AMERICAN FICTION

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2023 stands as perhaps the best year for satire.

"American Fiction" puts a fine point on that fact with a laugh-out-loud movie that covers a lot of satirical ground.

First time writer/director Cord Jefferson adapts Percival Everett's 2001 novel "Erasure" with snappy results.

Jeffrey Wright plays Thelonious "Monk" Ellison, a black fiction writer fed up with the state of black writers publishing books that pander to downtrodden black stereotypes.

Job and family troubles send Monk on a journey toward a new chapter of self-fulfillment and improved personal relations with friends and family.

"American Fiction" joins 2023's list of truly inspiring films that prove Cinema is far from dead despite Hollywood's worst efforts over the past 20 years.

May there never be another comic book movie, and plenty more great movies from Cord Jefferson.

Three cheers for "American Fiction."

Perfection.

Rated R. 105 mins.

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON

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An unrelenting parade of murder, greed, misery, and menace, "Killers of the Flower Moon"commits the unforgivable sin not giving its audience any ounce of relief.

There is no where to hide from its violence.

Alfred Hitchcock was a master at knowing where to draw the line for his audience so you always felt in capable, and caring hands.

Sadly, this is not the case with "Killers of the Flower Moon."

Regardless of how historically accurate the film might be in its depiction of an oil-rich community of Native Americans assassinated by greedy white men, the bloated movie leaves you cold.

The only character you root for is Lily Gladstone's Mollie, who seems at least for a moment to know that her betrothed husband Ernest (Leonardo DiCaprio) is an idiot criminal of the first water.

Lily Gladston's performance is the only reason to see this movie.

"Killers of the Flower Moon" is a grueling, punishing experience to sit through.

Anyone with a half a brain could edit an hour out of this movie, blindfolded.

This is not the film that should seal Martin Scorsese's storied career.

"Taxi Driver" is still best movie he ever made.

Rated R. 310 mins.

THE HOLDOVERS

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Groupthink doesn't live here, critical thought does. This ad-free website is dedicated to Agnès Varda and to Luis Buñuel. Punk heart still beating.

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Alexander Payne sets up a '60s era social satire that tips its hat to "The Graduate" in style, and in tone.

That's a very good thing.

Social media groupthink and MeToo victim mentality get a proper roasting.

Paul Giamatti is never better than as Paul Hunham, a private school professor with more experiences than he can remember.

Newcomer Dominic Sessa makes an auspicious debut as Angus Tully, the student burdened with being chaperoned by Professor Hunham during a long cold winter break on the school campus.

"The Holdovers" should become a holiday movie classic for audiences to return to every Thanksgiving to keep some perspective on human nature, hypocrisy, and the importance of having a warm heart and a calm mind.

Long live Paul Giamatti!

Rated R. 133 mins.