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 »
There are movies about the beginning of happy relationships and movies about their bitter or tragic disintegration. Very few, however, focus on the in-between time, where work, kids, and moments of mid-life desperation can make even the most committed relationships miserable. That’s what makes “The Kids Are All Right” such a rare and special film.
‘Kids Are All Right’ a summer indie gem Read More »
Most Hollywood blockbusters don’t require A-list celebrities to succeed anymore. Sequels, superheroes and teenage book franchises seem to dominate the market these days, leaving folks like Tom Cruise to ponder whether “Jersey Shore” could have a better box office performance. Yet when it comes to opening action movies, Angelina Jolie is one of the few
Angelina Jolie strong-arms average thrills of ‘Salt’ Read More »
Cityscapes fold onto themselves. Hotel hallways tumble upside down. A son tries to make amends with his father by breaking into a snowbound fortress straight out of a James Bond movie. Behold the spectacle of “Inception,” a brainy puzzle-box of an adventure from writer/director Christopher Nolan. Underneath its blockbuster visuals, “Inception” is a surprisingly personal
‘Inception’ is spectacular cinema. And it makes sense too Read More »
It isn’t often that Hollywood offers two movies on the same weekend where audiences are encouraged to root for the bad guys. Both the animated comedy “Despicable Me” and the sci-fi sequel/reboot “Predators” focus on dastardly villains, but only one enlists a trio of adorable children to break the cold-blooded exterior of our technologically-savvy antagonist.
‘Despicable Me’ villain better than predictable ‘Predators’ Read More »
Good movies about strong women still exist outside the spineless brain-suck of “The Twilight Saga.” While Bella takes three movies to decide between a wolfman and a dead guy, audiences itching for quality storytelling can look no further than the “Millennium Trilogy” from the late Swedish author Stieg Larrson. All three books are available now,
‘Girl with Dragon Tattoo’ perfect cure for ‘Twilight’ fever Read More »
Tom Cruise so desperately wants the action caper “Knight and Day” to be his ticket back to the A-list. Enlisting the bubbly Cameron Diaz for this flirty, globetrotting adventure helps his cause, but the film can’t overcome the nagging feeling that we’ve seen it all before. Call it “Mission: Impossible” for the Rom-Com crowd. Cruise
Cruise and Diaz try hard, kinda fail in predictable ‘Knight and Day’ Read More »
Second sequels aren’t supposed to be good. The very idea of a “Toy Story 3” should have been a major concern to the millions of adoring fans of the original “Toy Story” and its equally stellar sequel. Of course, this is Pixar we’re talking about, and “Toy Story 3” is yet another gem in the
Pixar winning streak continues with masterful ‘Toy Story 3’ Read More »
