What’s the Situation on the ‘Crime 101’?

February 19, 2026

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Taking the 101 (CREDIT: Amazon MGM Studios)

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, Halle Berry, Monica Barbaro, Corey Hawkins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Nick Nolte, Tate Donovan, Devon Bostick, Paymaan Maadik, Babak Tafti, Deborah Hedwall, Paul Adelstein, Drew Powell, Matthew Del Negro, Andra Nechita, John Douglas

Director: Bart Layton

Running Time: 140 Minutes

Rating: R

Release Date: February 13, 2026 (Theaters)

When I first saw the trailer for Crime 101, I thought, “Jeez, are they really going that generic?” But then I eventually learned that the titular “101” didn’t refer to an introductory course but rather to the major California highway. So then I got my demented hopes up that we could be due for cameos from Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, and Kristen Wiig as their traffic-obsessed characters from SNL‘s “Californians” sketches. Of course, that didn’t actually come to fruition, but I nevertheless still want to put the idea out there, just in case the universe is in the mood to manifest anything. Anyway, I guess the moral of this movie is that if you’re a non-violent criminal, you just might be allowed to get away with it.

Grade: Whuuuuuut Are These Guys Doing Here?

How Does Montana Fare in ‘Die My Love’?

November 8, 2025

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A movie to die for? (CREDIT: MUBI/Screenshot)

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson, Sissy Spacek, Nick Nolte, LaKeith Stanfield

Director: Lynne Ramsay

Running Time: 118 Minutes

Rating: R

Release Date: November 7, 2025 (Theaters)

Now that I have watched the Lynne Ramsay-directed film Die My Love, I feel compelled to ask myself, “Would I ever like to live in Montana?” That’s because this particular movie is about a couple played by Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson who move to the Treasure State, where postpartum depression and general isolation start making themselves felt in a big way. And I do have a personal connection to the area, as one of my aunts used to live there, and she recommends it as absolutely beautiful in the summer months. So I see some pros, and I see some cons. Ultimately, though, I think I’ll have to conclude that Montana is just not for me. And in fact Die My Love only served to underscore that, even if it was actually filmed in Calgary. So I guess I don’t want to move to Alberta, either! Nevertheless, I’m glad I saw this movie, since it was appreciably surreal. On the other hand, it was also fairly enervating, so it probably won’t make it to the top of any of my personal lists anytime soon.

Grade: 53 Big Skies out of 99 Trees