The Movie Guy

After 16 years, horror director Eli Roth (“Hostel,” ”The Green Inferno”) has finally given fans of his “Grindhouse” spoof slasher film trailer what they wanted- the feature film of “Thanksgiving” has come to fruition. Should they have been careful what they wished for? Because Roth has made “Thanksgiving” with care, fans can breathe easy and give thanks.

Leave it to Martin Scorsese to turn the century-old crime story of “Killers of the Flower Moon” into a three-and-a half hour cinematic tapestry but, when combining mob-like murders and method acting, nobody does it better.

If you enjoyed the true financial fiasco depicted in Adam McKay’s “The Big Short,” “Dumb Money” provides an equally true and entertaining look at the impact social media had on Wall Street with a two month takeover of GameStop stock shares.

It’s amazing how a good sports movie can suck you in: take a talented, determined underdog who, with a small support group, overcomes obstacles to show they’ve got what it takes. “Gran Turismo” sucks you in.

Despite its drawbacks, “The Last Voyage of the Demeter” treats its terror movie trope seriously, particularly in the logic and likable cast departments. More ghost story than gore fest, it’s decent enough to wind up being a decent movie in return.

Imagine spiritual possession as a party game and you’ve got “Talk to Me,” the debut horror film from Australian twin directors Danny and Michael Philippou that doesn’t cheat filmgoers with jump scares for jolts- they go right for the jugular.

Independent film lovers know the brains behind “Barbie”- director Greta Gerwig (“Lady Bird”) and co-writer/husband Noah Baumbach (“Marriage Story”) and the result is a smart satiric social commentary. Making Mattel’s iconic doll into a family-friendly film is its only weakness- “Barbie’s” bite doesn’t draw blood- and the movie’s musings never rise above amusing.

“No Hard Feelings” works as a sight-gag driven sex comedy where a punch-in-the-throat paves the way for opposites attracting. When it wants to breathe believability into its main characters with ‘getting-to-know-you’ talks, the movie sucks the oxygen right out of the theater.

With Jim Brown’s recent passing and the approaching Memorial Day holiday, what better movie to watch than Robert Aldrich’s entertaining and influential WWII adventure “The Dirty Dozen.”

Fans of Bennett Miller’s “Moneyball” will enjoy the like-minded Ben Affleck film “Air”- a behind-the-scenes look at how an unorthodox approach proved to be the key to success and change the sports arena forever.