Ben Cahlamer
‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Review: Sequel Honors Boseman, Fails to Reach Epic Quality
It’s easy, perhaps flippant, to dismiss a product that gives people joy. No matter this critic’s feelings about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or comic book-based fantasy films in general, Ryan Coogler’s task of mounting the sequel, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,”
‘Armageddon Time’: Film Review
Coming-of-age stories are, collectively, a dime-a-dozen. We’ve seen them in the afternoon specials, cinema, and stage. As an audience, we have a fixation with exploring themes of the past and their influences on us as children through, often, rose-colored glasses.
‘Black Adam’: Movie Review
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. Forgive me for eliciting Corinthians as an opening to
‘TÁR’: Film Review
Getting lost in a film is what the art form is supposed to accomplish. You disappear into the protagonists’ lives and environments; you admonish the antagonist. These characters elicit empathy and sympathy when appropriate. This is especially critical when the
Film Review: ‘Smile’
Horror films permeate theaters year-round now. This is not a negative; the genre is famous for offering chills and thrills, tricks, or treats. Ideally, these thoughts pleasure those who seek out horror as an escape or identity. Over the years,
‘The Woman King’ Review: Epic Storytelling Gives Way to Modern Ideals
Commitment to characters and stories about our collective history has fueled films for generations. Covered less often are stories about the tribal nature of Africa and its peoples, the customs, and the traditions for better or worse. Bringing these stories
‘Breaking’: Movie Review
‘Breaking’ is the true story of Brian Brown-Easley’s 2018 bank heist. John Boyega offers an electrifying performance, yet the movie doesn’t always work.
‘Prey’: Movie Review
“If it bleeds, we can kill it.” That famous phrase from 35 years ago rings as true today as the fifth iteration of the Predator film series, Dan Trachtenberg’s Prey, makes its debut on Hulu. Trachtenberg’s film serves as a
‘Bullet Train’: Movie Review
I came to the theater to watch David Leitch’s Bullet Train; I saw Bullet Train; I liked Bullet Train. A lot. It is not a perfect movie by any stretch. However, it doesn’t claim to be either. But it does