For their 132nd episode, two non-mustached critics, two mysterious dads, and two sleuth teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, welcome back frequent guest Cati Glidewell of The Blonde in Front back for the final week of three new release episodes of the podcast. Circling back to September, Cati and Don descend into Italians waters to follow Kenneth Branagh's Hercule Poirot character for A Haunting in Venice. Is it the best of Branagh's three Poirot movies so far? Get a clue of your own and tune in.
Read MoreThe newly rebranded Hollywood Creative Alliance continues to assemble a series of “Gradebooks” collecting early reviews and grades from their critics on popular releases. When I can get more work completed and a review submitted early enough, my take and connected quotes have the chance to make these shout-out posts. My newest was being included for Dumb Money. Check out your boy!
Read MoreAny murder, at its garden variety face value, should be frightening enough, but A Haunting in Venice twists the knife further. Narrative and cinematic infusions of supernatural elements and implications not found in Hallowe’en Party are the film’s largest dramatic improvement from the source text. They turn what would merely be posh and intriguing in an ordeal far scarier in design and risk. Starting with that munched bird cold open and developing later with hallucinations of ghostly imagery, there is an unmistakable level of extra bite and edge.
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