Woodley, Mendelsohn warm up frosty ‘To Catch a Killer’
Movie review: This cynical procedural about a mass shooter is stronger in small pieces than as a whole.
Great actresses carry ‘Big Little Lies’ Season 2 (2019)
Throwback Thursday (TV review): Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Zoe Kravitz, Laura Dern and Meryl Streep take turns being stellar.
First episode impressions: ‘Big Little Lies’ Season 2 (TV review)
If the first episode is any indication, “Big Little Lies’ ” second season (9 p.m. Eastern Sundays on HBO) lacks the zest of the first but has so much momentum in the wake of the death of Perry (Alexander Skarsgard) that there won’t be a shortage of reasons to tune in. David E. Kelley returns
‘Adrift’ floats between romance and survival, doesn’t do either one particularly well (Movie review)
“Adrift” is the true story of Tami Oldham (Shailene Woodley) and Richard Sharp (Sam Claflin), who accept an offer from a wealthy couple to sail their boat from Tahiti to California. Along the way they encounter one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in history, causing their boat to be wrecked and stranded at sea. As
Catching up with ‘Big Little Lies’ Season 1 (TV review)
“Big Little Lies” (which aired earlier this year on HBO, and can now be found on HBO Go or at Redbox) is the best thing I’ve seen from David E. Kelley, and also by far the most tolerable. Although I used to like “The Practice,” it grated on me after a while, and I didn’t
‘Snowden’ is a warm portrayal of a modern hero, but without many surprises (Movie review)
Whether Trump or Clinton wins the election tonight, the NSA’s spying program will continue, so it seems like a good time to watch “Snowden,” the most hyped-up liberty-themed film of the year. Oliver Stone’s chronicle of the CIA agent who revealed that our government is spying on us is unquestionably an important document, but it doesn’t offer
‘Allegiant’ moves ‘Divergent’ series into heady sci-fi territory (Movie review)
The third entry of a four-part saga, “Allegiant” — now available on DVD – moves the “Divergent” series into heady (and sometimes head-scratching) science fiction territory. Young future readers of classic sci-fi such as Arthur C. Clarke’s works might dip their toe into those waters after watching this film based on the young-adult novel by Veronica Roth.
Gorgeous-looking ‘Insurgent’ further explores ‘Divergent’ world (Movie review)
“Insurgent” further clarifies the political structure of the “Divergent” universe, features award-worthy set pieces in a run-down Chicago two centuries in the future and – like the original film – ultimately succeeds because Shailene Woodley is easy to root for as reluctant hero Tris Prior.
‘The Fault in Our Stars’ romanticizes cancer … beautifully (Movie review)
Have the Kleenex ready for “The Fault in Our Stars,” a story about a teen stricken with the death sentence of cancer. Or have your stress pills ready. This movie, based on the popular young-adult novel by John Green and now available on DVD, has garnered its share of backlash from those who believe it romanticizes cancer.
Woodley, production design make ‘Divergent’ a fresh dystopian parable (Movie review)
“Divergent” plays with traditional dystopian sci-fi tropes and totalitarian government riffs in rather unsurprising ways, but it holds a viewer’s attention thanks to the immensely watchable Shailene Woodley and a beautifully grim post-apocalyptic Chicago cityscape. Avoiding the clichéd helicopter shot over water, the film opens with a shot of a dried-up Lake Michigan – a wonderful