WTOP (Washington, D.C.)

Jason Fraley WTOP (Washington, D.C.) Jul 6, 2024 5/5 If you thought June Squibb was hilarious in her Oscar-nominated role in "Nebraska," she's even funnier here -- now in her 90s with comedic timing for the ages. I laughed out loud over and over again as the film mines laughs from aging without making fun. Go to Full Review Thelma (2024) 98% - -

Jason Fraley WTOP (Washington, D.C.) Jul 6, 2024 2/5 The opening comedy section works far better than the middle section where the script starts spinning its wheels as it becomes Fifty Shades of “Gary.” Go to Full Review Hit Man (2023) 95% - -

Jason Fraley WTOP (Washington, D.C.) Jul 6, 2024 4.5/5 Blunt & Gosling are magnetic with little moments like him tightening her hat's drawstring under her chin, or her asking him to roll down his truck window as he blares Taylor Swift. This is the stuff that lasts long after our popcorn is blown to bits. Go to Full Review The Fall Guy (2024) 81% - -

Jason Fraley WTOP (Washington, D.C.) Jul 4, 2024 3/5 The 1984 original is still the tops for belly laughs and genre influence, while the 1987 sequel rode the same fun cultural zeitgeist. Part 4 is a huge step up from Part 3, washing the bad taste out of our mouth, so for that alone, “Axel F” is a solid win. Go to Full Review Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024) 66% - -

Jason Fraley WTOP (Washington, D.C.) Jan 4, 2024 4.5/5 The final act will make you want to go back and watch it again, only to discover that the breadcrumb clues were there the entire time, from ominous apartment floor numbers to elevator reflections that create the effect of an infinity mirror. Go to Full Review All of Us Strangers (2023) 96% - -

Jason Fraley WTOP (Washington, D.C.) Jan 4, 2024 4.5/5 “The Iron Claw” is one of the best movies of the year, wonderfully acted and directed, way more accessible than “Foxcatcher” and damn near as good as “The Wrestler.” I only wish the script didn’t cut out one of the Von Erich brothers. Go to Full Review The Iron Claw (2023) 89% 40%

Jason Fraley WTOP (Washington, D.C.) Dec 18, 2023 4.5/5 Don't expect a laugh-out-loud comedy like Robert Townsend's "Hollywood Shuffle" or Spike Lee's "Bamboozled." The tone is more subdued than its trailers suggest, but Cord Jefferson balances family drama with biting satire for one of the year's best. Go to Full Review American Fiction (2023) 93% - -

Jason Fraley WTOP (Washington, D.C.) Dec 18, 2023 3.5/5 Chalamet sings and dances with lighthearted whimsy but lacks the mischievousness that made Gene Wilder so deliciously dangerous. Such prequels offer a golden ticket of nostalgia, but rather than "Pure Imagination," this is a world of "Pure Re-Creation." Go to Full Review Wonka (2023) 82% 47%

Jason Fraley WTOP (Washington, D.C.) Dec 10, 2023 3/5 A visionary force of a film with some of the most daring directorial choices you'll see this year, but for all of its creative flourishes, the film loses sight of sharing the story of how Bernstein’s music was created. Go to Full Review Maestro (2023) 78% 63%

Jason Fraley WTOP (Washington, D.C.) Dec 10, 2023 4/5 The first 4/5 of the script is paced so well that the ending feels rushed with only a brief song and the final lines of King’s speech. Still, it's overall, a strong telling of an important story. Go to Full Review Rustin (2023) 83% 86%

Jason Fraley WTOP (Washington, D.C.) Dec 10, 2023 3.5/5 The protagonist’s professional philosophy sums up my feelings toward this solidly-crafted but emotionally reticent film: “It comes down to preparation, attention to details, redundancies, redundancies and redundancies.” Go to Full Review The Killer (2023) 85% 61%

Jason Fraley WTOP (Washington, D.C.) Dec 10, 2023 2.5/5 A film that packs one too many creative ideas inside its zany wrapping paper, but also one that delivers an enjoyable cast if you’re looking for a family-friendly option by the fireplace. Go to Full Review Candy Cane Lane (2023) 44% 45%

Jason Fraley WTOP (Washington, D.C.) Nov 6, 2023 4.5/5 “Nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward,” Stallone proudly says, quoting his favorite scene from the film and his mantra for life. Go to Full Review Sly (2023) 81% 89%

Jason Fraley WTOP (Washington, D.C.) Nov 2, 2023 4/5 I never would have guessed that the esteemed Cannes Film Festival champion, the crowned art house jewel, would leave me with 50 Cent's “P.I.M.P.” stuck in my head. I didn’t have that on my bingo card. Go to Full Review Anatomy of a Fall (2023) 96% 90%

Jason Fraley WTOP (Washington, D.C.) Oct 27, 2023 3/5 The title "Old Dads" is misleading. If you're a new middle-aged parent, there's surprisingly little in the "promise of the premise." As written, it might as well be called "Old Guys" as it's mostly Gen X mocking Gen Z. Still, the "Braveheart" bit crushes. Go to Full Review Old Dads (2023) 27% 86%

Jason Fraley WTOP (Washington, D.C.) Oct 14, 2023 4.5/5 Who knew that a legal battle about a funeral home could be this compelling? Go to Full Review The Burial (2023) 92% 82%

Jason Fraley WTOP (Washington, D.C.) Sep 29, 2023 4/5 When the final title card flashes up onto the screen, it almost comes as a surprise because we've become so swept up in the story. Ultimately, that's the biggest compliment one can give a film: to say that it flies by. It means that it's working. Go to Full Review Flora and Son (2023) 93% 83%

Jason Fraley WTOP (Washington, D.C.) Sep 22, 2023 2/5 As CGI aliens chase her around the house, the script becomes frustratingly repetitive as Brynn makes dumb decisions that will have you yelling at the screen: not locking her bedroom door, not telling the police what’s happening, leaving her car door open. Go to Full Review No One Will Save You (2023) 82% 56%

Jason Fraley WTOP (Washington, D.C.) Sep 22, 2023 3.5/5 As the stadium lights fade on a reconciled father and son like “Field of Dreams,” you can’t help but smile. Yes, it’s a “perfect” Hollywood ending, but call me a sucker for inspirational sports flicks. Turn off your brain and tap into your heart. Go to Full Review The Hill (2023) 44% 97%

Jason Fraley WTOP (Washington, D.C.) Sep 22, 2023 2.5/5 Gadot proves she doesn’t need Wonder Woman to kick butt, but the script is too complicated for its own good. Viewers are used to MI6 secret agents, but when there are super secret agents beneath that, it’s hard to keep track of who’s double-crossing who. Go to Full Review Heart of Stone (2023) 31% 51%