Inglourious Basterds Review
RATING: (4 STARS) You know something, Quentin Tarantino. I think this just might be your masterpiece. Inglourious Basterds is a truly audacious film from one of my all-time favorite directors. Not many filmmakers can rewrite history, but Tarantino does and succeeds with flying colors. The film, a fusion of war films and spaghetti westerns, has […]
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†[…]
Gone Baby Gone Review
RATING: (4 STARS) “Gone Baby Gone†is a brutal film that raises some really tough questions. It features some exceptional direction (by rookie filmmaker Ben Affleck) and some terrific acting, but it never quite caught on with audiences. Nor did it catch on with the Academy. For that reason, it qualifies as one of the […]
A.I. Artificial Intelligence Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) The origins of A.I. are well-known. The story was the brainchild of Stanley Kubrick, but he refused to make it into a film until technology was advanced enough to do it justice. He died before ever getting the chance to make the film. Enter Steven Spielberg, who was entranced by Kubrick’s story. […]
The French Connection Review
RATING: (4 STARS) Possibly the defining film in the gritty urban cop genre, “The French Connection†astonishes with its amazing direction, writing, and performance from Gene Hackman. The film grips you from beginning to end with its realistic portrayal of 1970s New York and its wild man lead character, Jimmy “Popeye†Doyle. It represents one […]
Philadelphia Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) I went into “Philadelphia†knowing exactly what was going to happen and expecting it to be a manipulative courtroom drama – kind of like Kramer vs. Kramer. I was quite surprised, therefore, when I actually found it genuinely moving and honest. The three-dimensional characters and the bold way they confront the issues […]
Kramer vs. Kramer Review
RATING: (2.5 STARS) “Kramer vs. Kramer†stars Dustin Hoffman, one of the greatest actors of his generation, and Meryl Streep, probably the greatest actress ever. Both actors won Academy Awards. Robert Benton won two Academy Awards (for directing and writing the picture), and the film won the big award back in 1979, Best Picture. With […]
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead Review
RATING: (4 STARS) With one of the darkest plots of any movie I’ve seen this decade, “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead†floors you from the first scene to the last. This is really intense and powerful stuff that is extremely well written, directed, and acted. Andy (Hoffman) and his brother Hank (Ethan Hawke) are […]
Quantum of Solace Review
RATING: (3 STARS) When James Bond returned in 2006’s “Casino Royale,†the franchise was given new life. The film was a smashing success both critically and financially. Daniel Craig had made everyone forget about Pierce Brosnan. So production began almost immediately on a sequel. And in 2008, with the highest of expectations, “Quantum of Solace†[…]
Duck Soup Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) Comedy today is such a dicey genre for me. There are a few I just love – “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,†for example. On the whole, however, I think most comedies are obvious, overlong, generic, and simply unfunny. If I’m in need of a laugh, I usually pop in one of my old […]
The Graduate Review
RATING: (4 STARS) The reason realism is such a sought after trait in movies is because having realistic characters and realistic scenarios is the key to bringing the audience in and allowing them to relate to what’s on screen. Being able to relate heightens one’s emotional and intellectual connection to a film. Mike Nichols’ classic […]
Annie Hall Review
RATING: (4 STARS) “Annie Hall†was the beginning of Woody Allen as most know him. It marked the beginning of a career transition that moved him from pure comedy to the realistic romantic dramedy – the genre he’s most closely associated with. Part of the reason he is so well-known for it is because of […]
Angels and Demons Review
RATING: (1 STAR) I think I might be one of roughly fifty people in the world who hasn’t read any of Dan Brown’s mega-best-selling Robert Langdon books. I tried to read “The DaVinci Code,†but I couldn’t get into it. That being said, I actually kind of enjoyed “The DaVinci Code,†the generally reviled big […]
The Lady from Shanghai Review
RATING: (4 STARS) Ask anyone other than a serious film buff, and they will tell you Orson Welles only made one great film, his first, “Citizen Kane.†That’s understandable. “Kane†is arguably one of the greatest films ever made. But the actor/writer/director’s resume is more than just that, and saying otherwise is a great disservice […]
Monsters, Inc. Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) “Monsters Inc.†doesn’t often come up in discussions of the best Pixar films. So I had never made it a point to see it. But with the announcement of a sequel (coming in 2012), I thought it was time to take a look at the only Pixar film I haven’t seen, and […]
Whatever Works Review
RATING: (2.5 STARS) Perhaps a more apt title for Woody Allen’s “Whatever Works†would have simply been “Whatever,†because that’s exactly what I felt about the film when it finished. It was whatever. I didn’t dislike it, but almost nothing about it was original, and while it was clever in parts, it didn’t measure up […]
