Sean Penn turns African strife into a two-hour perfume commercial with “The Last Face,” veering between gauzy impressionism and shrieky melodrama with his latest directorial effort. The real story is about Charlize Theron and Javier Bardem’s characters, humanitarian aid doctors trapped in a star-crossed romance. It’s all laughably pretentious. Please...
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Reviews
RogerEbert.com — Wind River
If you liked “Sicario” and “Hell or High Water,” please seek out “Wind River.” Screenwriter Taylor Sheridan also directs this time, telling the story of a murder mystery at a Wyoming Indian reservation. It’s gripping and chilling, with a rich sense of place and strong performances from Jeremy Renner and...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — Fun Mom Dinner
I have been to many a Fun Mom Dinner in my life. I’m usually the ones who plans them, actually. So I am exactly the target audience for the raunchy, R-rated comedy “Fun Mom Dinner.” Unfortunately, it’s got moms and dinner but not much fun. My RogerEbert.com review. Read the...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — Person to Person
Various characters populate “Person to Person,” but they rarely register as actual people. And while some of their storylines intersect throughout the course of a day in New York, they rarely connect in ways that have actual meaning. My RogerEbert.com review of this shaggy, meandering dramedy. Read the review...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — Lady Macbeth
“Lady Macbeth” only looks like a stuffy, refined period piece. While it is indeed beautiful, it’s also startling, with a central, powerhouse performance from 21-year-old Florence Pugh that constantly challenges how you feel about her title character. My RogerEbert.com review. Read the review here...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — The Hero
Sam Elliott is Sam Elliott as Sam Elliott in “The Hero,” a sentimental and sporadically effective celebration of the veteran character actor. Director and co-writer Brett Haley is clearly aware that this dude is iconic, placing Elliott front and center for a rare leading role. But while it’s a pleasure...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — Vincent N Roxxy
“Vincent N Roxxy” is a nasty little piece of B-movie trash that lacks both the verve to grab you as a guilty pleasure and the artistry to be taken seriously as a dramatic thriller. It wastes talented actors who usually have a welcome presence on screen — Emile Hirsch, Zoe...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — Berlin Syndrome
“Berlin Syndrome” will make you question any wanderlust-inspired notions you may have of traveling alone to a foreign country on a quest for self-discovery. Australian director Cate Shortland creates a dreamlike sense of place within a nightmare scenario with this taut and strongly acted thriller. And Teresa Palmer works wonders...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul
You’ll never know how good the first three “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” movies were until you’re forced to see the fourth one. And I say this as someone who has seen all the movies — and read all the books — with my 7-year-old son. We’re both fans of...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — Lowriders
What a lovely surprise “Lowriders” is. It tells an age-old story of intergenerational conflict, but strong performances from a well-chosen cast and a vivid sense of place make it feel fresh. Set within the mythical Mexican-American car culture of East L.A., “Lowriders” is richly, culturally specific, yet its themes of...
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