TONIC

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For a standard issue paint-by-numbers crime thriller, "Tonic" has its charms.

Think, James Toback's 1978 neo-noir "Fingers," where Harvey Keitel plays a pianist with lots of big city trouble on his hands.

Granted "Fingers" is a better movie. You takes your chances.

Still, there's something endearing about watching Billy Blair ("Machete Kills") pour on the inner turmoil as Sebastian Poe, a small town musician in seven grand worth of debt to Officer Terry, a dirty cop played by an equally intense Jason Coviello ("Yellowstone").

B-movie baby.

Plot holes notwithstanding, Blair's full commitment to his doomed character give the picture its sense of suspenseful anguish.

Some scenes veer toward camp; the filmmakers could have pushed more in that direction to give the movie a much-needed dose of humor.

Officer Terry entertains some twisted thoughts about how to treat Poe's testicles, and he doesn't mind grabbing them to his satisfaction.

Oh but for the demented bromance between Poe and his sadistic master. They even dress the same.

Cute couple of opposites attracted to one another.

As for a life-affirming ending; who needs that in 2023?

Not Rated. 103 mins.

 

LANSKY

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Harvey Keitel brings "the Mob's accountant" to impressive life in this engaging telling of Meyer Lansky's sordid career.

American and Israeli governments prove to be the dirtiest mob of the bunch.

Shocker.

The difference is that Israel got a lot of Lansky's cash — he was mistakenly generous to his home country.

America took a different, less successful tact, to rob Lansky. 

Locating Meyer's hidden cash stash of [ostensibly] 300 million dollars was beyond U.S. spooks' reach.

Ta da.

QUEEN & SLIM

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Roll the dice. Dig the groovy vibe of this stunning independent gem. Think Bonnie and Clyde, but with a lot more style, sex, attitude, and daringness. Surprises just keep coming through the lives of American characters so lived in, you’ll swear you’re part of the adventure.

Director Melina Matsoukas (a two-time Grammy winner) throws down like a motherfucker in bringing scriptwriter Lena Waithe’s brilliant screenplay to dynamic life. Casting plays a significant part in this film’s overwhelming success as an example of truly inspired Cinema. Marvel has nothing on Melina Matsoukas.

Daniel Kaluuya (Jordan Peele’s “Get Out”) is remarkably charismatic as Slim, a regular guy who gets caught in a deadly confrontation with an Ohio police officer. Jodie Turner-Smith is off the charts as Queen, an attorney sticking to Slim like glue after surviving the couple’s roadside encounter with a racist cop. Kaluuya and Turner-Smith enjoy an undeniable sexual onscreen chemistry that fires suspenseful twists and turns for our couple on the run. You'll be on the edge of your seat. And yes, "Queen & Slim" rates as great pick for a date movie if you're in the mood to get some. 

“Queen & Slim” embodies America's laundry list of racial social injustice as part of the overall fabric of the story at its heart, a love story. I promise you’ll love this movie. Spoiler alert, the window jumping scene will put your heart in your throat. Wow.   

Rated R. 132 mins.