Somewhere around mid-June, movie critics around the country started grumbling about the disappointing slate of summer movies. “Iron Man 2” wasn’t as good as the first “Iron Man” everybody hated “Sex and the City 2,” and nobody bothered to see “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.” Some started to call it the worst summer […]
Summer Movies 2010: The good, the bad and the bloody Read More »
The indie drama “Winter’s Bone” could induce chills in 100 degree heat. In an Oscar-worthy performance, newcomer Jennifer Lawrence stars as Ree, a desperate, hardworking teen living in the back-country and struggling to take care of her young siblings and mentally-disturbed mother. One day a police officer knocks on the door inquiring about her absent
‘Winter’s Bone’ led by engrossing Jennifer Lawrence Read More »
A romantic comedy like “The Switch” needs a fresh spin to survive the doldrums of late August. Accidental sperm donation, sadly, just isn’t enough. Jason Bateman stars as Wally, a likable hypochondriac who has long felt romantic feelings for best friend Kassie, played by Jennifer Aniston. Unlucky-in-love Kassie decides to have a baby by way
‘The Switch’ a pleasantly mediocre sperm movie Read More »
The gore. Oh my God, the gore. “Piranha 3D” is one of the bloodiest, most disgusting horror films ever made, and that’s saying something in the age of “Saw,” “Hostel” and the numerous other exploitative 80s-era remakes. “Piranha” is also, of course, presented in 3D, with various severed body parts constantly being tossed at the
‘Piranha 3D’ is bloody entertaining. Really. Read More »
Get to know the name Edgar Wright. He’s a cinema genius, and not enough people are seeing his movies. The British director has brilliantly skewered the zombie and buddy-cop genres with 2004’s “Shaun of the Dead” and 2007’s “Hot Fuzz,” respectively. His latest, “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,” is a wildly inventive, funny and action-packed
‘Scott Pilgrim’ the first inventive comic book movie in years Read More »
Stuff blows up real good. Little else needs to be said about “The Expendables,” an old-school throwback to 80s-era action movies, written, directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone. Assembling the greatest (and cheesiest) action stars of the last 30 years, “The Expendables” wastes little time on plot or character development. What we have here instead
Cheesy ‘Expendables’ is Stallone’s 80s action throwback Read More »
NOTE: About a year ago, when I was still writing a weekly column for The Coeur d’Alene Press, I wrote an article about my appreciation for the moviegoing arrangement I have with the Hayden, Idaho movie theater. As I am still writing reviews for The Press, my relationship with the theater continues. So I thought,
Hayden Cinema Six – The legit North Idaho movie theater Read More »
Much has been written about the degree of truth depicted in last year’s Oscar-winning “The Hurt Locker.” While its account of soldiers defusing bombs in Iraq gave audiences an idea of the visceral mayhem of modern warfare, the film was, ultimately, just a Hollywood fiction. As much as we celebrate expert battle sequences (the opening
‘Restrepo’ takes astonishing look at war in Afghanistan Read More »
Before “The Other Guys,” Mark Wahlberg only made movies that were accidentally funny. Anchored by a lively performance by Will Ferrell and a witty script from frequent Ferrell collaborator Adam McKay (“Anchorman,” “Talladega Nights”), Wahlberg gives his best performance since “The Departed,” playing a disgraced cop who is frequently exasperated by his pencil-neck partner. “The
Odd couple Ferrell and Wahlberg deliver in funny ‘Other Guys’ Read More »
Before Hollywood (probably) ruins Stieg Larsson’s best-selling “Millennium Trilogy,” the Swedish film series is worth checking out, if only for the breakout performance by Noomi Rapace as fiery computer hacker Lisbeth Salander. The first film, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” is one of the year’s best; a taut, disturbing thriller that only teased the
Lisbeth Salander Chronicles: ‘Girl Who Played with Fire’ vs. ‘Dragon Tattoo’ Read More »
