Tom Tangney
‘Greta’ is an art-house version of a B-movie thriller
'Greta' may have the gloss of high art, but it's really after nothing more profound than cheap thrills and maybe a jolt or two to our nervous system.5 years ago
Tangney: For Best Picture at the Oscars, it’s better to be liked than loved
The way voting works for the Oscars now makes for some potentially odd outcomes, where the most-loved movie could never even stand a chance.5 years ago
‘Capernaum’ is a harrowing tale about the human spirit under abject poverty
"Capernaum" tells a harrowing tale of a 12-year-old boy born into abject poverty but making the best of it under rather dire circumstances.5 years ago
‘They Shall Not Grow Old’ is an artistic masterstroke
"They Shall Not Grow Old" is a documentary made up entirely of 100-year-old Imperial War Museum footage, much of which we may already have seen in scores of WWI documentaries over the years. But oh, what a difference.5 years ago
‘Stan & Ollie’ features great performances, but plays it safe
"Stan & Ollie" is sweet and sentimental, but the script is shallow and plays it safe.5 years ago
‘Glass’ takes itself far too seriously to take seriously
Offering few thrills, chills, or even any sense of fun, "Glass" takes itself far too seriously to take seriously. It talks itself to death.5 years ago
Tom Tangney’s top 10 films of 2018
After a year of watching movies, KIRO Radio's Tom Tangney has painstakingly compiled his list of the top 10 films of 2018, though there technically 13 films on this list, because he cheated.5 years ago
‘Mary Poppins Returns’ tries so hard to top original, but can’t
"Mary Poppins Returns" is a dutiful sequel with passable songs but what it lacks is the irresistible sense of fun that Julie Andrews and the Sherman Brothers' songs brought to the one and only "Mary Poppins."5 years ago
‘Star is Born’ too melodramatic for its own good
The "book" of this near-musical is too melodramatic for its own good but the musical performances make "A Star is Born" worth watching.6 years ago
‘Blaze’ is a unique and important biopic we don’t often get to experience
Telling the story of little-known country singer Blaze Foley, writer/director Ethan Hawke gives us an intriguing look at a would-be star that never quite made it.6 years ago
‘House with a Clock in its Walls’ doesn’t want to be too scary, or funny
"The House with a Clock in its Walls" is funny, scary, and interesting if you're 10 years old. That's the level it plays at. Adult audiences are not considered in this PG movie.6 years ago
‘White Boy Rick’ mostly interested in exploring gritty family dynamics
"White Boy Rick" has the integrity to not sell out, but it doesn't have the depth of character to make it a truly insightful drama either.6 years ago
‘Peppermint’ an uninspired vigilante revenge movie
"Peppermint"'s real problem is that the non-stop violence is so relentless and unimaginative. Many violent films can be cinematically exciting - see Tarantino, Peckinpah, etc. - but not this one.6 years ago
‘Happytime Murders’ shortchanges us on comedy
Even though 'The Happytime Murders' delivers on the raunch, it so shortchanges us on the comedy that the movie falls flat long before it's over.6 years ago
I begrudgingly admit, ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ is a pretty good rom-com
"Crazy Rich Asians" may be a generic romantic comedy, but it's one that becomes a guilty pleasure. It will have you routing for this couple to make it through to the end.6 years ago
Charlottesville parallel is exhilarating in ‘Blackkklansman’
It's clear in every frame of 'Blackkklansman' that Spike Lee is furious with the current state of affairs and making that even more explicit seems like overkill. But I take his point.6 years ago
Winnie the Pooh fans should be overjoyed with ‘Christopher Robin’
"Christopher Robin" is a fantastic family film. A live-action Disney movie starring Winnie the Pooh characters, it manages to capture the delicate tone and mood of the original A.A. Milne stories while creating an entirely new storyline.6 years ago
‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ is all about stuntman Cruise
The Mission: Impossible franchise long ago stole the best stunts mantle from the likes of James Bond and Jason Bourne.6 years ago
‘Mamma Mia 2’ not nearly as terrible as the original
'Mamma Mia 2' senses the original used up all the good Abba songs and tries to make up for it with over-the top productions of the two big hits that didn't make the first film's storyline.6 years ago
Boots Riley hopes ‘Sorry to Bother You’ will change the world
"Sorry to Bother You" was a breakout hit at Sundance and has already earned rave reviews and a great per screen average box office for an indie film.6 years ago
Polished performances in ‘The Seagull,’ but ensemble falls flat
Everyone delivers a perfectly polished characterization in "The Seagull," but no one seems to be working as an ensemble. That disconnect may even be part of Anton Chekhov's point, but it robs the movie of a unifying power.6 years ago
‘Incredibles 2’ is fun, but doesn’t pack Pixar’s emotional punch
"Incredibles 2" doesn't have the sparkling freshness of "The Incredibles" nor the emotional power of recent Pixar films, but it still delivers.6 years ago
After ‘Ocean’s 8,’ don’t expect to see an Ocean’s 9 or 10
"Ocean's 8" gives Hollywood another chance to show off, this time with good-looking women in good-looking outfits.6 years ago
