“The Nun” is a prequel to “The Conjuring” universe (the “Conjurverse?”), taking us all the way back to rural Romania in 1952 and the war-ravaged abbey where the series’ creepy nun first roamed the halls. Director Corin Hardy’s film is good for a few jump scares here and there, and...
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Reviews
RogerEbert.com — Reprisal
“Reprisal” is a blandly gritty piece of late-August mayhem that’s as forgettable as its generic title. I’m actually sort of amazed that it got a theatrical release at all. Perhaps this empty crime thriller is only seeing the light of day because of the presence of Bruce Willis, who basically...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — Searching
“Searching” is predicated on a central gimmick — it takes place entirely within the screens of electronic devices — but it pulls it off in exciting and inventive ways. John Cho gets to show great range — and is often shot in close-up, so there’s nowhere to hide — as...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — The Wife
Glenn Close is subtly devastating in “The Wife,” indicating a lifetime of repression and resentment in just the slightest wry smile or withering glance. Close and Jonathan Pryce have crackling chemistry with each other, the two veteran actors enjoying snappy banter and enduring lacerating battles. But while Pryce’s character remains steady in...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — The Swan
“The Swan” is a coming-of-age drama that’s equal parts beautiful and brutal, similar to the rugged terrain of northern Iceland where it takes place. I mean, look at that photo — doesn’t it make you want to hop on a plane to Reykjavik right now? The debut feature from writer-director...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — The Spy Who Dumped Me
I love Mila Kunis. I love Kate McKinnon. I love the idea of these two talented ladies co-starring in an R-rated action comedy. But I did not love “The Spy Who Dumped Me.” Director and co-writer Susanna Fogel has trouble pulling off the tricky balance of broad antics and brutal...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — Puzzle
Kelly Macdonald gets a rare chance to shine in a leading role as a wife and mother who reaches her 40s and finally figures out what she wants from life. Watching her blossom is sheer joy. And while solving jigsaw puzzles may not sound like the most cinematic pursuit, “Puzzle”...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
The sequel to the 2008 schmaltzy smash “Mamma Mia!” features even more characters and more subplots and more romantic entanglements. But it’s also less entertaining, the stakes are lower, and despite its frantic energy, it goes absolutely nowhere. It has its moments, though, so if you want an empty summer...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — Skyscraper
Dwayne Johnson battles a Hong Kong high-rise in “Skyscraper.” It’s “Die Hard” meets “The Towering Inferno”: just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — Fireworks
“Fireworks” is a strange little anime movie with an uncomfortable sexist streak. It’s essentially an animated incarnation of “Sliding Doors,” with a couple of teens experiencing the same series of events in slightly different ways over the course of a day, leading up to their town’s annual fireworks extravaganza. But...
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