Russ Simmons

The black comedy thriller “How to Make a Killing” is inspired by the classic 1949 British film, “Kind Hearts and Coronets.” But this version isn’t quite sure what it wants to be. Glen Powell stars as an heir to a vast fortune who’s been disowned by his callous family. He plots to bump off all his relatives who stand in the way of his inheritance. The audience is challenged to root for a guy who’s obviously ethically challenged and Powell’s charisma is a big help in that department.

In the very adult comic drama “Is This Thing On?” Will Arnett plays a man who tries out standup comedy as a way to cope with his impending divorce. Strong performances by Arnett and Laura Dern propel this empathetic tale, well directed by Bradley Cooper, who also has a funny supporting role. A number of noted comics appear as cynical versions of themselves. While fictional, the movie inspired by the true story of British standup comic Jim Bishop.

Happy New Year. It’s time to look back and name my top ten movies, the cream of the cinematic crop for 2025. 10) THE SECRET AGENT is an oddly structured but involving Brazilian paranoia thriller set during that country’s political strife in 1977. 9) WEAPONS is an extremely original and genuinely unnerving horror chiller about 17 children who mysteriously disappear from the same grade school class.