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

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  • Paul Carlson
Escape Into Film
'Moana 2' film review: Sequel discovers the heart of exploration
Nov 27

Nov 27 'Moana 2' film review: Sequel discovers the heart of exploration

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Breaking free from the isolation of her home island, the intrepid, sea faring explorer sets sail beyond in this sequel.

'Wicked' film review: Erivo, Grande delight in this Wicked Witch of the West origin story
Nov 21

Nov 21 'Wicked' film review: Erivo, Grande delight in this Wicked Witch of the West origin story

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Based on the acclaimed Broadway musical, 'Wicked' is an enthralling cinema experience worthy of the biggest screen possible.

'Venom: The Last Dance' film review: Tom Hardy's brain-eating anti-hero takes a bow
Oct 24

Oct 24 'Venom: The Last Dance' film review: Tom Hardy's brain-eating anti-hero takes a bow

Paul Carlson
film reviews

A rushed and messy flick is simply a finale with two left feet stumbling across the finish line.

'Saturday Night' film review: Love letter for SNL fans
Oct 11

Oct 11 'Saturday Night' film review: Love letter for SNL fans

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Before Saturday Night Live became a late-night institution, it was just an edgy experiment.

'Joker: Folie à Deux' film review: Iconic villain's encore is a pointless slog
Oct 4

Oct 4 'Joker: Folie à Deux' film review: Iconic villain's encore is a pointless slog

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Folie à Deux literally translates into English as 'madness of two.' This is an apt name for the foolish decision to make a second 'Joker' movie.

'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.

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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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