“The Crazies” (Film Review)
by: GregVictor
**½ (out of 4)
Director: Breck Eisner
Starring: Timothy Olyphant, Radha Mitchell
Rated: R (strong language, extremely bloody violence)
“The Crazies” is a cautious remake of George Romero’s 1973 classic horror film. It is the story of Ogden Marsh, a small town where the residents go psycho (as the result of a toxin spread via the water system, originally [...]
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Parcbench’s Guide to the Obscure Oscar Nominees!
On March 5, 2010 at 6:13 am
When it comes to the office Oscar contest… or the dormitory Oscar contest… or even an online Oscar contest… there are always a couple categories that are a total guess: Best Live-Action Short Subject, and Best Animated Short Subject are two examples. Who ever really sees any of these films, right? But now, with your [...]
Hollywood Interview: writer/director Cyrus Nowrasteh Part Two
On March 2, 2010 at 8:05 am
Continued from Part One.
Chris Yogerst: I was also pleasantly surprised with Marno’s performance, I won’t soon forget it. You did a magnificent job with your entire cast and it shines through in this film. How has “Soraya” been received by Iranian and other Middle Eastern audiences?
Cyrus Nowrasteh: The film was banned in Iran prior to [...]
“Cop Out” (Film Review)
On at 7:04 am
* ½ (out of 4)
Director: Kevin Smith
Starring: Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan
Rated: R (strong language, violence, sexuality)
With “Cop Out,” director Kevin Smith (the guy recently kicked off Southwest Airlines for being too heavy) attempts to bring back the buddy-cop genre and fires a blank. Usually he does a good job directing his own writing (“Clerks”), but [...]
Hollywood Interview: writer/director Cyrus Nowrasteh Part One
On March 1, 2010 at 8:18 am
Cyrus Nowrasteh is a graduate of the prestigious USC film school and is a screenwriter and director in Hollywood. Nowrasteh both wrote and directed The Day Reagan Was Shot (2001), which starred Richard Dreyfuss and was produced by Oliver Stone. He has spent decades in the industry and has been in the headlines in recent [...]
“Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” (Film Review)
On February 23, 2010 at 9:09 am
** ½ (out of 4)
Director: Chris Columbus
Starring: Logan Lerman, Pierce Brosnan, Uma Thurman
Rick Riordan’s wildly popular book has been turned into a less than perfect movie under the direction of Chris Columbus. Imagine that – the director of the first two “Harry Potter” films taking on a very successful series of fantasy/adventure books with a [...]
“Shutter Island” (Review)
On February 19, 2010 at 8:56 am
There are four words that should get the attention of most film lovers: Directed by Martin Scorsese.
Over the years Scorsese has gained a reputation for lengthy, stylish and violent films. Most famous are his gangster flicks. However, when he steps out from his comfort zone, he is also known to deliver. Many critics have been [...]
The Fate of Roger Ebert’s Legacy
On February 18, 2010 at 6:00 am
“I’m so relieved to be an elite” –tweet from Roger Ebert
Most public figures have done or said something they wish they could take back. When it comes to public intellectuals and film critics specifically, they generally pride themselves on their ability to analyze what they see. Therefore, their responses to culture should be very measured [...]
“The Last Station” (Film Review)
On February 16, 2010 at 8:57 am
*** ½ (out of 4)
Starring: Christopher Plummer, Helen Mirren, James McAvoy
Director: Michael Hoffman
Rating: R (strong language, brief nudity)
Just think – you can now scan the movie listings and announce (a little smugly) “I really want to see the Tolstoy flick!” Seriously, you really can. I highly recommend it. Here’s why…
As Tolstoy wrote, happy families are [...]
“FROZEN” (Film Review)
On February 15, 2010 at 11:37 am
**½ (out of 4)
Director: Adam Green
Rated: R (strong language, disturbing images)
“Frozen” (which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival) stars Shawn Ashmore (“X Men”), Emma Bell, and Kevin Zeger. It tells the harrowing story of three skiers who are stranded on a chairlift. It’s just another day on the slopes for the three snowboarding friends, but [...]
“The Wolfman” (Review)
On February 12, 2010 at 9:13 am
I don’t remember hearing anyone ask for a remake of The Wolfman. Monster films have been around for a long time and their source material since time immemorial. What reigns today are a myriad of remakes that fail to live up to the originals. The Wolfman is the latest monster to rise up once again [...]
The Blind Side: Inspiring, Illuminating and Instructive
On February 11, 2010 at 5:30 am
As someone with a strong aversion to liberal orthodoxy — no matter how subtle — masquerading as entertainment in major motion pictures, I can count on my hand the number of yearly visits I make to the movie theater. Contrary to popular media opinion, even politically astute conservatives enjoy a little escapism every now and [...]
