The North Idaho lifestyle has its benefits. Diverse moviegoing is not one of them. Some of the best movies of any given year never play in our area, and many take their sweet time getting here. “Crazy Heart,” the indie drama starring Oscar hopeful Jeff Bridges, finally opened in Spokane last week after months of […]
Oscar hopefuls ‘Crazy Heart’ and ‘An Education’ worth the wait Read More »
Casual moviegoers finally have a reason to watch the Academy Awards ceremony. When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences decided to expand its Best Picture category from five nominees to 10, many hoped it would lead to a more diverse and audience-friendly awards show. They got their wish, and it only desecrated the
Oscar noms celebrate diversity Read More »
Science-fiction isn’t all about space battles, lightsabers and really tall Smurfs. Occasionally, filmmakers can utilize futuristic settings to tell fascinating stories of personal struggle. Such is the case with “Moon,” a haunting indie sci-fi starring Sam Rockwell as the sole astronaut working a three-year stint on a remote moon base. This is Rockwell’s show, with
‘Moon,’ ‘Big Fan’ worth a look on DVD Read More »
One of my favorite obsessions is "Lost," the time-bending series about a mysterious island and the fated survivors of a grisly plane crash. After more than 100 episodes full of polar bears, smoke monsters and flash-forwards, the series begins its sixth and final season on Tuesday (8 p.m. ABC). The network will open the evening
‘Lost’ final season primer: Everything you need to know about the ABC series Read More »
It’s bad enough that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson stars in an idiotic kiddy movie called "Tooth Fairy." But did the promotional campaign really need to use the stupidest taglines imaginable? "The Tooth Hurts," proclaims one shameless poster for the movie. Another reads, "You Can’t Handle the Tooth." Obviously this "Tooth Fairy" movie is a real
You can’t handle the taglines Read More »
"Avatar" took home the top prizes at last week’s Golden Globe Awards. Whether it deserves it or not, expect James Cameron’s epic to lead the field again when Oscar nominations are announced Feb. 2. Here’s a highly educated guess (debatable) on what to expect in the top categories. Best Picture In a controversial rule change,
Oscar nomination predictions 2010 Read More »
The Mayans may peg the end of the world for 2012, but the pop culture apocalypse seems to be here today. I don’t know about you, but I’m perplexed by the recent events in the world of entertainment. NBC doesn’t know what to do about Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien. "Spider-man" is getting a "gritty"
Everyone else can love it, but the mega-blockbuster “Avatar” is certainly NOT one of my favorite movies of 2009. James Cameron’s science-fiction epic continues to shatter box office records, and three weeks after its worldwide release, word of mouth seems to be stronger than ever. Critics have gushed over it, and many consider it to
Issues with ‘Avatar’ Read More »
The title speaks for itself. The less said about 2009’s cinematic stinkers, the better. Avoid them like the (insert latest disease craze here). Bride Wars I feel sorry for any person who knows a woman like the spoiled characters played by Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson in this offensively insipid film. Luckily, no human being
Worst Movies of 2009 Read More »
With two lingering wars and the economy in the tank, the nation didn’t exactly have a very happy 2009. Fitting that many of the year’s best movies were fantasies, comedies and cartoons. Apparently, there’s nothing like a good distraction to help ease the pain of tough times. 1. Up While this Pixar masterpiece boasts several
Best Movies of 2009 Read More »
