Cosmic Circus has been covering movies and TV/streaming series for over five years now. Please take some time to read through some of our movie reviews below to find out what the writers think of past and new films.
Refer to the Stellar Picks archive to find some of our top-rated movies, shows, books, games, and more!
Remember when, in the depths of COVID lockdowns and isolation, we all became obsessed with a new Groundhog Day-style time loop movie called Palm Springs? It might seem like it happened two decades ago, but the movie, starring Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti, appeared on Hulu in the summer of 2020, and we were all instantly talking about it. Omni Loop,
Read MoreWriter and director Julio Torres also stars as Alejandro in Problemista. The film from A24 is Torres’ feature debut, after a career spent writing comedy at Saturday Night Live and the show Les Espookys, of which Torres is the writer and creator. Problemista is equally funny, heartbreaking, and absurd; at its heart, it is a character story about trying to cope and navigate an increasingly hostile life. The story of Problemista A child
Read MoreThere’s something about dogs in major motion pictures that sucker-punches me in the gut the older I get. The first film I saw that predominantly featured a canine that wasn’t a children’s comedy was Marley and Me. Those who have seen that film know how emotionally charged that film is, which left me in a puddle of tears. Since that infamously
Read MoreThere’s a good short film hiding somewhere inside Matthew Arnold and Freddie Wong’s grief-tinged sci-fi feature film debut, We’re All Gonna Die. A story that could have been told beautifully in about 45 minutes, maybe even leaving you wanting a little more, is instead stretched to beyond its limits in the feature version, dragging on for almost two full hours. [Warning:
Read MoreIf anyone ever complains to you that there’s nothing new under the sun in the world of cinema, please kindly point them to the documentary Grand Theft Hamlet. This experiment from British co-directors (and romantic partners) Pinny Grylls and Sam Crane covers the gamut of human emotion, from triumph to tragedy, in its 89 minutes of infectious fun. The story behind
Read MoreDenis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two is here, and we here at The Cosmic Circus are ready to accept Timothée Chalamet (and Zendaya’s!) ascendancy. It’s been a long road to the second half of this newest adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic novel from 1965, and there have been a few bumps along the way. From teases to whether or not “Part Two” of Dune would actually happen to dual strikes in
Read MoreIt’s hard to imagine a more rollicking opening night film to kick off SXSW 2024 than director Doug Liman’s remake of the 1989 cheese-fest Road House, which starred the late, great 80s action icon Patrick Swayze. The crowd enthusiastically hooted and hollered their way through Liman’s ultra-violent take on a Zen dispenser of pain with a troubled conscience. There was also
Read MoreIn February, I was lucky enough to be invited to a screening of Martin Scorsese’s historical drama Killers of the Flower Moon. Taking place in downtown Los Angeles at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre, the screening was followed by an exclusive Q&A with several actors from the film, including breakout star Lily Gladstone! [Warning: Spoilers for Killers of the Flower Moon
Read MoreBy now, it’s safe to assume that most people are familiar with the damsel in distress trope. Once upon a time, there was a meek young woman, usually a princess or royal of some sort, trapped in a castle. Sad, alone, and defenseless, she waits atop her tower/prison for a prince to come and save her, whisking her off to her
Read MoreKung Fu Panda 4 is a karate-packed animated tale bursting with humor, heart, and dumplings. It’s beautifully animated with inventive, family-friendly action that delivers a knockout visual punch. With loveable and hilarious characters, it’s a journey into new worlds with thoughtful wisdom for this beloved franchise. The story of Kung Fu Panda 4 Po (Jack Black) is as happy as a panda
Read MoreSpaceman, starring Adam Sandler, has touched down this past weekend on Netflix, a surreal film adaptation of a novel by Jaroslav Kalfar. Luna has already done an excellent job reviewing Spaceman of Bohemia. As suspected, the movie follows the events closely to those of that book, so if you’re familiar with the story, you’ve got a handy understanding of the plot.
Read MoreThe opening moments of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two is a distinct departure from the cold and mechanic action of Dune: Part One, as Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and the Fremen, lead an attack on Harkonnen scouts as they are about to reach Sietch Tabr. The action doesn’t feel as stilted as in Villeneuve’s previous works, which, while beautifully shot, had
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