Reviews

RogerEbert.com — Labor Day

He’s a hunky convicted killer on the run. She’s a lonely divorcee raising a 13-year-old son. Over one unusually hot holiday weekend, they fall in passionate, doomed love—and they bake a heavily metaphorical pie. Josh Brolin and Kate Winslet do their best with some laughably soapy material in Jason Reitman’s...

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Gimme Shelter

Roadside Attractions PG-13 for mature thematic material involving mistreatment, some drug content, violence and language — all concerning teens. Running time: 101 minutes. One and a half stars out of four. “Gimme Shelter” is a clunkily-made, batshit-crazy parable that hammers you over the head with its Christian, anti-abortion message. An...

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RogerEbert.com — Run & Jump

Will Forte displays even deeper dramatic ability following “Nebraska” — and reveals himself as a surprisingly appealing romantic lead — in the small, Irish gem “Run & Jump.” But the even greater revelation is Maxine Peake, who’s radiant as a housewife and mother of two struggling to maintain her optimism...

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What the Flick?! — Gloria

Paulina Garcia is indeed glorious as the title character: a divorced woman in her 50s carving out her own identity and finding her own happiness. This drama was Chile’s submission for the foreign-language category at the Academy Awards (it was not nominated, unfortunately) but it’s very much worth seeking out....

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Ride Along

Universal Pictures Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence, sexual content and brief strong language. Running time: 100 minutes. One star out of four. “Ride Along” has the dubious distinction of being simultaneously shoddy and straining, lazy and desperate. It’s a comedy that’s never funny with action that’s never thrilling. Director...

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RogerEbert.com — Life of a King

Chess: It’s just like life! Did you know that? Cuba Gooding Jr. teaches the game to inner-city youth — and uses it as a not-so-subtle metaphor — in this well-intentioned but ultimately formulaic story of an ex-con trying to rebuild his life. My RogerEbert.com review. Read the review here...

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RogerEbert.com — Jamesy Boy

James Burns’ reckless youth and road to redemption are the subject of “Jamesy Boy,” a film with a message of inspiration, to be sure, but not much in terms of innovation. Newcomer Spencer Lofranco doesn’t seem quite ready for his first lead role opposite a strong supporting cast that includes...

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