All Movies
- ‘Who Will Write Our History’ gives witness to Nazi atrocities
Warsaw Ghetto residents preserved a trove of evidence.
- Top 5 movies about US presidents
This Presidents’ Day weekend, you might be tempted to venture out and see a few new movies. Or your thoughts might turn to how Hollywood has portrayed US presidents. Monitor film critic Peter Rainer shows how its handling of America’s chief executives does – and doesn’t – mirror the treatment they get from the public.
- 'Free Solo' chronicles efforts of mountain climber to work without aid of ropes or harnesses
The impressive Oscar-nominated documentary, directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, is not the kind of movie you want to be watching if you have a fear of heights.
- 'Everybody Knows' is a missing-person whodunit that’s not quite worth solving
The film suffers from too many suspects.
- In ‘Minding the Gap,’ boys battle chaos with skateboarding
The celebrated documentary looks at lives in transition.
- Artists suffer under communism in ‘Cold War’
Star Joanna Kulig’s performance is a dynamic force.
- ‘Stan & Ollie’ pays tribute to classic comedy team
A fine cast creates a rueful and affectionate portrait.
- 'Destroyer' tries too hard to defy our expectations
Nicole Kidman plays a gritty, semi-disgraced Los Angeles police detective who seems hollowed out by rage in Karyn Kusama’s film.
- In ‘The Upside,’ a predictable story yields laughs
The lead performances by Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart overcome the movie’s flaws.
- 'Vice' stars an almost unrecognizable Christian Bale
The film’s tone is somewhere between a 'Saturday Night Live' sketch and a Christopher Guest mockumentary, with perhaps a little 'Macbeth' thrown in for garnish. This makes it sound like more fun than it is, though.
- Superhero aura hangs over Ruth Bader Ginsburg biopic
Felicity Jones doesn’t quite bring her to life.
- 'Mary Poppins Returns' is unmemorable but has moments of joy
Emily Blunt gives an edgy take on Mary Poppins, not quite as treacly as Julie Andrews was.
- The 10 best films of 2018
Here's our critic’s list of the gems you may have missed.
- ‘Mary Poppins’ makeover: A new story, a new vision of Cherry Tree Lane
John Myhre was a fan of the 1964 classic film as a child, and now he’s helping bring its sequel to a new generation. How a production designer tackles envisioning the new with a nod to the old.
- James Baldwin novel receives gauzy treatment in ‘Beale Street’
Director Barry Jenkins goes for atmosphere over story.
- 'Ben is Back' is compelling at first but falls apart
Julia Roberts works well with actor Lucas Hedges, who knows how to be volatile without chewing the scenery.
- 'Shirkers' is a one-of-a-kind reclamation project
The documentary, directed by Sandi Tan, is a charming, wistful movie.
- 'Mary Queen of Scots' has sharp cast but is dull overall
The movie is about the oft-chronicled rivalry between Queen Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots.
- Energy of the streets gives ‘Capernaum’ authenticity
The film is the Lebanese entry for the Oscar for best foreign film.
- Seven November movies you should check out
Two of the movies that caught the attention of Monitor film critic Peter Rainer include a previously unreleased Orson Welles film and the latest from the Coen brothers.