The Paper Review
RATING: (2 STARS) It’s almost stunning how quickly Ron Howard’s The Paper collapses in on itself. Here’s a film that’s mostly fine, if a little familiar, for 80% of its running time. But my God, when it fails, it fails spectacularly. Almost any good will Howard and his all-star cast build is gone by the […]
Once Upon a Time in the West Review
RATING: (4 STARS) Once Upon a Time in the West is like the ultimate adult fairy tale. It takes place long ago in a land far away (if not in distance, than in memory). It features clearly defined protagonists and antagonists, and in the end, just about everything is as it should be. But it’s […]
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 […]
All the President’s Men Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) We all know the story. President Richard M. Nixon and “all of his men†conspired to bug the offices of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate Hotel, operated a secret slush fund within the White House, and obstructed justice during the investigation. Alan J. Pakula’s “All the President’s Men†is the […]
Magnolia Review
RATING: (4 STARS) After the critical and financial success he had with “Boogie Nights,†New Line essentially gave P.T. Anderson the freedom to do anything he wanted. The result is “Magnolia,†a picture that wouldn’t have been made, couldn’t have been made, without such freedom. This is a bold motion picture, a 3-hour tale about […]
