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“THE BOOK OF ELI” (Film Review)
On January 22, 2010 at 10:40 am
** ½ (out of 4) Directors: Albert and Allen Hughes Rated: R (strong language, brutal violence) Shouldn’t it be enough for a movie to have a decent storyline, a cool star, adequate acting, and an admirable sense of purpose? Or should I actually feel something about the storyline, the star, and that sense of purpose [...]
“Extraordinary Measures”: Feature Film or Lifetime Original?
On at 6:15 am
Upon seeing the trailer for Extraordinary Measures, once can only come to a single conclusion. This film looks like nothing more than a made for TV movie with Hollywood actors that should be airing on the Lifetime network and not in the local theater. Those who made this assumption will be pleasantly surprised with the [...]
“DAYBREAKERS” (REVIEW) Bright idea, but burned out!
On January 20, 2010 at 6:34 am
In a time where paranormal activity, the end of world, and vampires seem to be the trend, I was convinced that Daybreakers was going to be that change of pace we all needed. I was wrong. Immediately, the film captures your attention and finely transitions into the opening credits and exposition of the story. At this point, [...]
My Blue Alien Heaven
On January 18, 2010 at 10:09 am
In Peter Weir’s “The Truman Show,” Noah Emmerich’s character Marlon commented on the sky above as he talked life and love with Jim Carrey. The two gaze at a sunset, during which Marlon brought up the brush the “big guy” upstairs used to sculpt the moment. The big guy upstairs wasn’t the “big guy,” as [...]
“THE SPY NEXT DOOR” (Film Review)
On at 6:49 am
* (out of 4) Director: Brian Levant Rated: PG (mild violence) I actually kinda liked this movie the first time I saw it. Of course, back then it starred Vin Diesel and was called “The Pacifier.” This second time, however was a different story. I think. Honestly, there may have been a good 15 minutes [...]
“The Lovely Bones” (Film Review)
On January 15, 2010 at 6:48 am
Anyone who has dealt with death knows that it is one of the hardest things to cope with. Those of us who had to deal with death as a child know how difficult it is to comprehend the finality of it at such a young age. This is a subject that is tough to portray [...]
“YOUTH IN REVOLT” (Film Review)
On at 6:29 am
* * * (out of 4) Rating: R (sexual content, language, drug use) Director: Miguel Arteta “Youth in Revolt” presents an honest assessment of the trilogy of teenage obsession: sex, rebellion, and parental defiance. It doesn’t apologize for the awkward moments, and it doesn’t glorify the triumphant moments. Instead, it treats these big subjects with [...]
Best Films of 2009
On January 13, 2010 at 7:00 am
Here are my favorite films of the last year. Those with links will direct you to my review of the film. Inglourious Basterds- This is Tarantino at his absolute best. The Hangover- The most successful comedy ever for more reasons that I can type. District 9- For a genre that is dead to me, this [...]
The “It’s Complicated” Rating Debate
On January 12, 2010 at 9:44 am
Just when it seems more and more Americans are becoming in favor of legalizing the personal use of marijuana, the Hollywood motion picture industry is holding things together and making sure that a couple of elderly actors don’t promote the illegal use of the drug. Of course, it isn’t Hollywood that Hollywood is worried about [...]
Feels Like Old Times: Notes from the Milwaukee Film Festival 2009 Part 2
On at 5:37 am
Trends rarely emerge at something-for-everyone festivals, but I would argue that many of the best films at Milwaukee shared the common virtue of providing better questions than answers. Consider Nicolas Winding Refn’s Bronson, which recounts the story of a real-life petty thief who borrowed his name from the American action star and, through notorious violence, [...]
Feels Like Old Times: Notes from the Milwaukee Film Festival 2009 Part 1
On January 11, 2010 at 7:06 am
“We’ve been through a lot of obstacles,” sighed Jonathan Jackson, executive director of the Milwaukee Film Festival, as he stood on the stage of Mequon’s North Shore Cinema. He didn’t bother to elaborate—after all, he had an opening night film to present—but everybody in the room understood what he was talking about. Last year, there [...]
Leap Year (Film Review)
On January 8, 2010 at 5:47 am
Some of the most successful comedies of the last ten years have earned their R ratings within minutes of opening scenes. It is almost risky nowadays to scale back and attempt a smaller, less vulgar and sexual romantic comedy. Leap Year tries to bring the genre out of the gutter, if only for an hour [...]
NINE (Film Review)
On January 7, 2010 at 5:39 am½ (out of 4) Rating: R (sexual content) Director: Rob Marshall It is something of a numbers game – shell out $12.00 and see eight major movie stars (six of them Academy Award winners) try to sing thirteen songs (each of which feel as if they take ten minutes until they’re over). It all adds [...]
Hollywood Conservatives Speak, But Is Hollywood Changing?
On January 6, 2010 at 5:42 am
Over the summer I wrote a piece for Newsreal that discussed Hollywood’s motivations in picking villains in films. I made a case in favor of the idea that the current economic situation drove Hollywood to pick safe villains. In short, I argued: “The film industry, like any other business, generally wants to appeal to the [...]
“THE YOUNG VICTORIA” (Film Review)
On January 5, 2010 at 5:10 am* * * 1/2 (out of 4) Rating: PG (sensuality, brief language and violence) Director: Jean-Marc Vallée “The Young Victoria” dusts off the portrait of a dowdy royal by focusing on her early life. Unfortunately, until she was Queen of England for several years, nothing worthy of making a film seemed to happen to her. [...]
Ritchie’s “Sherlock Holmes” Saved By Star Power (Review)
On December 31, 2009 at 5:35 am
“Data, data, data…I cannot make bricks without clay” –Sherlock Holmes If Iron Man wasn’t enough, Robert Downey Jr. continues his hot streak with the stylish detective tale of Sherlock Holmes. Guy Ritchie, on the other hand, has been on somewhat of a cold streak after his sleek 2000 film Snatch and proved he was in [...]
