Fording the midsummer mainstream

The summer barrage of action-driven, special-effects-laden epics and other buckets of box office bait is as inevitable as a chilly San Francisco night in July. Meanwhile, what of t... Read More

Movie Reviews

New Yorkers in transit

By Michael Snyder

MAGGIE’S PLAN With her frequent presence in savvy, hip, low-budget features, Greta Gerwig is the current Queen of the Indies, starring in a run of independent movies spotligh... Read More

A & E, Movie Reviews

Envisioning music-makers

By Michael Snyder

If the current schedule of releases is any indication, the movie industry can’t get enough of on-screen biographies about notable musicians — especially ones with checkered... Read More

Movie Reviews

Movies for grownups

By Michael Snyder

Now that the Oscars have come and gone, entertainment awards hysteria is on hold until the Emmys in early fall. That generally means more adult fare at the cinema until the movie i... Read More

A & E, Movie Reviews

Finding romance on screen

By Michael Snyder

Valentine’s Day is upon us, and that means romance is in the air. Romance means trysts, assignations, and dates — especially on the foremost holiday for lovers. And dates o... Read More

A & E, Movie Reviews

Revisiting the best movies of 2015

By Michael Snyder

A new year dawns, and for me that brings the requisite reflection on the events of the previous year. In the case of this column, that would mean the highs and lows in cinema durin... Read More

Movie Reviews

Low budget, high quality: ‘Break Point’ & ‘Cooties’

By Michael Snyder

Frills and extravagance can be enchanting in the right circumstance, but they’re unnecessary when it comes to telling a good story. So it’s understandable and gratifyin... Read More

Movie Reviews

‘The Third Man’ and the Smartest Man

By Michael Snyder

‘THE THIRD MAN’ In an era of widescreen 3D blockbusters and IMAX mega-theaters, some will disdain the idea of going to the local multiplex to watch an old black and whi... Read More

Movie Reviews

Close to the madding crowd

By Michael Snyder

There’s something extremely attractive about the tried and true when contemporary movie companies are deciding to green-light projects. As far as the suits are concerned, the... Read More

Movie Reviews

These films are made for viewin’

Care to enjoy a revelatory and tuneful visit with a collection of enormously skilled but largely unheralded musicians who played on many of the most memorable pop records ever; or ... Read More

Movie Reviews

What’s up, doc?

By Michael Snyder

One is about the founding of the modern women’s movement for liberation and equality; one concerns the historically successful Red Army hockey team; and one investigates the ... Read More

Movie Reviews

Preview of 2015 films and best 2014 films

By Michael Snyder

A new year can mean rebirth and renewal, although in today’s movie business, those words tend to actually mean resuscitation, regeneration, and retread. The concept of “... Read More

Movie Reviews

Stocking up on DVD gifts for the holidays

By Michael Snyder

It’s a video-on-demand world, or it will be soon. And yet, here’s a column about purchasing DVDs as Christmas presents in 2014. Although digital information delivered i... Read More

Movie Reviews

Foodie films on the menu

By Michael Snyder

Contrary to what a rabid football fan might tell you, the focal point of the Thanksgiving celebration is the big dinner when family and friends gather to share in the abundance on ... Read More

Movie Reviews

The Two Faces of January

By Michael Snyder

Since enthusiastically devouring a few of Patricia Highsmith’s dark, exotic and suspenseful novels, I’ve been excited about the film adaptations and a little skeptical ... Read More

Movie Reviews