newsday movie reviews

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Movie Reviews

Movie interviews.

• Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour Newsletter

Clockwise from top left: Inside Out 2 , Thelma , Twisters , Hit Man , Fancy Dance and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F . Disney/Pixar, Magnolia Pictures, Universal Pictures, Netflix, Apple TV+, Netflix hide caption

These are the 19 movies we're most excited about this summer

June 10, 2024 • Comedies, action-adventures, coming-of-age tales, animation — plus that sweet, sweet movie theater air conditioning. There's something for everyone at the multiplex; our critics can help you choose.

Pop Culture Happy Hour

$#@* we're talking profanity in pop culture.

August 14, 2024 • We've got dirty words on the brain, and we're chatting about the use and functions of profanity in entertainment. In this encore episode from 2013, we cover everything from Anchorman to South Park to Shakespeare.

Hunter Schafer in Cuckoo. Felix Dickinson/Neon hide caption

Hunter Schafer's 'Cuckoo' serves up Alpine horror

August 12, 2024 • In the new, stylishly odd horror film Cuckoo , Hunter Schafer plays an American teenager who reluctantly moves with her family to a mysterious resort in the German Alps. Her rebellious spirit clashes with the resort's creepy proprietor, played by Dan Stevens. When weird stuff starts happening, long-buried family secrets come to light and the resort's true nature stands revealed.

Ruaridh Mollica in Sebastian. Kino Lorber hide caption

‘Sebastian’ re-writes the sex work movie

August 11, 2024 • Director and writer Mikko Mäkelä says he wasn’t interested in creating yet another sex worker drama focused on trauma. Instead, Sebastian is a knowing but conflicted young man learning about himself.

In 'Sebastian', an author in search of inspiration turns sex worker

Rachel Zegler as Snow White in Disney’s live-action remake of its classic animated film. //Disney hide caption

The trailer for Disney’s live-action ‘Snow White’ remake has some people very Grumpy

August 10, 2024 • The film, set to be released in March 2025, has been mired by a string of controversies on everything from its new “woke” messaging to its depiction of dwarfism.

Matt Damon and Casey Affleck become uneasy partners in crime in The Instigators. Apple TV+ hide caption

Matt Damon and Casey Affleck are 'The Instigators' in a classic heist film throwback

August 9, 2024 • After a heist goes bad, two inept Boston crooks (played by Damon and Affleck) become uneasy partners. The Instigators is a reasonably enjoyable film that reflects an earlier cinematic era.

Instigators

Blake Lively in It Ends With Us. Sony Pictures hide caption

'It Ends With Us' is a melodrama with serious undertones

August 9, 2024 • The 2016 Colleen Hoover novel It Ends With Us was a massive bestseller. And now that book is a movie. Blake Lively stars as Lily Bloom, a woman who falls for a hot neurosurgeon played by Justin Baldoni — who also directs the film. But their relationship is complicated by the return of her old flame (Brandon Sklenar). She also has to reckon with her feelings about her abusive father and the mother who stayed with him.

Lily Collias brings a nearly wordless intensity as Sam in Good One. Smudge Films hide caption

In ‘Good One,’ a family camping trip is full of emotional switchbacks

August 8, 2024 • On its surface, Good One is about a teen on a backpacking trip with her dad and his friend. But the film is so sharp and engrossing you might not notice the deeper story taking shape underneath.

(l-r) Colman Domingo and Clarence Maclin in Sing Sing . A24 hide caption

Colman Domingo's 'Sing Sing' is a rare empathetic prison drama

August 5, 2024 • The moving drama Sing Sing stars Colman Domingo as the leader of a tight-knit theatre ensemble within one of the most notorious maximum-security prisons in the United States. Most of the cast are alumni of the actual program who had input on the filmmaking process. The movie showcases the ups and downs of putting on a show without being overly sentimental or cliché.

Josh Hartnett in Trap . Warner Bros. Pictures hide caption

M. Night Shyamalan lays his own parent 'Trap,' and it's truly bonkers

August 2, 2024 • M. Night Shyamalan's new thriller Trap stars Josh Hartnett as a father attending a pop concert with his teenage daughter. But all is not as it appears. It quickly turns out that the entire concert is surrounded by police who are trying to catch a dangerous serial killer in the most difficult way possible. There is a lot going on in this bonkers movie: lots of pop songs, and lots of strange decision-making.

Robert Downey Jr. onstage at the Marvel Studios panel during Comic-Con in San Diego over the weekend. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images hide caption

A puzzling match made in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Robert Downey Jr. as Dr. Doom

July 30, 2024 • The one-time Tony Stark will soon play Marvel Comics villain Doctor Doom. The news has our pop culture critic asking: Can you imagine Robert Downey Jr. saying these Doctor Doom lines?

Robert Downey Jr. as Dr. Doom

Tish (KiKi Layne) and Fonny (Stephan James) in If Beale Street Could Talk . Tatum Mangus/Annapurna Pictures hide caption

Why don't you see more James Baldwin works on the big screen?

July 30, 2024 • Baldwin was arguably the most evocative Black writer of his generation. But if you know him from film, it is for just one movie, If Beale Street Could Talk , released more than 30 years after his death.

Prince on the custom motorcycle featured in Purple Rain. Cinematic/Alamy hide caption

40 years after 'Purple Rain,' Prince’s band remembers how the movie came together

July 26, 2024 • Before social media, the film Purple Rain gave audiences a peek into Prince’s musical life. Band members say the true genesis of the title song was much less combative than the version presented in the film.

Prince's band The Revolution talks about the legacy of 'Purple Rain' after 40 years

Ryan Reynolds stars as Deadpool and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in an odd-couple action hero pairing. Jay Maidment/20th Century Studios hide caption

'Deadpool & Wolverine' is a self-cannibalizing slog

July 26, 2024 • Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman have good, thorny chemistry in this odd-couple action hero flick. But brand extension disguised as a satire of brand extension is still just ... brand extension.

'Deadpool & Wolverine' is a self-cannibalizing slog

There's been a lot of online chatter about Denzel Washington and his accent in the upcoming movie Gladiator II. There are longstanding conventions around using a posh-sounding British accent for ancient characters ... but why? Nobody spoke English in Rome. Cuba Scott/Paramount Pictures hide caption

So how do you 'accurately' speak English in ancient Rome?

July 26, 2024 • Many studios and viewers cling to longstanding conventions around using a posh-sounding British accent for ancient characters — even though this defies logic. Absolutely no one spoke English in Rome.

Denzel Washington's Gladiator 2 accent

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in Marvel's Deadpool & Wolverine . Jay Maidment/20th Century Studios/Marvel hide caption

'Deadpool & Wolverine' is a feast of inside jokes

July 26, 2024 • In the highly meta Deadpool & Wolverine , Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman finally meet up for their own big movie. Deadpool is still smarmy, Wolverine is still tragic, and they have to get together to save the world. Along the way, Deadpool continues his usual routine of endless wisecracking. The movie is jam-packed with fan service and Easter eggs. But how will casual Marvel fans like the movie?

'Deadpool & Wolverine' is a feast of inside jokes

Jon M. Chu directs Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande on the set of Wicked . Universal hide caption

'Wicked' director Jon M. Chu says creativity isn't magic — it's hard work

July 24, 2024 • Chu takes his inspiration from his dad, a Chinese immigrant who worked both the front room and the kitchen of their family-run restaurant: "The guy that in the back of the kitchen, that was my hero."

Rusty Sabich (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Raymond Horgan (Bill Camp) prepare to hear the verdict in Rusty's trial in the finale of Presumed Innocent . Apple TV+ hide caption

'Presumed Innocent' finale: And the murderer is ...

July 24, 2024 • The verdict is in, and the ending is a dud: Rather than wriggling out of the original story’s sexism, the Apple TV+ series just makes the same mistakes in a new way.

Ryan Gosling plays a stuntman in the action movie The Fall Guy. Universal Studios hide caption

Stunt performer turned director walks away mostly unscathed from fights, flipped cars

July 22, 2024 • Filmmaker David Leitch says it's easier to do stunts himself than direct his stunt performer friends. "You are responsible for their safety," he explains. "Your heart goes through your chest."

David Leitch

Visitors watch Jesus VR: The Story of Christ during the 73rd Venice Film Festival in 2016. Andreas Rentz/Getty Images hide caption

This could be the way we watch movies in the future

July 22, 2024 • Watching a movie is all about kicking back in a comfy chair with a bucket of popcorn and letting the story unfold. But that might change thanks to virtual reality.

IMPACT OF VR ON TV AND FILM

Daisy Edgar-Jones stars as Kate in the new movie Twisters. Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures hide caption

Consider This from NPR

'twister,' 'twisters' and the actual practice of storm chasing.

July 21, 2024 • A plucky meteorology heroine; a male rival with no shortage of hubris; and some very, very big storms: that's the basic formula behind the new disaster action movie Twisters , which follows storm chasers around Oklahoma amid a tornado outbreak.

Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones play rival storm chasers in Twisters . Universal Pictures Warner Bros. Pictures & Amblin Entertainment/Universal Pictures Warner Bros. Pictures & Amblin Entertainment hide caption

'Twisters' swirls an old-fashioned rom-com into an effects-happy action movie

July 19, 2024 • This follow-up to the 1996 blockbuster Twister updates the original by making its heroine — not its hero — the center of gravity, but alas, the script doesn’t let her be a whole lot of fun.

Glen Powell in Twisters. Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal hide caption

'Twisters' has us spiraling

July 19, 2024 • Twiste r was one of the biggest disaster movies of the '90s. Now, it's finally got a sequel — one with an all-new cast, state-of-the-art effects, and a whole lot of tornadoes. The new film stars Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones as rival storm-chasers who have a habit of running into tornadoes while everyone else is fleeing. Twisters was directed by Lee Isaac Chung, who also directed the Oscar-nominated Minari .

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence reprise their roles in Bad Boys: Ride or Die - a return to their star-solidifying roles as Miami cops. Sony Pictures hide caption

It's Been a Minute

The rise of the ar-15; plus, why do comedians play so many cops.

July 19, 2024 • Last Saturday, former president Donald Trump was speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania when a gunman shot at him – killing one spectator and clipping Trump in the ear. The response? Outrage, condemnations, and prayers on all sides... but there's been less chatter about the gun that shot at him. And this gun has a lot of symbolism: The AR-15. Host Brittany Luse is joined by The Wall Street Journal 's Zusha Elinson, co-author of the book American Gun , and Jennifer Mascia, senior news writer and founding staffer at The Trace , a nonpartisan nonprofit newsroom that covers guns. Together, they discuss how the AR-15 style rifle went from an outcast in the gun world to the one of the biggest pro-gun symbols and why that actually reflects bigger cultural shifts.

• Tickets & Showtimes
• Trending on RT

Shazam! First Reviews: DC's Most Fun Movie Yet Has Laughs, Heart, Thrills, and Amblin-Style Magic

The critics are loving dc's latest hero and his sidekick. could shazam top wonder woman to be the freshest dceu offering yet.

TAGGED AS: DC Universe , dceu , Superheroes

The first reviews are in for DC’s  Shazam!   and “Fresh” is the magic word –  very  Fresh, in fact. The story of Billy Batson’s (Asher Angel) discovery of his inner superhero – which critics are calling the lightest, most fun, and most kid-friendly of the DCEU  offerings so far – is currently sitting at 94% on the Tomatometer with 47 reviews counted [as of Sunday, March 24, 10am PT]. Early reviews are praising director David F. Sandberg and writer Henry Gayden for creating a superhero flick that is giving off warm and fuzzy Amblin vibes while still providing the thrills that DC fans demand (and some genuinely dark thrills, thanks to Sandberg’s background in horror – he directed Lights Out and  Annabelle: Creation ). What are they saying about Zachary Levi as the titular hero, Mark Strong as his nemesis, and whether this might be the best DCEU movie yet? Read on to find out.

LET’S GET TO IT: IS SHAZAM!  AS GOOD AS WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE?

Holy superhero fatigue, Batman, Shazam! is actually good. –  Lindsey Bahr, Associated Press

“Why couldn’t that movie have been more fun?” You might have said that about some past superhero movies that have hit theaters. But you won’t be saying it about Shazam! –  Jason Guerrasion, Business Insider

Warm, witty, and bursting at the seams with great characters, Shazam! is easily one of the most fun superhero movies ever made; even after the euphoric Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse , that’s still a low bar to clear, but it’s worth celebrating all the same. – David Ehrlich, IndieWire

How does it compare to other DC movies?

Written by Henry Gayden and directed by  Annabelle: Creation ’s David F. Sandberg,  Shazam!  is a lot jokier and zippier than the spandex tentpoles we’ve come to expect from DC’s often-lugubrious stable of cinematic superheroes –  Chris Nashawaty,  Entertainment Weekly

Shazam! is a welcome antidote to the usual brooding DC fare, an upbeat superhero movie that feels young at heart. –  Rafer Guzman, Newsday

If the Wonder Woman and Aquaman movies represented DC Comics’ first big-screen steps away from the austere color palette of the Zach Snyder movies, Shazam! takes us deeply into primary colors in a single bound. –  Alfonso Duralde, The Wrap

Shazam  has less in common with the grim, grisly world of  Batman v Superman  and the indulgent marine opera  Aquaman,  sharing more with the likes of  Harry Potter  and a certain teenage superhero from a rival comic book company. –  Alex Abad-Santos, Vox

But It Sill Exists in the DCEU, RIGHT?

Shazam!  doesn’t waste a second letting you know this story takes place in the same world where Zod once brought a war to metropolis, Batman protects the nights of Gotham or even Aquaman rules the seas. Superman is chief among them, with name drops practically every few minutes. – Sheraz Farooqi, ComicBook Debate

It’s different and lighter in tone, but how?

…there’s a great, grinning tradition of demigod-in-spandex movies that don’t take themselves seriously. But maybe the reason Shazam! , in its fluffy-tasty origin-story way, feels like a perfectly timed tonic is that the universe of comic-book movies — not just the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or the DC Extended Universe (of which this is technically a part), but the whole omnivorous  universe  of big-budget comic-book films that is now threatening to eat cinema, if not our souls — has grown so top-heavy with its own fateful importance. –  Owen Glieberman,  Variety

For large parts of the movie,  Shazam  unfurls like a holiday movie spin on the genre. And in embracing earnest glee and heartfelt tenderness,  Shazam  allows us to fully appreciate the magical excitement and wonder that superheroes can supply. –  Alex Abad-Santos, Vox

[Director David F.] Sandberg has compared the movie to the teen-friendly Amblin Entertainment movies of the 1980s ( E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial , The Goonies , Back to the Future ) — the production company created by Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, and Frank Marshall — and there’s a lot of truth to that. –  Jason Guerrasion, Business Insider

OK, so it’s basically Big with superheroes and villains instead of businesspeople and girlfriends, but director David F. Sandberg has infused his film with so much heart and charm that it hardly matters. –  Lindsey Bahr, Associated Press

(Photo by Warner Bros. Pictures)

How is Zachary Levi as the DCEU’s Newest hero?

[Levi] plays the title character with an infectiously naïve, gee-whiz charisma that calls to mind Tom Hanks in  Big  more than anything…. Whenever Levi is on screen, wowed by his new grown-up physique (his muscles seem to have muscles) and shocked by his newly discovered powers (living lightning zaps from his fingertips), the movie soars. –  Chris Nashawaty,  Entertainment Weekly

Levi’s body language is constantly inventive, as he plays a tween who still isn’t used to a grown man’s body, let alone a superhero’s. –  Alfonso Duralde, The Wrap

But the cheeky, balsa-wood trick of Levi’s performance is that he’s not making fun — he’s totally sincere. It’s just that he’s playing a superhero with a major case of imposter syndrome. –  Owen Glieberman,  Variety

…for a guy not named Chris, he makes a pitch-perfect do-gooder. There’s a youthful wonder and innocence he captures as the Frito-chomping man-child hero, and he has all of the facial expressions and flossing skills (the dancing kind rather than the dental) to convey the pure excitement of a boy learning he can pretty much do anything. –  Brian Truitt,  USA Today

It’s unfortunate that Levi plays Shazam even younger than Angel plays Billy, and without even a sniff of empty stoicism — it often feels like Levi isn’t possessed by a teenager so much as he’s performing at a child’s birthday party — but overemphasizing the concept of their shared character has its perks. –  David Ehrlich, IndieWire

(Photo by @ Warner Bros. Pictures)

How is the Villain, Dr. Sivanna, played by Mark Strong?

After being the only shining part of 2011’s  Green Lantern,  Strong   effortlessly fills the role of Dr. Sivanna. While not the strongest villain the DCEU has seen so far, the character does a solid job being an opposite to Billy Batson. –  Sheraz Farooqi, ComicBook Debate

Strong’s melodramatic performance, contrasted with Billy’s more grounded tone and humor, makes for some of the film’s most entertaining moments. –  Molly Freeman, Screen Rant

Fans of those comics might not recognize this Sivana, much taller and more handsome than the creepy mad scientist of the original, and even though Shazam! doesn’t give us any talking tigers, there are some hints that one of the series’ most ridiculous yet most beloved villains will be popping up in future installments. –  Alfonso Duralde, The Wrap

Are there other standout performances?

But it’s Freddy Freeman ( It star Jack Dylan Grazer, giving off major Fred Savage vibes while compensating for [Asher] Angel’s comparatively flat performance) who really connects Billy to this motley crew of lost children. A sarcastic, disabled superhero fanatic who’s sadly in touch with his place in the world, Freddy would give anything to be Shazam, and Freeman marvelously conveys the bittersweet pleasures of second-hand excitement… –  David Ehrlich, IndieWire

Billy’s foster brother and resident superhero expert Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer, the clear standout of the young cast). One of  Shazam! ‘s most delightful surprises is its young cast, who play their characters not as precocious movie brats but as real three-dimensional individuals with their own idiosyncrasies. –  Angie Han, Mashable

The young actors assembled here are astounding, and immediately captivating, especially Grazer as Freddy and [Faithe] Herman as Darla who nearly steal the show. It’s why when the film asks you to believe that it’s really about family, and not merchandising, you’re on board. –  Lindsey Bahr, Associated Press

Wait, we might cry during this DC movie?

From the moment Billy walks in the door of Victor and Rosa Vasquez’s (Cooper Andrews and Marta Milans) crowded foster house, you hope that it will become his forever home. There’s a palpable, Hollywood-calibrated warmth to that place, and everyone under its multicultural roof is essential to the mix. –  David Ehrlich, IndieWire

The film takes seriously the challenges of childhood and adolescence, and the long-ranging effects of early traumas. Billy’s messy feelings about finding a new family, after losing his mother years ago, are given every bit as much weight as his journey toward becoming a true hero. –  Angie Han, Mashable

Shazam! works because of its emphasis on friendship and family: Mrs. Vasquez has a bumper sticker that reads “I’m a foster mom: What’s your superpower?” that sums up the film’s overall warm-hug vibe. –  Brian Truitt,  USA Today

Shazam!  might be the most heartwarming superhero film since Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films. –  Sheraz Farooqi, ComicBook Debate

Director David F. Sandberg has a horror background: How does he do in the superhero genre?

Sandberg has a great visual eye and it really shows. And with his horror background, he’s able to incorporate tension when needed and work in a couple of jump scares. –  Jason Guerrasion, Business Insider

Sandberg’s coherent, tactile direction also harkens back to a time before every fantasy movie was pre-vizzed within an inch of its life. Sure, there’s plenty of digital effects work, and much of it shows the strain of the movie’s relatively meager $90 million budget, but even the biggest setpieces are layered, character-driven, and littered with solid grace notes. –  David Ehrlich, IndieWire

Director David F. Sandberg made his name in horror ( Lights Out ,  Annabelle: Creation ) before helming  Shazam!  and it shows, in that he’s perhaps  too  effective at making the monsters scary. Those watching with younger or more sensitive children will want to exercise caution. –  Angie Han, Mashable

But it’s not perfect, right?

At times, particularly in the third act, the visual effects are not as polished as prior DCEU films, easily attributed to the smallest budget the franchise has seen thus far. –  Sheraz Farooqi, ComicBook Debate

Where  Shazam!  struggles is in some of the more dramatic moments, particularly Billy’s backstory about how he became part of the foster system and his search for his mother. It’s all necessary to his character arc, but certain scenes feel more contrived to move that emotional storyline forward than provide any real pathos. –  Molly Freeman, Screen Rant

Shazam!  is basically two movies in one. One with Levi and his wiseass foster brother (a fresh Jack Dylan Grazer), the other with Strong and all his snarling, computer-generated gobbledygook. And they both have the other in a headlock, wrestling for the soul of the story. –  Chris Nashawaty,  Entertainment Weekly

So, DC is continuing its winning streak?

What a thing, these current DC movies. A movie like  Justice League , which has all the “big name” characters, is atrocious. Yet movies like  Aquaman  and  Shazam! , lower grade characters, but have some personality to them, are enjoyable. And now  Shazam! , of all things – a 1940s Superman clone that, now, can’t even use his own name – sits atop the recent DC movie heap alongside  Wonder Woman . –  Mike Ryan, Uproxx

Shazam!   opens everywhere on April 5.

Shazam! (2019) 90%

Like this? Subscribe to our newsletter and get more features, news, and guides in your inbox every week.

Related News

All Marvel Movies In Order: How To Watch MCU Chronologically

The 100 Best Superhero Movies of All Time, Ranked by Tomatometer

All Marvel MCU Movies, Ranked by Tomatometer

Everything We Saw at Disney’s 2024 D23 Entertainment Showcase

The Most Anticipated Movies of 2024

The Most Anticipated Movies of 2025

Movie & TV News

Featured on rt.

All Alien Movies In Order: How to Watch Chronologically

August 13, 2024

The Freakier Friday Cast on New Music, Filming the Iconic Scream Scene, and More

August 12, 2024

Weekend Box Office: Deadpool & Wolverine Crosses $1 Billion

30 Most Popular Movies Right Now: What to Watch In Theaters and Streaming

Top Headlines

• All Alien Movies In Order: How to Watch Chronologically –
• 30 Most Popular Movies Right Now: What to Watch In Theaters and Streaming –
• 25 Most Popular TV Shows Right Now: What to Watch on Streaming –
• All 55 Billion-Dollar Movies, Ranked by Tomatometer –
• 50 Best 1980s Cult Movies & Classics –
• Best Horror Movies of 2024 Ranked – New Scary Movies to Watch –

‘Reacher’ Season 3 Makes a Major Shift Following Paramount TV Shutdown

How are daemon and rhaenyra related to daenerys targaryen, every spider-man movie, ranked by action, paramount tv is shutting down, here’s what you need to know, aaron taylor-johnson takes no prisoners in gory ‘kraven the hunter’ trailer, 'bosch: legacy' spin-off adds 'castle', 'magnum p.i.' stars to cast, video: 'the sopranos' best episode featured this unscripted element.

Things weren't supposed to be quite so treacherous for Chris and Paulie.

VIDEO: 'Supernatural' Characters We'd Love to See Helm a Prequel

A vampirate origin story? Sign us up!

VIDEO: Tek Knight’s Death in 'The Boys' Creates a 'Gen V' Plot Hole

Weren't 'The Boys' and 'Gen V' supposed to fit together?

Sorry, but I’m Rooting for The First Era in The Challenge: Battle of the Eras

MTV's The Challenge is about to turn the big 40 (like me!), and it was more-than-appropriate that the iconic reality competition brought in the best from each of the series’ four eras to see which one reigned supreme. As much as I love the new-age of the Challenge, my allegiance is firmly with the first era. I grew up watching the old-school Challenge, back when it was just Road Rules (RIP) and The Real World (may you also RIP) battling out to see which show was the best (spoiler, it was almost always Road Rules). Some of The Challenge’s more iconic characters came out of these early years, some of whom represent Team First Era in this challenge. So, I have fond memories of those glorious early years, and I think this era was certainly the best. So, while I wish the other eras the best, I’ll scream this loud and proud: LET’S GO FIRST ERA!

Do big action scenes hide bad writing?

One of the chief complaints of any movie or TV show that exists in a setting that could offer action scenes but chooses not to is that the story was boring without the action scenes. But as someone who sat through all the seasons of Arrow and watched as  Stephen Amell  flipped and twirled and danced through endless fight choreography, the allure of fight scenes and action sequences has lost its luster. In fact, often times I feel like a lot of action is jammed into a story in order to balm over the weak writing. This isn't always the case. Obviously, there are movies out there that are packed with action and tell a compelling story as well. But as I was finishing off the newest season of  House of the Dragon , the largest complaint I kept hearing was "this season was boring." Was it though? When it comes to fantasy or sci-fi or any sort of genre storytelling, there seems to be an obsession with large, expansive battle scenes a

Rest in Paradise, Paramount TV

It’s never easy saying goodbye, especially to someone (or something) that you didn’t get a chance to know. That’s how I felt when Collider’s Marisa Williams broke the sad news that Paramount TV Studios was shutting its doors, and moving its properties to CBS Studios. I couldn’t believe it. I never really got the opportunity to learn more about the studio that gifted us such gems as Reacher and Time Bandits . Sure, times may be changin’, as more-and-more people are cutting the old cord and moving to streaming, but I feel Paramount TV Studios had potential that still needed to be tapped; and, sadly, we’ll never get to see that potential bloom. So, I guess, this is it. Goodbye, Paramount TV Studios. We'll pour a cold one out for you. 

What to Watch

The 15 best westerns on netflix right now (august 2024), the 25 best shows on paramount+ right now (august 2024), 'umbrella academy' and the 26 other best fantasy shows on netflix right now (august 2024), the 12 most underrated period dramas on max right now (august 2024), the 88 best shows on max right now (august 2024), 'the gentlemen' season 2 gets a criminally large update.

There's more to come from this empire yet.

How the ‘RHONJ’ Season 14 Finale Turned Into the Biggest Snoozefest No One Expected

The season finale ended not with a bang but a whimper

'Skincare' Review: Elizabeth Banks Thriller Threatens Your Skin and Sanity

Inspired by a true story, the film about rival estheticians is tonally inconsistent and confusing.

Lisa Kudrow Explains How a DM from Taika Waititi Landed Her a Role in ‘Time Bandits’

Before accepting the offer to do ‘Time Bandits,’ Kudrow asked Waititi, “Am I the piñata, or do you wanna fly me to the piñata party?”

Collider’s Latest Giveaway Will Help One Lucky Winner Attend Fan Expo Canada

Our latest giveaway will see one lucky winner walk off with a pair of 3-day passes to the event in Toronto.

David Morrissey Heads Back to 'Sherwood' as Season 2 Sets BritBox Release Date

The first season was BAFTA-nominated.

The 10 Best 'Emily in Paris' Quotes, Ranked

"I'm not somebody who can share a crepe. I need the whole crepe."

This Is What Makes Daenerys Targaryen Different From Other Dragonriders

The Mother of Dragons is unlike any other Targaryen in history.

'We Are Zombies' Review: 'Turbo Kid' Creators Make Their Own 'Shaun of the Dead'

The new horror comedy lacks the world-building that makes zombie classics so memorable.

Benioff & Weiss Actually Got the Azor Ahai Prophecy Right in 'Game of Thrones'

Were Dan and Dave right the entire time?

The 10 Best Joey Quotes From 'Friends', Ranked

"How you doin'?"

The 10 Best R-Rated Horror Movies of the 2010s, Ranked

These scary movies don't mess around.

Robert Redford Directed This Oscar-Nominated True Story About a Rigged Game Show

Redford's movie completely dismantles the American Dream.

The 10 Oldest-Looking Teenagers in Movies

"He's just a kid, no older than my son."

Is 'The Tattooist of Auschwitz' a True Story?

And how much of the Peacock show can be verified?

15 Movie Characters Who Don't Appear Until the End

Some of cinema's most intriguing characters make their grand entrance only at the end of the movie.

The 10 Most Pointless Movie Remakes, Ranked

"OH, NO, NOT THE REMAKES! AAAHHH, THE REMAKES ARE IN MY EYES!"

John Cena Confirms How Many WWE Dates He Has Left in 2025 [Exclusive]

The leader of the Cenation is hanging up the jorts.

The Best 'Jaws' Sequel Is the One That Didn’t Get Made

A killer shark was only part of the problem.

'House of the Dragon's Most Devastating Naval Battle Is Coming in Season 3

"If this be victory, I pray I never win another."

Advertisement

Supported by

‘The Outfit’ Review: The Violent Measure of a Man

In this gangster exercise set in 1956 Chicago, Mark Rylance plays a tailor who has very large scissors and some sharp moves.

• Share full article

By Manohla Dargis

The gangsters in “The Outfit” have plenty of tough moves, but none of these guys hold the screen like Mark Rylance when he just stands or stares — or sews. His character, Leonard, is a bespoke tailor who once worked on Savile Row and now practices his trade in an unassuming shop in Chicago. There, he snips and stitches with a bowed head and delicate, precisely articulated movements that express the beauty and grace of Rylance’s art.

Sometimes, all you need in a movie is a great actor — well, almost all. Certainly Rylance’s presence enriches “The Outfit,” a moderately amusing gangster flick that doesn’t make a great deal of sense. It’s a nostalgia-infused genre exercise set in 1956 that centers on Leonard, who, having left London after the war, now makes suits for a clientele that includes underworld types, some of whom use his shop for business. Day after day, he works in his somber, claustrophobic store while dodgy types parade in and out, dropping envelopes in a locked box. Like the box, Leonard is a mystery that the movie teases out one hint at a time.

Leonard takes longer to open, although the box’s contents are central to the puzzle that also involves a clandestine recording, a secret romance, rampaging rival crews and the larger mysterious criminal enterprise that gives the movie its title. There’s also Leonard’s employee, Mabel (Zoey Deutch), one of two women in the mix; Nikki Amuka-Bird also pops in as a glamorous villain. For the most part, Mabel is around to greet the customers and brighten up the store’s gloomy interior: She smiles at one villain (Dylan O’Brien), gives the cold shoulder to another (Johnny Flynn) and so on.

The director Graham Moore and his screenwriting partner, Johnathan McClain, move their limited pieces around, spill the requisite blood and modestly complicate the proceedings. The story is self-aware, chatty and thin; it plays out as an extended cat-and-mouse, though who’s who in this particular duet shifts over time, if not all that surprisingly. Mostly, the movie seems like it was concocted by a couple of cinephiles who wanted to play with genre for genre’s sake. And why not? That’s as fine a reason as any to dust off some fedoras and hire actors of varying abilities for some retro American gangster cosplay on a British soundstage.

“The Outfit” basically consists of characters moving in, out and through the store’s two main rooms, spatial limitations that can feel stagy and be tricky to manage. This is Moore’s feature directing debut (he wrote “The Imitation Game”) but, working with the director of photography Dick Pope, he handles the space thoughtfully. With a muted palette, shifts in the depth of field and complementary staging and camera moves, Moore and Pope map the store’s (and story’s) geography from different vantage points. And, in sync with Rylance’s finely calibrated performance, they insure Leonard remains the visual axis.

Rylance put on a fright wig to play William Kunstler in “The Trial of the Chicago 7” and wore Mr. Ed-size choppers for his role as the eccentric zillionaire in “ Don’t Look Up .” But he’s a master of restraint and he doesn’t need accessories to hold you as he proved with his mesmerizing turn in Steven Spielberg’s Cold War drama “ Bridge of Spies .” Rylance’s role here isn’t as rich, but one of the attractions of “The Outfit” is that it allows him to etch his character in pockets of filigreed solitude. Leonard’s focused yet effortless meticulousness when he works — how his hands smooth the fabric and control his enormous shears — define this man more than any line of dialogue. You also get to see Rylance engaging with a worthy foil.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes
• Movie Reviews

Somewhere in Queens review: Ray Romano's directorial debut is slight, but moving

Ray Romano writes, directs, and stars in this familiar, heartwarming story of a father offering misguided help to his son.

Maureen Lee Lenker is a senior writer at Entertainment Weekly with over seven years of experience in the entertainment industry. An award-winning journalist, she's written for Turner Classic Movies, Ms. Magazine , The Hollywood Reporter , and more. She's worked at EW for six years covering film, TV, theater, music, and books. The author of EW's quarterly romance review column, "Hot Stuff," Maureen holds Master's degrees from both the University of Southern California and the University of Oxford. Her debut novel, It Happened One Fight , is now available. Follow her for all things related to classic Hollywood, musicals, the romance genre, and Bruce Springsteen.

Ray Romano goes back to his roots in more ways than one with Somewhere in Queens .

The film, which marks his directorial debut (out now in theaters), stars Romano as Leo Russo, an Italian American who lives in Queens and works for his father's construction company. With his wife, Angela ( Laurie Metcalf) , recovering from breast cancer, his high point of the week is watching his son "Sticks" (Jacob Ward) play varsity basketball. When Sticks has a shot at a college scholarship, Leo goes to dubious ends to help ensure his future.

The warm, boisterous family at the heart of Somewhere in Queens could be next-door neighbors to the Barones of Everybody Loves Raymond , the long-running sitcom that earned Romano his fame. Metcalfe is sterner and more deeply Italian than Patricia Heaton's Deb, but the dynamic of harried housewife and hapless husband remains. So too does the presence of an antagonistic brother and a loud, loving family constantly in each other's business. It is this family that gives the film its heart.

We've seen plenty of Italian broods in media, but generally they are more The Sopranos , less Modern Family . Romano and co-writer Mark Stegemann go to great lengths to paint a family that is charming and hilarious in their relatability. I'm Croatian, not Italian, but the sacred nature of a (very early) Sunday dinner; the ubiquity of family celebrations (often tied to religious sacraments); and the loud, nosy, loving manner the Russos possess is immediately familiar to my Mediterranean heritage.

We get hints from the beginning that Leo is dissatisfied with his life — and he funnels those regrets into Sticks. Leo's midlife crisis comes via his aspirations for his son. It's as if Leo were a modern-day George Bailey, the central figure of It's a Wonderful Life ; Leo learns the lesson of the value of his life not from an angel, but through his misguided efforts to help his son. Leo's choices and what he asks of Sticks' ex-girlfriend Dani (a radiantly morally conflicted Sadie Stanley) are downright icky if you think about them too hard, but the film has the sense to call attention to that rather than sweep it under the rug.

Leo is obsessed with Rocky , with rooting for the underdog in the face of life's obstacles. But Somewhere in Queens doesn't have the scale of a Rocky film. That's in the case of tone and heart, not production budget. It's engaging and tackles everything from parental expectations to the trauma of cancer survivors, but it's also relatively slight. Even when Leo gets drunk and his secrets are exposed, there's no great moment of reckoning with his father, no sense that he will never forget to appreciate what he has.

Romano is a skilled, if not flashy director, bringing a simplicity to his framing. The Russos inhabit a world that bristles with its normalcy, and Romano captures that in every image, whether it be the greenery of a college campus or the lived-in trappings of a kitchen. There's nothing particularly visually arresting, but he does have an eye for human relationships and naturalistic performances.

The title, linking Leo and Sticks to their hometown, might be location-based, but it's the acting, not the vistas that really shines here, from Angela's tearful admission that she wants her son to stay home because she's worried about losing time with him to Leo's gradual realization that no part of him wants to be unfaithful to his wife. Stanley is the breakout as the entirely humane Dani, torn between her desire to help Sticks flourish and her disinterest in him as a long-term romantic partner. She brings her internal conflict to vivid life with a mere furrow of the brow or a sidelong glance.

Because the mid-budget movie feels more on the verge of extinction than ever, I'm loath to call Somewhere in Queens forgettable. But it is. It's quiet and charming and has some beautiful, if also familiar things to say about fathers and sons, and the question of legacy. But it's not breaking any new or revelatory ground. Romano takes the beats of Everybody Loves Raymond and replaces the comedy with a bittersweet melancholy. For better or worse, the dysfunction — and the love — remain. B

Want more movie news? Sign up for Entertainment Weekly 's free newsletter to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more.

Related content:

• Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret review: A charming adaptation of the Judy Blume classic
• The Super Mario Bros. Movie review: This faithful adaptation often feels like a cutscene
• Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves review: This fun fantasy romp is not just for nerds

Related Articles

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Fandango at Home
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• 78% Cuckoo Link to Cuckoo
• 97% Dìdi Link to Dìdi
• 97% Good One Link to Good One

New TV Tonight

• 95% Industry: Season 3
• 93% Bad Monkey: Season 1
• 100% Solar Opposites: Season 5
• -- Emily in Paris: Season 4
• -- Bel-Air: Season 3
• -- Rick and Morty: The Anime: Season 1
• -- SEAL Team: Season 7
• -- RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars: Season 1
• -- Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures: Season 2
• -- Worst Ex Ever: Season 1

Most Popular TV on RT

• 59% The Umbrella Academy: Season 4
• 81% A Good Girl's Guide to Murder: Season 1
• 78% Star Wars: The Acolyte: Season 1
• 95% Batman: Caped Crusader: Season 1
• 100% Supacell: Season 1
• 100% Women in Blue: Season 1
• 80% Mr. Throwback: Season 1
• 78% Presumed Innocent: Season 1
• 77% Lady in the Lake: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• 95% Industry: Season 3 Link to Industry: Season 3
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

All Alien Movies In Order: How to Watch Chronologically

30 Most Popular Movies Right Now: What to Watch In Theaters and Streaming

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Awards Tour

The Freakier Friday Cast on New Music, Filming the Iconic Scream Scene, and More

Weekend Box Office: Deadpool & Wolverine Crosses $1 Billion

• Trending on RT
• Video Game Movies
• Best Movies of 2024
• Re-Release Calendar
• TV Premiere Dates

The Last Picture Show Reviews

If the sequel is a mixed success, The Last Picture Show, particularly in this restored version, holds up like gangbusters. It's truly one of the finest films ever made about small-town America.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Apr 17, 2024

The key arc that all three of its young protagonists – Sonny (Timothy Bottoms), Jacy (Cybill Shepherd), and Duane (Jeff Bridges) – go through is the realization that they have the power to hurt other people.

Full Review | Nov 28, 2023

An American classic in every sense.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/4 | Nov 19, 2023

Because of its loose structure, the even focus on detail, and the remarkably free hand of the director, The Last Picture Show is the brilliant realization of the most important new tendencies in American films.

Full Review | Oct 26, 2023

Because of its compassion, its intelligence, and its artistic integrity while dealing with what is part nostalgia, The Last Picture Show may be one of those rare "instant classics."

The Last Picture Show is a masterpiece. It is not merely the best American movie of a rather dreary year; it is the most impressive work by a young American director since Citizen Kane.

It's quite a remarkable film, in virtually every way, created by a young New York director, whose feeling for filmmaking obviously runs both deep and strong, and a young Texas author with equally keen feelings for his land.

Clearly, the outstanding performance comes from Cloris Leachman, as the dowdy, pathetic coach's wife, who will settle for love -- any kind of love... She is tremendous, and totally unforgettable.

Bogdanovich, keeping his audience in a suspended state of compassionate amusement, illuminates boredom from within and without and makes it entertaining.

The character, Sam the Lion, emerges with a status equal to a Duke Mantee, Cool Hand Luke or a Rhett Butler. Somehow, he is larger than the film and the role. Mr. Johnson emerges a star.

The Last Picture Show is an exceptional and original work, not so much a movie-movie as a film buff's film, an exercise in regret and a reminder of various losses.

It doesn't take very long into this black-and-white film (by the end of its 119 minutes you must surely recognize the potency, the starkness in this tint) to realize that a deeply moving motion picture experience is unfolding.

All the principals deliver striking acting performances. But certainly Johnson's, with his simple, touching speech by the lake recalling the days of glory... deserves a supporting actor Oscar.

Full Review | Oct 25, 2023

The movie gets to you quietly. You are likely to succumb to its melancholy spell without knowing quite why. But you realize, with absolute certainty, that you are watching something extraordinary in the way of filmmaking.

At a time when everything about movies is frantic and vulgar, it's rather nice to savor a homey, quiet film like The Last Picture Show -- one that's witty, wise and even a little wistful.

Ben Johnson is a magnificent Sam the Lion, a grizzled, aging cowboy who seems to have walked out of an old John Ford picture which he did, (many of them).

A perfectly beautiful movie, because Bogdanovich knows perfectly the limits of styles and forms and he keeps it clear and pure, within the limits he set for himself.

Like few films in recent years, Peter Bogdanovich's The Last Picture Show ends with us wanting to see more of the people who occupy the small town world that is Anarene, Tex., in 1951. This emotion is not easily achieved.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/4 | Oct 25, 2023

As drama, the film is slow, evolving at a pace that may tire you. Stick with it. It is funny, sexy, bleak and depressing.

Whether for its honesty and careful blend of pathos and humor or the virtuoso performances of Timothy Bottoms, Jeff Bridges, Cloris Leachman, Ellen Burstyn, and especially Ben Johnson, The Last Picture Show... is a powerful and moving portrait of a town.

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Auto Racing
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Book Review: ‘The Future Was Now’ is a brilliant look back at the groundbreaking movie summer of ’82

This cover image released by Flatiron shows “The Future Was Now: Madmen, Maverick, and the Summer Sci-Fi Abducted Hollywood” by Chris Nashawaty. (Flatiron Books via AP)

• Copy Link copied

The moments are seared into the pop culture pantheon. And our collective consciousness.

A friendly alien taking Henry Thomas’ character Elliott on an airborne bike ride with the full moon as a backdrop in “E.T.” Carol Anne (Heather O’Rourke) in “Poltergeist,” getting out of bed, staring into a pulsating TV screen, turning to her family and warning: “They’re here.” Arnold Schwarzenegger’s titular hero Conan the Barbarian succinctly listing for his compatriots what is best in life: “To crush your enemies. See them driven before you. And hear the lamentation of their women.”

Former Entertainment Weekly film critic Chris Nashawaty walks readers through the significance (and making) of each of the films, as well as five other science fiction/fantasy classics — “Blade Runner,” “Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior,” “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” “The Thing” and “Tron” — that, incredibly, were released within two months of each other in the summer of 1982.

In the ultra-entertaining and informative “The Future Was Now: Madmen, Mavericks, and the Epic Sci-Fi Summer of 1982,” Nashawaty makes the case that the octet of flicks altered the trajectory, not only of the auteurs at the helm, but of Hollywood filmmaking.

“The summer of 1982 was the moment when sci-fi, fantasy, and splashy blockbusters ripped from the pages of comic books would grow up,” Nashawaty writes. “These films could no longer be nonchalantly dismissed as kids’ stuff.

“They became the harbingers of a new era and eventually the most dominant force in popular entertainment.”

His thesis is solid, sure. But it’s not what makes “The Future Was Now” a great read. The behind-the-scenes intrigue does that.

Nashawaty digs deep into the history of how these groundbreaking films got — and were — made. Perhaps most fascinating is the tale of burgeoning cinema maestro Steven Spielberg leading his young charges through the filming of the now-classic “E.T.” and more or less taking over the production of “Poltergeist,” a much different kind of film that now is considered to be a landmark in the horror genre.

Add in the complex origins of the “Star Trek” and “Mad Max” sequels, plus Ridley Scott’s odyssey in transforming a Philip K. Dick novel into the big-screen cult classic “Blade Runner,” and you’ve got a must-read for any cinephile.

The summer of ’82 paved “the way for our current all-blockbusters-all-the-time era,” Nashawaty writes.

But the real treat is having a front-row seat as the author’s painstaking research and expert recounting bring to life how these silver-screen gems came to be.

AP book reviews: https://apnews.com/hub/book-reviews

Movie Review: 'Tuesday,' with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, is strange, emotional and fiercely original

This image released by A24 shows Julia Louis-Dreyfus in a scene from "Tuesday." Credit: AP/Kevin Baker

Death has taken many forms in cinema. It’s been Bengt Ekerot. Ian McKellen. John Cleese. Even Brad Pitt with blonde highlights. But in “ Tuesday,” filmmaker Daina O. Pusić's bold, fantastical and affecting debut, death looks like a lot like a macaw that's seen better days.

Covered in a thick layer of grime and oil with patches of feathers missing, “Tuesday’s” Death can be as big as a room or as small as an ear canal. Its booming, gravelly voice (that of actor Arinzé Kene) sounds ancient and otherworldly. And it all adds up to something profoundly unsettling. Not exactly a comforting welcome into the afterlife, or whatever comes next.

“Tuesday,” expanding nationwide Friday, is about death, and acceptance, between a mother and her dying daughter. But this is no Hallmark affair fitting for a sympathy card. It is prickly, wry, somewhat unsentimental, a bit gritty and awfully painful at times. Or maybe it’s just uniquely British. And you may just find yourself in a puddle of your own tears as a result.

Now, in terms of cinematic emotional blackmail, a parent coming to terms with a child’s imminent death is pretty much in the red zone. That sort of setup could produce involuntary tears from an audience regardless of the level of talent involved. Thankfully for us, there is immense creativity and vision both in front of and behind the camera, including not just the writer-director but the special effects experts responsible for Death as well as the haunting and innovative sound design.

Lola Petticrew plays the titular Tuesday, a teen with a “Breathless” pixie cut, a love of jokes and rap music and a terminal illness that has bound her to an oxygen tank and the use of a wheelchair. Her mother, Zora ( Julia Louis-Dreyfus ), has entirely disconnected from the situation. She tiptoes around the house waiting for the nurse, Billie (a lovely Leah Harvey), to do the caretaking. She stays out all day, pawning household items for cash to pay for the care, ignoring Tuesday’s calls and occasionally falling asleep on park benches. At home, she doesn’t want to talk to Tuesday about anything real — the death, her job, their precarious financial position — it’s all been deeply repressed and compartmentalized and is making everyone crazy.

Get the latest on celebs, TV and more.

By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy .

The day we meet Zora and Tuesday is the day Death arrives. Billie has left Tuesday on the patio for just a minute to start a bath. All of a sudden, the girl who was just joking around is having an episode, gasping for air, when the macaw lands by her side. Death is actually the first character introduced, in an unnerving series of deaths setting an ominous tone that will loom throughout. Some are ready to go, begging for relief. Some are just scared. And all have the same outcome once he’s put his wing around them.

Tuesday, however, decides to tell a joke. This disarms Death (who bursts out laughing) and suddenly they’re in conversation together. She gives him a bath, puts on some music and asks a favor: She’d like to say goodbye to her mom first. Death obliges.

This image released by A24 shows Lola Petticrew in a scene from "Tuesday." Credit: AP

Of course the story both is and isn’t that simple. “Tuesday” becomes some strange combination of body horror, fairy tale, domestic drama and apocalypse thriller. It is weird and transfixing — never predictable and never boring. Louis-Dreyfus is both chilling and deeply empathetic as this woman who has been paralyzed by grief even before it’s happened. She seems to be preparing for her own death in a way, unable and unwilling to process a life without her daughter who, at this point, doesn’t even realize that her mother still loves her. Petticrew holds their own, going head-to-head with Louis-Dreyfus at her cruelest, exhibiting a wisdom beyond their years and fitting of a person who’s had to grow up and face death far too early.

“Tuesday” is ultimately a cathartic affair, whether death is top of mind at the moment or not. And it announces the arrival of a daring filmmaker worth following.

“Tuesday,” an A24 release in theaters nationwide Friday, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for language. Running time: 111 minutes. Three and a half stars out of four.

Most Popular

Top stories, stay logged in..

The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in.

Unlimited Digital Access Only 25¢ for 5 months

Suggested companies

Rocket mortgage, allianz partners usa.

NewDay USA   Reviews

In the Mortgage Lender category

Visit this website

Company activity See all

Write a review

Reviews 4.7.

8,537 total

Most relevant

Amazing customer service

Amazing customer service. Highly recommend for any Veterans wanting to liquidate high interest loans to Cary you through tough times. Amazing company with you in mind. Thank you so much for helping me with all my financial issues. Much Appreciated Jon Helberg USN

Date of experience : August 12, 2024

We have worked with Newday USA on two…

We have worked with Newday USA on two separate occasions. Both times the process was seamless and very quick. Everyone that we worked with was stellar!!! Thank you Newday USA for all you do for the Veterans! We will definitely share our experience with other Veterans. Thanks again for everything!!

Date of experience : August 05, 2024

Reply from NewDay USA

We're honored to be your preferred mortgage lender. Thank you for trusting our team to aid you in your home loan goals and for your recommendation.

Joe Delgado

Joe Delgado made the whole process easy from start to finish. Professional, courteous and very knowledgeable. Joe always made himself available to answer my many questions with openness and honesty.

Date of experience : August 08, 2024

This is the second mortgage I have used…

This is the second mortgage I have used from New Day; refi and home mortgage. Professionalism from associates into notch. Quick and thorough results that provides ease for the customer. I have already informed my son (a Vet) to use in the future. Thanks for the seamless and stress free experience!

Date of experience : August 09, 2024

We're honored to be your preferred mortgage lender. Thank you for continuing to utilize our services and for trusting our team to get it done. Please do not hesitate to reach out should you have any questions regarding your new home loan. Congratulations on your home purchase.

Gabby was very informative

Gabby was very informative, kept me appraised of what was happening. She did not mind answering questions when my wife or I did not understand something or repeating something if we did not catch everything the first time.

It's wonderful to hear that Gabby had such a positive impact on your refinance experience and that she ensured you were properly informed throughout the process. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

Excellent service

Joe Delgado is the man I worked with. He was professional, knowledgeable and very friendly. Joe kept in contact with me to keep me up to date on the process. I would definately recommend NewDay to all.

We're glad to hear that you had a pleasant experience with Joe and that he was able to keep you informed throughout the loan process. Thank you for your recommendation.

I appreciate the opportunity to express…

I appreciate the opportunity to express my view of NewDay USA; The speed of which I was able to complete my loan was EXCEPTIONAL. My initial contact with NewDay on 16 July 2024, put me in contact with Mr. Lionel A. Marshall, Personal Account Executive. Lionel assured me that he would be with me throughout the process and that he would ensure a smooth process. HE DELIVERD, I signed my documents on 3 August 2024. Each required action taken by NewDay USA was scheduled and completed in a timely manner consistent with Lionel’s word. I joked with Lionel and asked him if he threw a bucket of grease out in front because everything and I mean everything went as smooth as it could have possibly gone (without exception). I am confident that NewDay USA commercials have been seen by many of my brother and sister veterans and to you I will say BELIEVE THEM, they are here for us, and they deliver. LIONEL A. MARSHALL: SIR YOU REPRESENT YOUR COMPANY EXTREMELY WELL.

Date of experience : August 03, 2024

Wow, your review just made our day. Our team aims to provide top-notch service, with Lionel always challenging himself to exceed that goal by going above and beyond for our Veterans. We're grateful for your kind words. Feel free to let us know if there's anything else we can do for you.

Brandon Liebfred is exceptional from beginning and even after closing; consummate professional!

Brandon Liebfred represented New Day in the most professional way possible. In this economy, my skepticism was at an all time high. He put me at ease and offered terms and conditions tailor made for my family’s financial well being. I highly recommend the company and Brandon for all of your mortgage needs.

Date of experience : July 31, 2024

We appreciate you highlighting Brandon's service while aiding you in accomplishing your home loan goals. Thank you for your recommendation.

Easy to contact our salesperson

Easy to contact our salesperson. He was exceptionally polite and attentive to our needs. He also worked to include what debts we wanted to pay off.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and for trusting us with creating a loan program that met your financial goals. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions on your new home loan.

Loan experience

Braydon was a great person. He was so helpful helping my husband and I to get the loan that we needed. He stayed in touch with us on a daily basis, even when his father was in the hospital. Thank you for hiring such a kind and thoughtful person.

Date of experience : July 22, 2024

Wow, your review just made our day. We're so proud of Brandon, and agree that he is a great person who always goes above and beyond for our Veterans. Thank you so much for highlighting how Brandon shows his passion through work.

The process was seamless & quick

The process was seamless & quick. My officer (Blaine Rutledge) kept me well. Informed & only called/when necessary

Thank you for sharing your experience with Blaine.

At no time did we feel we were alone…

At no time did we feel we were alone through out this process. Our Newsday USA representative, Colson Busher, kept us on track and guided us through out the steps of required documentation. He also provided guidance and encouragement as we proceeded. He was a great representative of the company. All calls are recorded, so everything I have stated can be verified. This company truly has the veterans welfare as their main goal. Their commercials are actually true and factual. I can't say enough great things about this company, they made it possible for me to stay in my home. Thank you and God bless you all for your dedication to helping Veterans. Tom Vasek

Date of experience : July 29, 2024

We're thrilled that your loan process with Colson was a positive one. We strive to provide the best service, and based on your feedback Colson exceeded that expectation. If you need assistance down the road, remember that we're just a call away. Thank you for your kind words.

Mr Escobar was great from start to…

Mr Escobar was great from start to finish. Very attention to detail and always thinking ahead. Mr Escobar is truly a professional in his field of housing financing. May I say it truly shows that he cares about his clients that he is charged to take care of through this process.

It's wonderful to hear that you had such a positive experience with Ediberto and that his passion for servicing our Veterans was evident throughout your interactions with him. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

The professional and courtesy of…NewDay and Mr Strickland.

The professional and courtesy of everyone that I have dealt with on this refinancing experience. They kept me informed on every step of the process. Everything was explained to me in a professional manner and all my questions we answered very professional also. I would recommend this company or agent to everyone. I really appreciate Mr Strickland on his outstanding performance and performance in keep me well informed, and completing my refinance in a record time. If I ever need to do this again NewDay is who I would choose.

Date of experience : July 10, 2024

Thank you so much for your kind words. We're happy to hear that our team provided you with exceptional service, keeping you informed throughout the loan process. We welcome the opportunity to assist you in the future should you ever need to refinance again or purchase a new home.

new day was wonderful and great to me

theNew day expenence was great and wonderfulto me and the personal was evey helpfulwithmy lona. handle the paper work ease fro me

It's great to hear that you had a wonderful experience with our team and that we were able to make your refinance process easy.

A Very Satisfactoy Refinancing

From start to finish, our refinancing process was smooth and timely. Our notary requirement was set up and handled while on vacation and we appreciated the flexibility and coordination. Cody was very thorough and professional in our application and loan process. It was an excellent experience and one that we are grateful.

We appreciate you taking the time to detail your experience with Cody. Cody is one of our most experienced and we're thrilled to hear that between him and the notary your overall experience was excellent.

Working with knowledgable and true…

Working with knowledgable and true professional people who knew what needed to be done to finish it on time.

We're happy to hear that our team provided you with a professional experience during the loan process.

Both Ben Taylor and Julian Zivkovic are…

Both Ben Taylor and Julian Zivkovic are excellent ! Neither of them seemed to tire of my endless questions. The entire process was open and transparent and honestly took less time than I had imagined.

We appreciate you taking the time to highlight the service you received from Ben and Julian during your loan process. Ben and Julian are both some of our most experienced representatives, and we're happy to see that their efforts provided for a quick and transparent process for you.

We are very please with approval our…

We are very please with approval our loan Ryan was so helpful if we had any questions he was there to help and quite us . Ryan is a great. Asset to your company Thank you for help it is appreciated many good blessing

Date of experience : July 20, 2024

Thank you for sharing this feedback on your experience with Ryan. We're happy to hear that Ryan was able to keep you informed throughout the loan process.

After being with New day

After being with New day, USA for a few years, they decided to not let me have access to my account because my husband is a primary if he dies I guess it just doesn’t get paid. I’ve talk to Christian twice and he refuses to give me access says that he needs my husband to call in why? when I’m on the account I have no idea so we’re gonna move our mortgage to somebody else that’s willing to work with me and my husband..

Date of experience : July 17, 2024

Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to serve you and your family with your financial needs. We appreciate you taking the time to provide us with this valuable feedback, which allowed us to identify areas of training and improvements. We deeply regret that our representative gave you incorrect information. We would appreciate the opportunity to make things right and clarify any questions you may have. A representative has attempted to contact you but was unable to connect with you. Please contact him directly or our team at [email protected] so we could discuss in more details.