With an assist from screenwriter Wallace King, writer-producer Glenn M. Stewart translates his 2004 stage musical “The City Club” to the screen. Using vintage L.A. interiors, Rachel Samuels (“The Suicide Club”) obliges with indiscreet over-stylization. She ladles dollops of homage all over this deco-laced noir in the key of blues. Chaz Davenport (Gabriel Mann) runs a posh nightspot where he deals with catfighting singers: Crystal (Bijou Phillips) versus Madelaine (Izabella Miko). His old man ran Consolidated Power. Now Chaz finds out his supposed suicide was in fact an assassination. Intrigue grips the electricity utility. Allegory-heavy blackouts accent hardboiled poetry, chic nihilists, sultry revues, brassy dames, gleaming handguns, lethal lugs and a corrupt governor. The shadow-rich lighting, lavish song styling, and feverish gloom are catchy. With Elias Koteas and Toledo Diamond. 83m. (Bill Stamets)
Heart: A Review of Soul The real world is soulful, too, in Pixar's bountiful life of the mind.
Seeing The Elephant: A Review Of Babylon The boisterous, brawling yet melancholy "Babylon," is a variation on film history, but more drawing for drama. It's gaudy and mean, celebratory and sorrowful.
Uncanny Ally: A Review Of M3GAN "M3GAN" sells itself in its first handful of seconds in how it introduces the handiwork of roboticist Gemma (Allison Williams, "Get Out") and her present product, PurrPetual Petz from Funki.
Fine Line: A Review Of Shortcomings It's a season for the comeuppance of a curmudgeon in Randall Park's smart, biting "Shortcomings," adapted by Adrian Tomine from his graphic novel of the same name.
Spawn Sacrifice: A Review Of The Creator "The Creator" is richly detailed, punchy, pulpy, punkish entertainment that still has highly serious subjects in mind, without growing didactic and with substantial heart.
With an assist from screenwriter Wallace King, writer-producer Glenn M. Stewart translates his 2004 stage musical “The City Club” to the screen. Using vintage L.A. interiors, Rachel Samuels (“The Suicide Club”) obliges with indiscreet over-stylization. She ladles dollops of homage all over this deco-laced noir in the key of blues. Chaz Davenport (Gabriel Mann) runs a posh nightspot where he deals with catfighting singers: Crystal (Bijou Phillips) versus Madelaine (Izabella Miko). His old man ran Consolidated Power. Now Chaz finds out his supposed suicide was in fact an assassination. Intrigue grips the electricity utility. Allegory-heavy blackouts accent hardboiled poetry, chic nihilists, sultry revues, brassy dames, gleaming handguns, lethal lugs and a corrupt governor. The shadow-rich lighting, lavish song styling, and feverish gloom are catchy. With Elias Koteas and Toledo Diamond. 83m. (Bill Stamets)
