Date Night Review
RATING: (2.5 STARS) As I said in my review of The General, action comedies are hard to pull off. Usually a film focuses too much on forced laughter, which inevitably takes away from the action. A perfect example of this is Shawn Levy’s “Date Night,†a film that does both the comedy and the action […]
Iron Man 2 Review
RATING: (2.5 STARS) Iron Man 2 could’ve been a disaster. The film was rushed out only two years after its predecessor captured the hearts (and dollars) of audiences across the country. The high number of new characters made me shudder—thinking of the disastrous Spider-Man 3. And while the post-credits teaser after the original “Iron Man†[…]
The Square
Just before the first showing of his first film “The Square,” Australian director Nash Edgerton has all the confidence in the world. It’s hard to believe he is a stuntman-turned-director who is releasing his first feature film. He worked on stunts for films such as “The Matrix Reloaded,” “The Matrix Revolutions” and the “Star Wars” […]
Greenberg
When Ben Stiller received a call from Noah Baumbach asking the famous comedian and actor to appear in his new film, “Greenberg,†Stiller didn’t hesitate for a second. “There are like four or five filmmakers who, if you are an actor, you basically say yes to no matter what it is,†Stiller said in a […]
Micmacs Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) The best word I could use to describe “Micmacs†is delightful. A lovely little French comedy from Jean-Pierre Jeunet, director of “Amelie,†the film details a rag-tag bunch of homeless people who decide to take down two weapons corporations. Consistently hilarious, never too serious, this film will brighten your day and bring […]
Cyrus Review
RATING: (2.5 STARS) Few films received as much positive buzz out of Sundance as “Cyrus,†the latest from the Duplass Brothers, Jay and Mark. Many hailed it as a film of rare emotional honesty. Festival-goers in Austin for South by Southwest responded in kind, but I couldn’t help but think the film didn’t live up […]
Mars Review
RATING: (3 STARS) “Mars†is a slick little festival film, which premiered at South by Southwest and isn’t like to go much further. But to not discuss it for that reason would be doing it a disservice, for it’s unique, quite beautiful, and very enjoyable. The story line is familiar, but the way it looks […]
Kick-Ass Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) “Kick-Ass,†the latest from director Matthew Vaughn, is a wild ride from start to finish. Simultaneously a superhero movie and a riff on superhero movies, the film is full of ribald humor, over-the-top violence, and a surprising amount of heart. It’s a tad long, but it doesn’t once wear out its welcome. […]
Alice in Wonderland Review
RATING: (2 STARS) With Tim Burton, one always expects something out of the ordinary. For me, weird doesn’t necessarily equate good. I haven’t nearly seen all of his work, but I have yet to be really impressed with what he has to offer as a director. What purpose does his style serve? Over the course […]
Shutter Island Review
RATING: (4 STARS) When the release date for “Shutter Island†was pushed back from October to February, film buffs everywhere panicked. The thriller, directed by Martin Scorsese and based on a novel by Dennis Lehane, was expected to be a major player at this year’s Academy Awards, but the delay meant it would be out […]
Youth in Revolt Review
RATING: (2 STARS) My love for Michael Cera was seriously waning going into “Youth in Revolt.†I take pride in being one of the few people who watched “Arrested Development†from the beginning. He was brilliant in it, as he was in “Superbad.†I don’t care much for “Juno,†but I thought he was good […]
