‘Past Lives’ Is a Beautifully Moving Love Story

‘Past Lives’ Is a Beautifully Moving Love Story

By Alex McPherson A dramatically rich, sensitively told love story with an astounding trio of central performances, director Celine Song’s “Past Lives” is a near-flawless... Details
Visually Rich Pixar Story ‘Elemental’ Is Far From Lukewarm

Visually Rich Pixar Story ‘Elemental’ Is Far From Lukewarm

By Alex McPherson Strikingly well-animated and loaded with ever-topical themes, director Peter Sohn’s “Elemental,” Pixar’s latest, lacks storytelling flair but remains a worthwhile experience for... Details
High-Spirited Cast Makes ‘Clash Of The Titans’ Parody A Jolly Time

High-Spirited Cast Makes ‘Clash Of The Titans’ Parody A Jolly Time

By Lynn VenhausFunny and fast-paced, “The Clash of the Titans Live Parody” showcases an obliging cast goofing off as famous Greek mythology characters, from Zeus... Details
Jubilant ‘Beautiful: The Carole King Musical’ Opens Muny with Panache

Jubilant ‘Beautiful: The Carole King Musical’ Opens Muny with Panache

By Lynn VenhausA jubilant celebration of a Hall of Fame career, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” tells the story of how a remarkable singer-songwriter found... Details
‘The Flash’ Entertains With Clever Cameos and Fun Fan Service

‘The Flash’ Entertains With Clever Cameos and Fun Fan Service

By Lynn Venhaus Worlds collide in a standard superhero spectacle involving the multiverse and time travel. But “The Flash” film wisely capitalizes on personalities, thus... Details
Spry Cast Goes For Laughs in Outdated ‘A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum’

Spry Cast Goes For Laughs in Outdated ‘A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum’

By Lynn Venhaus Once upon a time, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” was the gold standard of a playful musical... Details
Shakespeare Festival Shakes Up ‘Twelfth Night’ With Latin Flavor

Shakespeare Festival Shakes Up ‘Twelfth Night’ With Latin Flavor

By Lynn Venhaus Your first clue that we’re not in Missouri anymore is the palm trees jutting out from a swanky home’s backyard pool and... Details
‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ Is A Dazzling, Incomplete Spectacle

‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ Is A Dazzling, Incomplete Spectacle

By Alex McPherson An eye-popping feast for the senses whose visual inventiveness can’t compensate for a restrictive middle-chapter narrative, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” is consistently... Details
‘Gloria: A Life’ Keeps The Fires Burning With a Look Back and an Eye Forward

‘Gloria: A Life’ Keeps The Fires Burning With a Look Back and an Eye Forward

By Lynn Venhaus Relevant and empowering, New Jewish Theatre’s “Gloria: A Life” celebrates one of the most inspiring women in history with a knockout performance... Details
‘Spider-Man’ Leaps Into Second Spider-Verse With Eye-Popping Innovation But Super-Frantic

‘Spider-Man’ Leaps Into Second Spider-Verse With Eye-Popping Innovation But Super-Frantic

By Lynn VenhausPop art, quantum physics and pathos collide in a grand superhero spectacle, resulting in this “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” sequel being a mind-blowing... Details