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

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  • Paul Carlson
Escape Into Film
'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' film review: Betelgeuse should have stayed dead
Sep 6

Sep 6 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' film review: Betelgeuse should have stayed dead

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Death is supposed to be eternal.

'Deadpool & Wolverine' film review: Marvel's most hardcore heroes are here to save the MCU
Jul 25

Jul 25 'Deadpool & Wolverine' film review: Marvel's most hardcore heroes are here to save the MCU

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The Merc with a Mouth finally joins the Marvel Cinematic Universe and brings along one of Marvel's biggest characters in this raucously hilarious and violent romp.

'Twisters' film review: Not quite a category five blockbuster - but still a fun summer flick
Jul 19

Jul 19 'Twisters' film review: Not quite a category five blockbuster - but still a fun summer flick

Paul Carlson
film reviews

A solid trio of main characters power the fun summer disaster sequel.

'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga' film review: Unearthing the fury within Furiosa
May 24

May 24 'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga' film review: Unearthing the fury within Furiosa

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The action-packed, trauma-fueled revenge prequel reveals how industrious young Furiosa became a trusted and battle hardened Imperator in the wasteland.

'The Garfield Movie' film review: Puurrrr-fect light comedy flick for kiddos
May 24

May 24 'The Garfield Movie' film review: Puurrrr-fect light comedy flick for kiddos

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The lasagna loving, Monday hating cat’s latest movie throws him into a heist comedy.

'The Fall Guy' film review: Gosling, Blunt shine in this explosion of stunts, laughs
May 3

May 3 'The Fall Guy' film review: Gosling, Blunt shine in this explosion of stunts, laughs

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Humor and action power this full-throated ode to stunt performers.

'Civil War' film review: Prescient warning of chaos from sea to shining sea
Apr 12

Apr 12 'Civil War' film review: Prescient warning of chaos from sea to shining sea

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Alex Garland's latest finds the U.S. way past mere political divisiveness in this bleak war thriller.

'Immaculate' film review: Sydney Sweeney can't salvage shallow string of jump scares
Apr 3

Apr 3 'Immaculate' film review: Sydney Sweeney can't salvage shallow string of jump scares

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Starting with its lean runtime and continuing through its sparse (if visceral) scares and unexplored themes, this religious horror flick just falls short of memorable horror in almost every way.

'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire' film review: MonsterVerse's titan-sized misfire
Mar 29

Mar 29 'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire' film review: MonsterVerse's titan-sized misfire

Paul Carlson
film reviews

In this modern era of 'cinematic universes' wherein every sequel exists in service to the next big thing, the new MonsterVerse flick … just sort of exists.

'Dune: Part Two' film review: A true breathtaking, sand-swept sci-fi spectacle
Feb 29

Feb 29 'Dune: Part Two' film review: A true breathtaking, sand-swept sci-fi spectacle

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The rare sequel so good it actually improves upon its predecessor and makes good on every single promise set up in ‘Part One.’

'Expats' series review: 'The Farewell' director & Nicole Kidman's character study of grief & regret
Jan 26

Jan 26 'Expats' series review: 'The Farewell' director & Nicole Kidman's character study of grief & regret

Paul Carlson
tv series reviews

Mystery-drama series explores the intertwined lives of three women living in the shadow of tragedy amid of the sprawl of Hong Kong.

'The Iron Claw' film review: Zac Efron shines in this real-life pro wrestling tragedy
Dec 22

Dec 22 'The Iron Claw' film review: Zac Efron shines in this real-life pro wrestling tragedy

Paul Carlson
film reviews

An unnerving undercurrent of dread and a strong ensemble cast powers this tragic throwback biopic.

'Napoleon' film review: Underwhelming biopic paints fuzzy portrait of infamous emperor
Nov 22

Nov 22 'Napoleon' film review: Underwhelming biopic paints fuzzy portrait of infamous emperor

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Ridley Scott's take on the infamous French dictator is both grand in scale but disappointingly reductive.

'The Marvels' film review: Fun, laser-focused female-centric space-adventure
Nov 10

Nov 10 'The Marvels' film review: Fun, laser-focused female-centric space-adventure

Paul Carlson
film reviews

One of Marvel's strongest heroes must team up with two emerging superheroes to stop a galactic threat.

'Killers of the Flower Moon' film review: Simmering reckoning of a forgotten massacre
Oct 20

Oct 20 'Killers of the Flower Moon' film review: Simmering reckoning of a forgotten massacre

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Martin Scorsese’s latest crime drama sheds light on a lethal conspiracy to that resulted in the murders of dozens of wealthy Native Americans.

'The Creator' film review:  Sci-fi spectacle powered by AI angst, tender humanity
Sep 28

Sep 28 'The Creator' film review: Sci-fi spectacle powered by AI angst, tender humanity

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Writer-director Gareth Edwards delivers one of the very strongest big screen sci-fi spectacles of the past decade.

'A Haunting in Venice' film review: Supernatural meets murder in Branagh’s latest Poirot case
Sep 14

Sep 14 'A Haunting in Venice' film review: Supernatural meets murder in Branagh’s latest Poirot case

Paul Carlson
film reviews

A delightful overlap of whodunnit and supernatural undertones as the famed detective tries to solve a murder in a haunted house.

'Gran Turismo' film review: Slick, high-octane ride (that's also a by-the-numbers biopic)
Aug 24

Aug 24 'Gran Turismo' film review: Slick, high-octane ride (that's also a by-the-numbers biopic)

Paul Carlson
film reviews

An everyday gamer gets the chance of a lifetime and realize his racing dreams.

'Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One' film review: This summer's cinematic spectacle
Jul 11

Jul 11 'Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One' film review: This summer's cinematic spectacle

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Choose to accept this relentlessly intense, heart-stopping and breathtaking mission.

 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny' film review: 'Dial' fails to recapture the fun of past Indy flicks
Jun 30

Jun 30 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny' film review: 'Dial' fails to recapture the fun of past Indy flicks

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The iconic globe-trotting archaeologist embarks on his final adventure in the action adventure.

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““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"

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