 Amazon Studios, 2020. "Les Misérables" is maybe an unfortunate title for this electric thriller that will confuse viewers who are expecting to see Jean Valjean and a few song and dance numbers. But in telling a more modern story, themes of inequality, class oppression and street-level rage eerily feel like echoes from Victor Hugo's classic novel, and send home the message that the more things change, the more things stay the same.
 Universal Pictures, 2020. Director Sam Mendes has pulled off a visually-stunning, epic war film, but it's "one-shot" gimmick works against it.
 Warner Bros. Pictures, 2020. There's no question that "Just Mercy" tells an important real-life story about a man wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death row. But outside of one great performance, it's a bit too straight-laced and straight-forward to add anything new.
 A24, 2019. "Uncut Gems" is a high-wire act of mood and energy, and it will pummel your senses. It's also one of the best movies of 2019, if you can endure it.
Review: Greta Gerwig's 'Little Women' a confident, clever re-telling of the literary classic12/23/2019  Sony Pictures Entertainment, 2019. We've seen numerous adaptations of the classic Louisa May Alcott novel on the small and big screens, but remixed and led by director Greta Gerwig, this version of "Little Women" soars to new heights.
 Lionsgate, 2019. Jay Roach's approach to the sexual harassment lawsuit that rocked FOX News is not quite "fair and balanced," but it sure is fun.
 Netflix, 2019. Two fantastic actors take on two amazing men, and the results are nothing short of miraculous. Too bad the film doesn't have faith enough to stay focused in the present.
 Warner Bros. Pictures, 2019. Director Clint Eastwood has a lot to say about the power and influence of media, and uses this real-life story as the backdrop for his message.
 A24, 2019. Featuring stunning performances and in the hands of a confident master craftsman, sometimes all you need is a good story, some good actors and a good director to make something great.
Review: 'Honey Boy' exposes the harsh realities of being a child star, from someone who knows best11/26/2019  Amazon Studios, 2019. This story about a young Shia LaBeouf, starring an old Shia LaBeouf, is the most authentic Shia LaBeouf story you'll ever see...as it should be, since the screenplay of "Honey Boy" was written by...you guessed it...Shia LaBeouf.
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tom santilli movie reviews
Tom Santilli is a professional film critic, TV personality, host and
the Executive Producer of Movie Show Plus.
He also appears weekly on FOX-2 in Detroit.
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