perrineau, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Eion Bailey, David Alpay, Ricky He, Chloe Van Landschoot, Avery Konrad. The monsters have finally killed someone everyone likes, so we get a rather affecting episode. Lots of mourning, lots of anger, lots of bad ideas. We’ve also got guest star Robert Joy bringing a level of humanity to the show we don’t often get. Really good episode for Perrineau, He, and Van Landschoot. The cliffhanger’s dirt cheap, though.

Grantchester (2014) s09e05 “Episode 5” [2024] D: . S: Robson Green, Al Weaver, Tessa Peake-Jones, Kacey Ainsworth. There’s been a murder at Ainsworth and Green’s daughter Skye Lucia Degruttola’s office. It’s a little about the family, a little about the murder, a lot about the sexism women faced and face in the workplace. Degruttola is around but doesn’t get much; Johns gets a deserved spotlight. And Nair’s in a bad mood thanks to unexpected news.

Grantchester (2014) s09e06 “Episode 6” [2024] D: . S: Robson Green, Al Weaver, Tessa Peake-Jones, Kacey Ainsworth. The mystery this episode’s a showy affair involving archeologists and fraud. The meat of the episode is Nair breaking bad (turns out he’s a GRANTCHESTER vicar, after all), Weaver (who directed too, quite nicely) finding out Dimsdale’s keeping secrets, and Ainsworth being stoned on housewife’s helper. Nair’s arc mostly just reminds his character is still too unsubstatial.

Tulsa King (2022) s02e03 “Oklahoma v. Manfredi” [2024] D: Joshua Marston. S: Sylvester Stallone, Jay Will, Max Casella, Annabella Sciorra, Neal McDonough, Frank Grillo, Andrea Savage. It’s the trial episode, something the show wastes no time with. Stallone does a good job with it, though when he questions ex-girlfriend, Savage… it reminds of a more charming era. Grillo shows up to talk tough with Stallone; also fine. The episode’s usually better than fine, rarely worse. McDonough’s just a lousy season villain is all. Eh.

Agatha All Along (2024) s01e01 “Seekest Thou the Road” D: Jac Schaeffer. S: Kathryn Hahn, Joe Locke, Debra Jo Rupp, Aubrey Plaza, Emma Caulfield Ford, David Payton, David Lengel. Direct(ish) sequel to WANDAVISION has Hahn playing a prestige series detective, except her latest case starts throwing her. There’s Plaza’s FBI agent, come to help, only Hahn can’t quite remember their history. And then suspect Locke is pretty sure he knows Hahn’s secrets too. Shame she doesn’t herself. Hahn’s good, Plaza’s good, good production, but it drags.

FROM (2022) s03e01 “Shatter” [2024] D: . S: Harold Perrineau, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Eion Bailey, Hannah Cheramy, Pegah Ghafoori, Elizabeth Moy, Simon Webster. Okay season premiere has some excellent work from Perrineau. He’s trying to hold things together as the survivors run out of food (and the monsters notice). Meanwhile, Sandino Moreno is on the outside trying to figure out what to do next. Some decent mythology building, but still lots of bad acting. Bailey’s better than usual, ditto He.

Grantchester (2014) s09e04 “Episode 4” [2024] D: . S: Robson Green, Al Weaver, Tessa Peake-Jones, Kacey Ainsworth, Skye Lucia Degruttola. New vicar Nair goes to a fancy party with some racists and hot-to-trot rich ladies, but a murder spoils any subplots for him. He does get to play detective and bond–ever so briefly–with Peake-Jones. Green gets the more involved family subplot, and Weaver’s got one spinning up. It’s a solid episode.

Only Murders in the Building (2021) s04e04 “The Stunt Man” [2024] D: Chris Koch. S: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Michael Cyril Creighton, Molly Shannon, Richard Kind, Paul Rudd. Spectacular episode has the trio solving part of the mystery just to discover there’s even more to it. And with a returning guest star (Rudd, in his series best), plus some character development for Creighton. It’s a particularly good episode for Gomez, who gets a couple breathers from the boys. But will they pull off the latest reveal….

Only Murders in the Building (2021) s04e05 “Adaptation” [2024] D: Jessica Yu. S: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Michael Cyril Creighton, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Molly Shannon, Paul Rudd. After a lackluster, if significant, resolution to the cliffhanger, the trio figures out how to filter down an increasing suspect pool. Along the way, they pick up a sidekick (Jin Ha), who just happens to be the screenwriter. And helpful for their process. There’s some great comic stuff from Short. The slow start pays off by the finish.

Slow Horses (2022) s04e03 “Penny for Your Thoughts” [2024] D: Adam Randall. S: Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, Jonathan Pryce. Lots of reveals this episode, along with a dynamite thrill sequence. While Lowden slowly figures out his French predicament (including angry villagers), Oldman plays with a deteriorating Pryce’s fate. Oh, and James Callis–out of nowhere with the agency, no pun–all of a sudden decides to start snooping on MI-5 corruption. Bet it figures in. Stellar stuff.

Slow Horses (2022) s04e04 “Returns” [2024] D: Adam Randall. S: Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jonathan Pryce, Hugo Weaving, Saskia Reeves, James Callis. There are two unexpected uh ohs this episode. First, Weaving as the big bad. He’s a parody of a parody. And, wow, that “Yank” accent work. So that part’s concerning. Also concerning is the apparent final reveal, which doesn’t get explained just implied. It’s all of a sudden a soap opera. Thomas’s stuff’s the highlight. The rest flounders.

Tulsa King (2022) s02e02 “Kansas City Blues” [2024] D: Craig Zisk. S: Sylvester Stallone, Martin Starr, Jay Will, Max Casella, Tatiana Zappardino, Garrett Hedlund, Dana Delany. Tiring episode setting up Stallone’s court case. He’s representing himself, only he doesn’t know season villain Neal McDonough is out to get him already. And then Frank Grillo’s also planning on attacking. Meanwhile, Stallone can’t even go to his hotel because of the reporters. It’s high wire drama. The finale features a truly desperate, utterly charmless cameo slot. Groan.