The Three Musketeers: Milady (2023) • View trailer Four stars (out of five). Not rated, and akin to PG-13 for violence Available via: Amazon Prime and other VOD options By Derrick Bang No surprise: The second chapter of French filmmaker Martin Bourboulon’s swashbuckling epic is e … | Continue reading
Immediate Family (2022) • View trailer Four stars (out of five). Not rated, and suitable for all ages Available via: Hulu By Derrick Bang Everybody reading these words has heard these four guys perform. You simply didn’t know it at the time. Members of The Immediate Family — from … | Continue reading
The Greatest Hits (2024) • View trailer 3.5 stars (out of five). Rated PG-13, for drug use, sexual candor and fleeting profanity Available via: Hulu By Derrick Bang Writer/director Ned Benson’s beguiling little charmer expands upon a premise that’ll feel familiar to everybody: th … | Continue reading
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024) • View trailer Four stars (out of five). Rated R, for relentless violent content and some profanity Available via: Movie theaters By Derrick Bang • Published in The Davis Enterprise, 4.19.24 This one has it all: Taut suspense; superb d … | Continue reading
Scoop (2023) • View trailer Four stars (out of five). Rated TV-14, for dramatic intensity, sexual candor and occasional profanity Available via: Netflix By Derrick Bang Movies about reporters have been a cinema staple ever since talkies emerged. Early classics leaned toward comed … | Continue reading
Civil War (2024) • View trailer Four stars (out of five). Rated R, for strong violent content, bloody and disturbing images, gore and relentless profanity Available via: Movie theaters By Derrick Bang • Published in The Davis Enterprise, 4.12.24 Alex Garland makes thoughtful, eng … | Continue reading
Wicked Little Letters (2023) • View trailer Four stars (out of five). Rated R, for relentless, breathtaking profanity and vulgarity Available via: Movie theaters By Derrick Bang • Published in The Davis Enterprise, 4.5.24 You’ve gotta love the cheeky epigram with which director T … | Continue reading
The Beautiful Game (2024) • View trailer 3.5 stars (out of five). Rated PG-13 for profanity, drug references and fleeting partial nudity Available via: Netflix By Derrick Bang The past couple of months have been quite educational, with respect to sport I’d never previously encoun … | Continue reading
Monkey Man (2022) • View trailer 3.5 stars (out of five). Rated R, for rape, profanity, drug use, nudity and relentless gore and bloody violence Available via: Movie theaters By Derrick Bang When George Lucas created Star Wars, he was inspired by the writings of mythologist Josep … | Continue reading
Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia (2022) • View trailer Four stars (out of five). Not rated; suitable for all ages Available via: Amazon Prime and other VOD options By Derrick Bang • Published in The Davis Enterprise, 3.29.24 Back in early 2014, I was totally enchanted by … | Continue reading
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024) • View trailer Four stars (out of five). Rated PG-13, for supernatural action/violence, mild profanity and suggestive references Available via: Movie theaters By Derrick Bang • Published in The Davis Enterprise, 3.22.24 Sometimes dreams do come … | Continue reading
Little Wing (2024) • View trailer Two stars (out of five). Rated PG-13, for suggestive material, thoughts of suicide, and fleeting profanity Available via: Paramount+ By Derrick Bang The term “contrived” can’t begin to cover the whoppers we’re expected to tolerate, in this film’s … | Continue reading
One Life (2024) • View trailer 4.5 stars (out of five). Rated PG, for dramatic intensity Available via: Movie theaters By Derrick Bang • Published in The Davis Enterprise, 3.15.24 Save one life, save the entire world. Until this moment, it’s safe to assume that London stockbroker … | Continue reading
Arthur the King (2024) • View trailer Three stars (out of five). Rated PG-13, for dramatic intensity and occasional profanity Available via: Movie theaters By Derrick Bang Director Simon Cellan Jones’ modest drama has three highlights: an extreme sport that’ll likely be new to mo … | Continue reading
The Crime Is Mine (2023) • View trailer Four stars (out of five). Unrated, equivalent to PG-13 for sexual candor and brief nudity Available via: Amazon Prime and other VOD options By Derrick Bang This is way too much fun. Director François Ozon’s frothy period farce is many thing … | Continue reading
Dune Part 2 (2024) • View trailer Four stars (out of five). Rated PG-13, for strong violence, dramatic intensity and fleeting profanity Available via: Movie theaters By Derrick Bang As Dune Part 1 concluded, back in October 2021, Chani (Zendaya) glanced at Paul Atreides (Timothée … | Continue reading
Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024) • View trailer Four stars (out of five). Rated PG, for scary images and mild rude humor Available via: Movie theaters By Derrick Bang The folks at DreamWorks animation deserve considerable credit; they keep finding clever ways to inject fresh life into a fr … | Continue reading
Ricky Stanicky (2024) • View trailer Three stars (out of five). Rated R, for drug use, sexual candor, and relentless profanity and raunch Available via: Amazon Prime By Derrick Bang Although director Peter Farrelly has gained respect for serious fare such as Green Book and The Gr … | Continue reading
Drive-Away Dolls (2024) • View trailer Three stars (out of five). Rated R, for full nudity, violence and relentless profanity and sexual content Available via: Movie theaters By Derrick Bang This is the smuttiest film I’ve seen in quite awhile. That might have been enough to disc … | Continue reading
The 2024 Oscar Shorts (2023) • View trailer 3.5 stars (out of five). Not rated, but akin to PG-13 for subject matter and dramatic intensity Available via: Movie theaters By Derrick Bang With the Academy Award nominations in hand — and predictions and second-guessing increasing by … | Continue reading
Ordinary Angels (2024) • View trailer 3.5 stars (out of five). Rated PG, for dramatic intensity Available via: Movie theaters By Derrick Bang • Published in The Davis Enterprise, 2.23.24 Given how polarized our country has become, it’s refreshing to see a story that involves comm … | Continue reading
The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan (2023) • View trailer Four stars (out of five). Not rated, but akin to PG-13 for violence and brief nudity Available via: Amazon Prime and other VOD outlets By Derrick Bang There’s plenty to enjoy in this sumptuous, old-school adaptation of Dumas’ … | Continue reading
Madame Web (2024) • View trailer One star (out of five). Rated PG-13, for action violence and profanity Available via: Movie theaters By Derrick Bang • Published in The Davis Enterprise, 2.16.24 This is the worst — and wholly failed — attempt at a high-profile superhero movie I’v … | Continue reading
The Teachers' Lounge (2023) • View trailer Four stars (out of five). Rated PG-13, for occasional profanity Available via: Movie theaters By Derrick Bang • Published in The Davis Enterprise, 2.9.24 As director Ilker Çatak’s thoughtful drama reaffirms, the road to hell continues to … | Continue reading
Orion and The Dark (2024) • View trailer Four stars (out of five). Rated TV-Y7, and suitable for all ages Available via: Netflix By Derrick Bang As he introduces himself, at the beginning of this delightful animated film, Orion claims to be “a kid just like you.” But that isn’t q … | Continue reading
Argylle (2024) • View trailer2.5 stars (out of five). Rated PG-13, and much too generously, for relentless strong violence and occasional profanityAvailable via: Movie theatersBy Derrick Bang • Published in The Davis Enterprise, 2.2.24I’m not the slightest bit surprised to recall … | Continue reading
Argylle (2024) • View trailer 2.5 stars (out of five). Rated PG-13, and much too generously, for relentless strong violence and occasional profanity Available via: Movie theaters By Derrick Bang • Published in The Davis Enterprise, 2.2.24 I’m not the slightest bit surprised to re … | Continue reading
The Zone of Interest (2023) • View trailer 3.5 stars (out of five). Rated PG-13, for dramatic intensity and disturbing content Available via: Movie theaters By Derrick Bang Given the alarming rise of antisemitism and Holocaust denial during the past several years, this film’s arr … | Continue reading
Fast Charlie (2023) • View trailer3.5 stars (out of five). Rated 18+, for strong bloody violence, gore and frequent profanityAvailable via: Amazon Prime and other video-on-demand optionsBy Derrick BangPhillip Noyce’s résumé as a thriller director runs hot and cold; for every Quie … | Continue reading
Fast Charlie (2023) • View trailer 3.5 stars (out of five). Rated 18+, for strong bloody violence, gore and frequent profanity Available via: Amazon Prime and other video-on-demand options By Derrick Bang Phillip Noyce’s résumé as a thriller director runs hot and cold; for every … | Continue reading
Mean Girls (2024) • View trailer Four stars (out of five). Rated PG-13, for sexual candor, profanity and bad teen behavior Available via: Movie theaters By Derrick Bang • Published in The Davis Enterprise, 1.12.24 Confucius said it best, so long ago: “Before you embark on a journ … | Continue reading
The Beekeeper (2024) • View trailer 3.5 stars (out of five). Rated R, for strong violene, pervasive profanity, sexual references and drug use Available via: Movie theaters By Derrick Bang There’s nothing like starting the new year with a vicarious revenge saga, particularly when … | Continue reading
Saltburn (2023) • View trailer Four stars (out of five). Rated R, for strong sexual content, graphic nudity, constant profanity, drug use and disturbing violent content Available via: Amazon Prime By Derrick Bang Trust the writer/director of 2020’s Promising Young Woman to follow … | Continue reading
The Boys in the Boat (2023) • View trailer Four stars (out of five). Rated PG-13, for occasional profanity Available via: Movie theaters By Derrick Bang Some people have levels of strength, grit and determination that challenge credibility, and can only be called heroic. That cer … | Continue reading
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023) • View trailer Four stars (out of five). Rated PG, for dramatic intensity and humorous action Available via: Netflix By Derrick Bang Children. The moment you look away, they do something stupid. Although Funland Farms appears to be a larkish … | Continue reading
Maestro (2023) • View trailerFour stars (out of five). Rated R, for profanity and drug useAvailable via: NetflixBy Derrick BangThis film’s title suggests that it’s about a man: acclaimed composer/conductor Leonard “Lenny” Bernstein. But that’s not entirely true. Director Bradley … | Continue reading
Maestro (2023) • View trailer Four stars (out of five). Rated R, for profanity and drug use Available via: Netflix By Derrick Bang • Published in The Davis Enterprise, 1.5.24 This film’s title suggests that it’s about a man: acclaimed composer/conductor Leonard “Lenny” Bernstein. … | Continue reading
The Family Plan (2023) • View trailer 3.5 stars (out of five). Rated PG-13, for comedic action violence, brief sexual candor and fleeting profanity Available via: Apple TV+ By Derrick Bang This one couldn’t be more ridiculous. But it’s an enjoyable level of “silly,” which makes a … | Continue reading
American Fiction (2023) • View trailer Five stars (out of five). Rated R, for brief drug use, sexual references, fleeting violence and pervasive profanity Available via: Movie theaters By Derrick Bang • Published in The Davis Enterprise, 12.29.23 This is as scathing a slice of so … | Continue reading
Migration (2023) • View trailer 4.5 stars (out of five). Rated PG, and a bit generously, for dramatic intensity and mild rude humor Available via: Movie theaters By Derrick Bang • Published in The Davis Enterprise, 12.22.23 This is way too much fun. Honestly, they had me at the h … | Continue reading
Theater Camp (2023) • View trailerFour stars (out of five). Rated PG-13, for occasional profanity and drug referencesAvailable via: Movie theatersBy Derrick Bang • Published in The Davis Enterprise, 7.28.23This is one of the most sarcastic — yet affectionate — films I’ve ever see … | Continue reading
Haunted Mansion (2023) • View trailerTwo stars (out of five). Rated PG-13, for scary images and dramatic intensityAvailable via: Movie theatersBy Derrick Bang Disney really needs to stop trying to transform this theme park attraction into anything resembling a coherent film. The … | Continue reading
The Covenant (2023) • View trailer3.5 stars (out of five). Rated R, for strong violence, frequent profanity and brief drug contentAvailable via: Movie theatersBy Derrick Bang • Published in The Davis Enterprise, 4.21.23Although director Guy Ritchie’s harrowing war drama is a fict … | Continue reading
Judy Blume Forever (2023) • View trailerFour stars (out of five). Not rated, with PG-level sexual candorAvailable via: Amazon PrimeBy Derrick BangAlthough this charming documentary undoubtedly was timed to debut in tandem with next week’s big-screen release of Are You There, God? … | Continue reading
Somewhere in Queens (2023) • View trailerFour stars (out of five). Rated R, for frequent profanityAvailable via: Movie theatersBy Derrick Bang Parents sometimes lose their way, when it comes to an honest assessment of what’s best for their children. As oft has been said, The road … | Continue reading