Movie Reviews  

Current films, current DVD's and forgotten classics are reviewed in our effort to save you time in your pursuit of an interesting and entertaining evening at the movies.

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"Burn After Reading," the latest edition in Ethan and Joel Coen's offbeat and often distinctive films: some comedies, some dramas, some from another world of intellect, was exactly what I expected - overwhelmingly eclectic.
"Vicky Cristina Barcelona" was surprisingly funny. Laughing out loud at neurotic Europeans and American Tourists is rather more humorous than considering the humor wrapped in the neurosis of Manhattan natives, which has been the staple of previous Woody Allen Movies.
"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" gives us a slow, drawn look at his last days as a paranoid sociopath and the aftermath that rewarded his place in history as a folk hero.
It is just that he was so drastically different - odd in most people's estimation - that one, I believe, would need to have lived just a piece of his unique existence to understand his genius.
Middle-aged widower Walter Vale finds richness to his life by discovering that he matters, that others matter. Walter is a miserable man who admits, "I pretend at life. I pretend to work, but, in fact I haven't done any real work for some time."
Thank-you Ed Harris for bringing to the "silver screen," and my 40" Liquid Crystal Display, a subtle and beautifully filmed story of the old southwest that keeps the "Western" motif alive for future generations.
The hugely popular"The Hunger Games," by virtue alone of the unavoidable comparison to the recently completed titular series of novels by Suzanne Collins, and other memorable films by cinematic directors of high standing, may have unduly influenced the opinion of many, who might have otherwise form.
Admittedly, I knew nothing of the much loved series of graphic novels, "Watchmen." Whenever a film is done from a fictional depiction of humanity, or a science fictional depiction of a supposed humanity, many humans complain that the book was much better.
Some folks like their coffee blonde and sweet, but their comedy black. If you are one of that rare breed, you will probably get quite a few belly laughs from the directorial sophomore effort of Bobcat Goldthwaite: "World's Greatest Dad."
In the heart of all real men there is compassion for all things true.
Buck Howard knows it has been a long time since his 61 appearances on the "Tonight Show with Johnny Carson," and he needs a comeback in the worst way.
The film "Knowing" uses the science fiction genre to introduce either theme that are plausible, in these days as our civilization struggles to rediscover its collective soul.
A dramatic retelling of the post-Watergate television interviews between British talk-show host David Frost and former president Richard Nixon.
The Lorax: It is a film for the ages ... well, at least for all ages under the age of eight.
Director Martin Scorsese's adaptation of Brian Selznick's "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" into the fantastic film "Hugo" was a brilliant stroke of passion for the edgy director of quite a few gritty, pathologically viotent films, such as: "Mean Streets," "Taxi Driver," "Raging Bull" and "Goodfellas."
Actor / Director Clint Eastwood has once again told a story that is worth every minute of the 116 minutes of runtime it took to another of his well told tales.
In most wars the eventual victims are the noncombatants. World War II started differently.
John Michael Shanley: wrote the play, wrote the screenplay and directed the film, and used this control of quality to insure that he would produce an outstanding film that is tight at just 104 minutes, with no waste in time or the talent hired to produce it.
Both boys are the "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas." Their individual stories that led them to that conclusion represent the intertwined paths of these two fated peoples: the Germans and the Jews.
Families can be Difficult ... They also can be one's strength to weather the certain difficulties in life that test any resolve for happiness.
Even though this film has its comedic moments, Cancer is a serious subject, so you best bring your "big boy pants" to watch this one.
Those were different times in a desperate South, and consequently, this is a story that aches to be told.
Mary Surratt may have been a loving mother, but it would eventually kill her. Regardless, President Lincoln was murdered and retribution must be exacted, irrespective of the accused's culpability.
This remake of the 1939 film by Director / Actor Gary Sinise, of John Steinbeck's classic novel, communicates well lengths men will go to survive, and yet retain some semblance of dignity.
For some mysterious purpose, some broken men may only find themselves when hanging on by a thread.
Depressive tragedy plays out to its conclusion, and finds an entire community in a quandary of rotten choices.
A few minutes into the movie and I got a little worried. The dialogue, especially during the first few scenes really made me want to cringe.
Filmmaker Woody Allen has often dealt with different historical periods, with ancillary interlopers, with varying degrees of success.
Director / Screenwriter J. J. Abrams's film, "Super 8," reminded me of "Close Encounters" meets "E.T." meets "Goonies," and even though this chemistry in celluloid sounds like one giant cliché, the film worked, and it worked quite well.
Director Mark Pellington crafted a Glenn Porter screenplay, which employed four good actors, into a film that did not have to be made.
"Forrest Gump" is one of the five best films ever made. It is the best of American art ... in scope, in tone, in message.
Recently, I reviewed "The Beaver," which was a purely dark comedy regarding the debilitating effects of chronic depression, resulting in severe schizophrenia. "It's Kind of a Funny of Story," which dealt with institutionalized mental health patients, was much lighter fare.
This film, by Actress Jodie Foster who also directed, was produced during the time when Actor Gibson was having his last round of domestic skirmishes in his own home, and public opinion for the celebrated actor was at an all time low.
Many of you that see this film will not like, or even try to understand it. That is completely understandable, and you will be in the majority.
Actor / Director / Screen Writer George Clooney tries his hand at the inside game of politics with varying degrees of success.
What could be cast about as a "slasher movie" meets mindless college coeds one drunken weekend in the high hills of West Virginia is, actually, just one well written, well-paced dark comedy that is more funny than grotesque, and let's be clear about this: The film is maddeningly grotesque.
Remarkably, John Brennan is also a regular guy, with a regular life, with a regular job, but also he possessed an irregular sense of propriety towards those that he loved, governed by an impressive and overwhelming sense of honor.
I mostly love "Indie Films." As an film aficionado, I get to root for the underdog production and enjoy the tale told well in celluloid all at the same time.
Director Darren Aronofsky employs the tragedy of full blown schizophrenia to allegorically expose the duality of raw emotional conflict within the hyper-creative process that is the backstage confluence of ballerinas and their bosses.
The exposition of the hard edges of a bad time, in an otherwise thoughtful world, is the best of "Water for Elephants."
What if the Rapture is not to as it has been alluded to in Thessalonians in the New Testament of the Christian Bible?
Director Michel Gondry took a lame script by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg to build an unbelievable film, devoid of all emotion or the ability to elicit any palpable audience empathy.
Infrequent Screenwriter / Director Cameron Crowe made another indelible mark in this film about himself, and how he did, or may would have interacted with notable Rock 'n' Roll artists, who humorously struggle to become dysfunctional Rock 'n' Roll stars.
All great religions, and other strict disciplines enforce a code that provides structure to establish the tradition, which will endure the ages.
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