Home
Film Festivals
Hallmark Channel
Interviews
2022 films
2021 films
2020 films
2019 films
2018 films

“Everything I learned I learned from the movies.” 
― Audrey Hepburn

Categories

  • Comic Book flicks
  • essays
  • film festivals
  • film reviews
  • interviews
  • movie diary
  • movie rankings
  • tv series reviews


Authors

  • Paul Carlson
Escape Into Film
'Furious 7' film review: Absurd, silly & fun flick best of the 'Fast' series
Apr 3

Apr 3 'Furious 7' film review: Absurd, silly & fun flick best of the 'Fast' series

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The latest entry in the "Fast and Furious" series continues the franchise's unlikely trend of somehow improving with each new flick.

'The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby' Netflix review: Perfect for binge viewing
Mar 28

Mar 28 'The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby' Netflix review: Perfect for binge viewing

Paul Carlson
film reviews

One of the most interesting exercises in cinematic storytelling, the trio of "The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby" feature films, tracks the wrong side of a romance from his and her perspectives.

'It Follows' film review: Refreshing indie gem destined for cult horror glory
Mar 27

Mar 27 'It Follows' film review: Refreshing indie gem destined for cult horror glory

Paul Carlson
film reviews

This indie horror flick absolutely capitalizes on its refreshing premise - itself a meta-swipe against the countless dull slashers that stigmatized casual sex - and brilliantly executes a tense, innovative and piece of American cinema.

'Insurgent' film review: Dull & careless are kind ways to describe this YA slog
Mar 18

Mar 18 'Insurgent' film review: Dull & careless are kind ways to describe this YA slog

Paul Carlson
film reviews

There are worse and more cloying young adult film adaptations out there, but "Insurgent" sets a new disappointing baseline for lazy YA movies.

Film review: If you've seen 'District 9' or 'Elysium,' you've seen 'Chappie'
Mar 5

Mar 5 Film review: If you've seen 'District 9' or 'Elysium,' you've seen 'Chappie'

Paul Carlson
film reviews

"Chappie," the latest film from director Neill Blomkamp ("District 9"), is a frustrating, soulless and heavy-handed AI tale.

'Fifty Shades of Grey' review: The awkward, unintentional comedy of 2015
Feb 13

Feb 13 'Fifty Shades of Grey' review: The awkward, unintentional comedy of 2015

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Shouldn't a movie whose core subject matter is the racy, brow-raising world of BDSM be more ... exciting ... on any level?

'The Last Five Years' review: Intriguing & bittersweet musical charms
Feb 13

Feb 13 'The Last Five Years' review: Intriguing & bittersweet musical charms

Paul Carlson
film reviews

This is a rich tapestry of dreams, love, resentment and all the ups and downs of a doomed relationship.

'The Interview' review: Silly, mildly funny bromance doesn't live up to its hype
Dec 24

Dec 24 'The Interview' review: Silly, mildly funny bromance doesn't live up to its hype

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Despite its over-the-top premise, "The Interview" is essentially a bromance between two buddies -- packed with a lot of poop and gay jokes.

'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies' review: Ending on a mediocre note
Dec 16

Dec 16 'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies' review: Ending on a mediocre note

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The unnecessarily bloated "Hobbit" trilogy comes to a merciful - if mildly entertaining - conclusion

'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1' review: An underwhelming stopgap sequel
Nov 20

Nov 20 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1' review: An underwhelming stopgap sequel

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The fact this movie exists is pretty confusing -- there simply are not enough plot points in "Mockingjay - Part 1" or compelling set-up for the grand finale to justify this underwhelming penultimate sequel.

'Dumb and Dumber To' review: Retread of a cult comedy - but with fewer jokes
Nov 13

Nov 13 'Dumb and Dumber To' review: Retread of a cult comedy - but with fewer jokes

Paul Carlson
film reviews

 There's virtually no important plot -- at best, it's a slightly warmed-over version of the original "Dumb and Dumber" plot (road trip to find girl, return item to her). 

'Interstellar' review: The grandest cinematic spectacle of 2014 to behold
Nov 5

Nov 5 'Interstellar' review: The grandest cinematic spectacle of 2014 to behold

Paul Carlson
film reviews

"Interstellar" is a masterfully crafted film rooted in exciting scientific ideas and based in essentially a love story - but it suffers a number of structural weaknesses.

'Laggies' film review: Knightley, Rockwell save this clunky dramedy
Oct 24

Oct 24 'Laggies' film review: Knightley, Rockwell save this clunky dramedy

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The dramatic-comedy swipe at rudderless "gen-xers" has is propped up by a sympathetic director and strong key performances - but dragged down questionable plot points and thin supporting characters.

'Birdman' review: Stunning, surreal take on a very real existential crisis
Oct 23

Oct 23 'Birdman' review: Stunning, surreal take on a very real existential crisis

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The latest from director Alejandro González Iñárritu ("21 Grams" and "Amores Perros") is arguably the most complete and complex cinematic experience of 2014, driven by incredible performances, a compelling character study, sharply-written dialogue and beautiful/daring cinematography.

'St. Vincent' review: Murray is brilliant in an enjoyable, if flawed, film
Oct 16

Oct 16 'St. Vincent' review: Murray is brilliant in an enjoyable, if flawed, film

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Bill Murray brings to life one of the best film characters of 2014 in an uneven film that starts strong, but disappoints with an underwhelming second half.

'Fury' review: Solid cast leads this strong, grim take on war ethics
Oct 16

Oct 16 'Fury' review: Solid cast leads this strong, grim take on war ethics

Paul Carlson
film reviews

This tank-centric action-drama might not go down as the greatest World War II ever made, but "Fury" is an exceptionally well-acted and executed thriller.

'Men, Women & Children' review: A flailing, clichéd rant against the Internet
Oct 2

Oct 2 'Men, Women & Children' review: A flailing, clichéd rant against the Internet

Paul Carlson
film reviews

This unfocused, meandering and condescending bit of melodramatic anti-Internet propaganda is every bit as subtle and nuanced as the "Reefer Madness" stance on marijuana.

'Jimi: All Is by My Side' review: André 3000 shines in otherwise flat biopic
Sep 26

Sep 26 'Jimi: All Is by My Side' review: André 3000 shines in otherwise flat biopic

Paul Carlson
film reviews, film festivals

Anyone interested in watching a great lead actor performance will be satisfied -- but anyone looking for any insight into the life of legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix will be sorely disappointed.

'The Two Faces of January' review: Throwback noir thriller lacks tension, energy
Sep 26

Sep 26 'The Two Faces of January' review: Throwback noir thriller lacks tension, energy

Paul Carlson
film reviews, film festivals

Despite a premise on con men and murder, this misnomer of a noir-ish "thriller" sleepwalks its way across Greece from beginning to end.

'The Guest' review: A darkly funny, savagely violent modern cult classic
Sep 25

Sep 25 'The Guest' review: A darkly funny, savagely violent modern cult classic

Paul Carlson
film reviews

First and foremost, find a theater where this film is playing and see it immediately. This is not merely a suggestion - seeing "The Guest" is an imperative.

Load More
““No subject is terrible if the story is true, if the prose is clean and honest, and if it affirms courage and grace under pressure.””
— "Midnight in Paris"

Hallmark Channel RSS
Home RSS