Josh Bell
Story Archive
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Screen
Unfunny business: Robert De Niro bombs as a stand-up in 'The Comedian'
Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017 The humor in The Comedian is often at the same level as Dirty Grandpa.
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Screen
‘Gold’ ploddingly adapts a true story
Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017 Matthew McConaughey throws himself into his performance as Kenny Wells.
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‘XXX: Return of Xander Cage’ delivers an unnecessary action comeback
Friday, Jan. 20, 2017 Diesel already has one blockbuster franchise built on explosions, nonsensical plotting and makeshift families.
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Food for thought: ‘The Founder’ explores the origins of McDonald's
Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017 Michael Keaton is fast-food game-changer Ray Kroc.
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Vegas-set thriller ‘Sleepless’ lacks excitement and authenticity
Friday, Jan. 13, 2017 There's a casino called Luxus. WTF.
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Screen
Jude Law plays a power-mad pontiff in 'The Young Pope'
Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017 Although his election as Pope was meant as a compromise, Lenny turns out to be the opposite of a peacemaker.
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Gangster’s paradise: An assured Ben Affleck guides 'Live by Night'
Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017 The story might be better suited to a TV miniseries than a feature film, but it has a greater scope than its individual parts.
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'Patriots Day' struggles to bring a true story to life
Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017 The bombing and shootout sequences are staged with propulsive, visceral intensity.
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Award-winner 'Elle' provokes and confounds
Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017 Verhoeven went for big shocks in his most famous Hollywood movies, but Elle is more grounded in its outrageousness, thanks to Isabelle Huppert.
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No more sequels: Six original, non-franchise movies to look forward to in 2017
Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017 Get excited about films from Gore Verbinski, Jordan Peele and Christopher Nolan.
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Screen
'A Monster Calls' takes its gentle fable in a dark direction
Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017 There’s a complex message here about coming to terms with loss.
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'Hidden Figures' favors audience pandering over real-life struggle
Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017 A movie about great people is not the same thing as a great movie.
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Tom Hardy gets down in the muck for the muddled 'Taboo'
Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017 The new FX show captures the grime and corruption of London in 1814 and there are some entertaining supporting performances.
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Features
Best of 2016: TV
Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016 Soviet operatives, Brooklyn hipsters, female inmates and more continued to rule the boob tube in 2016.
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Screen
'Fences' makes an awkward transition from stage to screen
Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016 As both director and star, Washington has delivered a movie that feels entirely stage-bound.
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‘Assassin’s Creed’ continues the tradition of terrible video-game movies
Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016 The cast members probably deserve some kind of special Oscar for their straight-faced delivery of such ludicrous dialogue.
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'Jackie' gives a former First Lady a deserved spotlight
Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016 Rather than depicting her entire life, the movie focuses on the immediate aftermath of her greatest trauma.
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Lost in space: 'Passengers' strands its stars in a questionable sci-fi romance
Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016 A big-budget original sci-fi movie that grappled with serious ethical concerns while also looking fantastic would have been an impressive achievement.
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Screen
Animated musical ‘Sing’ puts on an irritating show
Monday, Dec. 19, 2016 The movie is only interested in filling seats, not in any kind of artistry.
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Noise
Revisiting Big Bad Zero before the Vegas band's reunion show
Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016 In the late '90s, the alt-rockers played around the country alongside Train, Collective Soul and Better Than Ezra.
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Noise
Saddling up to some laid-back shows during NFR
Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016 Over time these concerts have evolved into a stand-alone attraction that appeals to a much wider demographic than the rodeo itself.
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Screen
'Collateral Beauty' offers empty platitudes
Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016 From a convoluted and somewhat insulting premise come a bunch of sappy greeting-card sentiments.
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'Barry' explores the youth of a future president
Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016 Barack Obama’s presidency isn’t even over yet, and already he’s been the subject of two biopics.
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Tension-filled ‘Rogue One’ takes ‘Star Wars’ in some new directions
Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016 The elements often come together in delightfully entertaining ways and the individual character dynamics are exciting and often unexpected.
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Screen
'Office Christmas Party' celebrates a laugh-free holiday
Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016 The party of the title is a last-ditch effort to save the Chicago branch of a tech company.
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Screen
Producer Chris Ramirez brings indie film to town with 'Frank & Lola'
Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016 The film makes great use of Vegas locations that don’t typically end up onscreen.
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Screen
Jessica Chastain plays a steely lobbyist in 'Miss Sloane'
Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016 The movie works hard to demonstrate how jaded it is about the way our government works.
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Noise
Garth Brooks returns with the underwhelming 'Gunslinger'
Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016 Even his duet with wife Trisha Yearwood lacks passion.
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Screen
Documentary ‘The Eagle Huntress’ combines inspiration and manipulation
Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016 The director found such a perfect subject that it’s hard not to wonder how much of the story presented in the movie is manufactured.
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Vegas-set drama ‘Frank & Lola’ keeps its characters and audience on edge
Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016 Writer-director Matthew Ross gets credit for his smart and realistic portrayal of Las Vegas.
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Screen
Shia LaBeouf struggles with PTSD in manipulative thriller ‘Man Down’
Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 It’s obvious from the first moments that the post-apocalyptic storyline isn’t really what it appears to be.
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Noise
A country-concert cavalcade rides into Vegas during NFR
Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016 George Strait, Tim McGraw, Jennifer Nettles and many more hit town in December.
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Screen
Add these recent Christmas movies to your holiday traditions
Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016 Stop-motion animation, a stoner yuletide and a legit Christmas demon.
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Screen
Warren Beatty channels Howard Hughes in the uneven ‘Rules Don’t Apply’
Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2016 This is the result of Beatty's 40-plus years, on and off, spent trying to make a movie about Howard Hughes.
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Screen
'Bad Santa 2' sets out to ruin another Christmas
Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016 This time around they’re looking for a bigger score.
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Noise
Album review: 'Hardwired' finds Metallica riffing more memorably
Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016 Also, the melodies are catchier and the rhythms are tighter than they have been in a long time.
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Screen
Boxer Vinny Pazienza gets the generic biopic treatment in ‘Bleed for This’
Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016 Miles Teller plays Pazienza, a brash, confident guy from working-class Providence, Rhode Island.
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‘A Street Cat Named Bob’ delivers a cuddly kitty biopic
Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016 Street Cat is really about the life of Bob’s owner, played by Luke Treadaway.
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Screen
Four 'Harry Potter' characters we’re hoping to see in 'Fantastic Beasts'
Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016 From Mad-Eye Moody to ... Garrick Ollivander?!
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Screen
'Harry Potter' spin-off 'Fantastic Beasts' revives the wizarding world
Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016 Nothing resonates like watching Harry, Ron and Hermione come of age, but this movie is by nature more of a thrill ride than an emotional journey.
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Hipsters solve a mystery in the dryly funny 'Search Party'
Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016 Like Broad City, you'll want to binge on this.
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'The Edge of Seventeen' reinvigorates a familiar genre
Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016 Writer-director Kelly Fremon Craig puts a personal spin on the American teen film.
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‘Christine’ explores the backstory of an infamous TV moment
Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016 Far more uncomfortable than the brief moment of violence is the slow-motion train wreck leading up to it.
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Screen
Film review: A man finds his way in 'Moonlight'
Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016 The movie splits into three segments depicting the life and struggles of its introverted lead character.
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TV
TV review: TNT goes darker with 'Good Behavior'
Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016 Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery stars as a small-time thief and grifter.
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Screen
Swedish dramedy ‘A Man Called Ove’ overdoses on sentimentality
Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016 At first, Ove’s grumpiness is endearing.
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'Doctor Strange' a familiar but enjoyable addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016 Like all Marvel superhero movies, it's entertaining and fun even when it’s formulaic and a bit underwhelming.
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Screen
The bright, poppy 'Trolls' brings the tiny dolls to the big screen
Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016 Its bright colors and poppy music will amuse kids while likely putting adults into a sugar coma.
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Screen
Five great horror movies to screen on Netflix
Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016 Netflix’s horror selection is full of bargain-basement obscurities. Here are some worth watching.
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Noise
Album review: Lady Gaga remains ambitious but unfocused on ‘Joanne’
Monday, Oct. 24, 2016 Gaga still lurches from one genre to another, sometimes within the same song.