review

– By Cate Marquis – Atmospheric, historic “The Witch” is more creepy than scary “The Witch” is an ambitious film that seeks to re-imagine of the horror movie genre by going back to the terror of the Salem witch trials and the 17th century witch-hunt hysteria that led to them. Set in 1630s New England,…

– By Mark Glass – Fact-based dramedy provides another fine vehicle – literally and figuratively – for Maggie Smith 3 stars out of 5 (PG-13) Last week’s review of 45 Years was largely praise of the performance and career of its star, Charlotte Rampling, who deserves to be listed with the likes of this character…

– By Cate Marquis – Coens’ “Hail, Caesar!” spoofs Old Hollywood in style The Coen brothers offer an hilarious send-up of Golden Age Hollywood movie-making in “Hail, Caesar!” With an all-star cast of Coen regulars, including George Clooney, Josh Brolin, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton and Frances McDormand, Joel and Ethan Coen deliver golden comedy set…

– By Cate Marquis – Dance St. Louis brings Momix’s dance fantasy ‘Alchemia’ to Touhill PAC Dance St. Louis brought the amazing dancer-illusionists Momix back to the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center for three performances of their fantasy production “Alchemia,” on Jan. 29-30.Once again the troupe wowed audiences with a mix of breath-taking dance,…

 – By Cate Marquis – ‘Son of Saul’ is a powerful, difficult trip into Auschwitz “Son of Saul” is a powerful, cinematically brilliant drama that takes viewers into a first-person experience of the Auschwitz concentration camp. It is an impressive film debut for Hungarian director Laszlo Nemes, a descendant of Shoah survivors. The film won…

– By Cate Marquis – Musical “Georama” brings tale of once-famous moving panorama painting and artist What did people do for entertainment in the 19th century, before the invention of photography, movies, and all the media we have now? One thing they did was go to live shows like a famous one featuring a “georama”…

– By Cate Marquis – DiCaprio is gripping in epic wilderness survival tale ‘The Revenant’ Leonardo DiCaprio gives a gripping, Oscar-worthy performance in “The Revenant,” director Alejandro G. Inarritu’s thrilling, raw tale of wilderness survival in a landscape that is at once beautiful and unforgiving. Loosely based on the 1823 true tale of frontiersman Hugh…

– By Cate Marquis – Comedy ‘Sisters’ takes Fey and Poehler where you expect but it is one fun trip “Sisters” stars Tina Fey and Amy Poehler as two sisters who decide to cope with their parents’ decision to sell their childhood home by throwing one last high school-style party. The Ellis sisters, Maura and…

‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ re-awakens spirit of Lucas’ original – Film Review By Cate Marquis – “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” brings back the magic that George Lucas created long ago in his galaxy far, far away. The film, which is both Episode 7 and the seventh one, brings back original stars Harrison Ford,…

– By Cate Marquis – ‘In The Heart Of The Sea’ looks great but fitful storytelling sinks seafaring tale Herman Melville’s novel “Moby Dick” was based in part on a real event, the sinking of the Essex by a whale, part of the whaling lore of Nantucket. That bit of real history was recounted in…