Poirot airs his theories in ‘Death in the Clouds’ (1935)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): Agatha Christie tries a new riff on the closed-room mystery with a closed-cabin mystery.
Poirot airs his theories in ‘Death in the Clouds’ (1935)
‘Those Who Wish Me Dead’ blends personal tale, grand disaster
Movie review: Director Taylor Sheridan’s thriller keeps the focus on characters, including a standout Finn Little as a kid in a harrowing situation.
‘Woman in the Window’ is too transparent
Movie review: Based on a 2018 A.J. Finn novel, “The Woman in the Window” never got under my skin the way I think director Joe Wright wanted it to.
‘Hellbound: Hellraiser II’ (1988) another gore-effects feast
Frightening Friday (Movie review): It’s nice to have Ashley Laurence back, but the story loses tension in this grander “Hellraiser” sequel.
‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ (1968) is as cold as space itself
Throwback Thursday (Movie, book reviews): “2001: A Space Odyssey” influenced later works such as “Contact,” “Event Horizon” and “Ad Astra.”
Daniels shines in sweet ‘Purple Rose of Cairo’ (1985)
Woody Wednesday (Movie review): Featuring a nice early Jeff Daniels turn, the fantastical “Purple Rose of Cairo” demonstrates Woody Allen’s love for cinema.
‘Sphere’ (1998) takes its place among sci-fi mind-benders
Michael Crichton Monday (Movie review): I can see why “Sphere” is disliked by many, but I’m surprised it’s not loved by more SF enthusiasts.
Christie gets theatrical in ‘Murder in Three Acts’ (1935)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): This novel doesn’t have the strictest three-act structure, but it does tap into the notion of life as a performance.
Summer movie preview 2021: Calendar of releases, plus 10 films in spotlight
Summer movie preview: Last summer didn’t have much of a movie season, but signs point to 2021 being a notch closer to normalcy.
Barker’s ‘Hellraiser’ (1987) is artistic gore-horror
Frightening Friday (Movie review): While I wouldn’t categorize myself as a gore-hound after watching “Hellraiser,” I do admire Barker’s film as art.