John Hansen

Unaccompanied Minors

‘Unaccompanied Minors’ (2006) are unaccompanied by laughs

Throwback Thursday (Movie review): The setup of five unsupervised kids in an airport has potential and holiday spirit, but the script forgets the ho-ho-hos.

Celebrity

Allen skewers star-making culture in ‘Celebrity’ (1998)

Woody Wednesday (Movie review): It’s sometimes more absurd and sometimes more accessible than “Stardust Memories.” In the end, it’s a great companion piece.

Elephants Can Remember

‘Elephants Can Remember’ (1972) easy to forget 

Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): This isn’t a good novel, yet it’s fascinating when one considers Christie suffered from dementia.

P2

Nichols shines as ‘P2’ (2007) gets thrills from sparse setting

Frightening Friday (Movie review): This horror-thriller plays to Rachel Nichols’ strengths as she’s stalked through a parking garage on Christmas Eve.

Fatman

Gibson plays a decidedly gruff Santa in ‘Fatman’ (2020)

Throwback Thursday (Movie review): There’s no Jake to be found, but this Fatman lays down the law on his own against bad guys at Christmastime.

Everything You Always

Allen puts funny spin on ‘Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex’ (1972)

Woody Wednesday (Movie review): Not as risqué as the title, this film lands in the middle of the pack among Allen’s pre-“Annie Hall” farces.

Nemesis

Marple unleashed like a bloodhound in ‘Nemesis’ (1971)  

Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): The penultimate Miss Marple novel is overwritten and unlikely in parts, but it’s solvable and enjoyable.

VHS

‘V/H/S’ (2012) an intense trip of found-footage horror

Frightening Friday (Movie review): This anthology of handheld horror showcases Ti West, David Bruckner, and some less successful entries.

Deconstructing Harry

‘Deconstructing Harry’ (1997) puts typical Allen situations through blender

Woody Wednesday (Movie review): This film overcomes its hard-to-grasp structure to become great for a basic reason: It’s darn funny.

Where the Crawdads Sing

‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ manipulative but undeniably pretty

Movie review: Although too beautiful to be a shunned “Marsh Girl,” Daisy Edgar-Jones steals hearts in this adaptation of a Sixties-set murder-mystery novel.