John Hansen

Return of Sherlock Holmes

Detective back by popular demand in ‘Return of Sherlock Holmes’ (1905)

Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): It’s debatable how much Doyle’s heart was in it, but his mind certainly is in this third short-story collection.

It's a Wonderful Knife

‘It’s a Wonderful Knife’ (2023) lacks any spirit at all

Frightening Friday (Movie review): Add this Christmas horror movie to your annual list … of films to completely skip.

The Immortalists

‘The Immortalists’ (2018) examines life through lens of death

Book club book report: Come for the hook (a fortune teller predicts death dates) but stay for the four siblings’ journeys through life.

Night of the Hunter

‘Night of the Hunter’ (1955) is influential … but is it good?

Throwback Thursday (Movie review): Ingenious or merely experimental, it can’t be denied that Charles Laughton’s only directorial work made its mark.

Under Capricorn

‘Under Capricorn’ (1949) rightly buried under Hitchcock’s suspensers

On a Hitchcock kick (Movie review): Being a costume drama, this slice of Australian history is rare among his catalog. Unfortunately, that doesn’t make it good.

Smile 2

‘Smile 2’ is worth a smirk as it illustrates celebrity stress

Movie review: Writer-director Parker Finn’s sequel is a middling entry among 2024’s horror films set in the world of pop stardom.

Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

Doyle tires of his detective in ‘Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes’ (1894)

Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): Tiring of his creation, Doyle “kills off” Holmes in “The Final Problem.” (Don’t worry. He’ll be back.)

Three Days of the Condor

‘Three Days of the Condor’ (1975) provides holiday-season conspiracy chill

Throwback Thursday (Movie review): Other than an infamously bad romance subplot, this is another top-shelf Seventies paranoia thriller.

Bad Boys Ride or Die

‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ a fine continuation, with some gator aid

Movie review: Not as funny as it could be, not as big as other action franchises, this fourth “Bad Boys” film still manages to be a brisk diversion.

Paradine Case

Old Hollywood meets film noir in ‘Paradine Case’ (1947)

On a Hitchcock kick (Movie review): The director closes out his pre-color period with a moody courtroom drama that’s not as strong as it could’ve been as a mystery.