It could have been much worse. Of all the 2011-released movies I saw this year (a little more than a hundred), most fell into the “merely OK” category. Like many of you, I chose not see some of the year’s obvious clunkers, like Adam Sandler’s cross-dressing “Jack and Jill” or the new “Chipmunks” movie. And, […]
Worst Movies of 2011 Read More »
Adventure is out there this Christmas weekend, and not just the high-tech gadgetry and stunts found in the latest “Mission: Impossible” film. The first of two Steven Spielberg movies this holiday season, “The Adventures of Tintin” is a motion-capture thrill ride with the energy and fun of Spielberg’s Indiana Jones franchise and the Saturday morning
‘Tintin’ thrills, ‘Sherlock Holmes’ has more of the same Read More »
Let those teenagers have their “Twilight” saga. And let the kids suffer through another one of those wretched “Alvin and the Chipmunks” sequels. The movie I want to see again and again this holiday season is “The Muppets.” “The Muppets” won’t win any awards, and one could make a fair case that it isn’t even
Why I Love the new ‘Muppets’ Read More »
You won’t see gangsters or much bloodletting in the latest film from acclaimed director Martin Scorsese. “Hugo” is a family-friendly adventure about an orphan who lives in the walls of a train station in 1930s Paris. Of course, with a legend like Scorsese at the helm, that’s only a tiny bit of what the film
‘Hugo’ a surprising change of pace for Scorsese Read More »
For the sake of the children, it’s probably better that “A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas” was released in early November. Any closer to the actual holiday and unsuspecting families might end up seeing a Christmas movie that could scar them for life. The very R-rated comedy, the third in the cult-stoner series, contains
‘Harold and Kumar’ get dirty and festive Read More »
Shrek, Donkey and Princess Fiona are hardly missed in “Puss in Boots,” the “Shrek” spin-off featuring Antonio Banderas as the cunning feline hero. It doesn’t match the wit of the first two “Shrek” movies, but there’s enough fresh humor and colorful action for it to overtake “Shrek the Third” and “Shrek Forever After” in the
‘Puss In Boots’ joins competitive Animated Feature Oscar race Read More »
Reclusive filmmaker Terrence Malick tries to explain the meaning of all existence in “The Tree of Life,” a sprawling, non-linear drama now available on Blu-ray and DVD (but not on Netflix or Redbox until Nov. 8). The film enthralled some and frustrated more with its fragmented storytelling, minimalist dialogue and lengthy sequences in space and
Making sense of ‘The Tree of Life’ Read More »
In politics, loyalty is more important than doing the right thing. So says “The Ides of March,” the political thriller directed, co-written and co-starring George Clooney. Set during a Democratic presidential primary race, “Ides of March” doesn’t have a positive opinion on the business of politicking. Even the players who work with a self-established ethical
Beware of great acting in ‘The Ides of March’ Read More »
There are two halves to “50/50” that wouldn’t be very entertaining if they each expanded into its own full-length movie. A movie about fighting a rare form of cancer isn’t many people’s idea of escapist entertainment. And watching Seth Rogen laugh through yet another raunchy stoner comedy wouldn’t be so annoying had he not already
Cancer comedy ’50/50′ has humor and heart Read More »
Any movie that makes villains out of the New York Yankees is good in my book. “Moneyball” is about much more than baseball, though the central premise is excellent movie fodder: A small-market baseball team finds a unique way to compete against the high-payroll juggernauts of the league. Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane (Brad
‘Moneyball’ makes a thriller out of baseball statistics Read More »
