Cheesy? You must be thinking of another movie. Director/screenwriter David O. Russell (“The Fighter,” “Three Kings”) covers all the bases from the opening to the end credits, navigating a script that drips none of the cheese offered by the other romantic-comedies that were released earlier in the year. “Silver Linings Playbook” is adapted from the 2008 novel of the...
“Rise of the Guardians” delivers the magic of the holiday season to nationwide audiences. The latest DreamWorks Animation feature film is based on children’s book series “The Guardians of Childhood,” written by William Joyce who, along with Guillermo Del Toro (“Pan’s Labyrinth”), executive produced this adaptation. Director Peter Ramsey (“Monsters vs. Aliens”) brings David Lindsay-Abaire’s (“Robots”) screenplay to life...
In 2009, Fox 2000 Pictures announced that director Ang Lee (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Brokeback Mountain”) had signed on for the film adaptation of best-selling adventure-drama novel “Life of Pi,” written by Yann Martel. And while I wouldn't say that it's as much of a smashing success as its source material, "Life of Pi" is still a captivating spectacle.
The...
After five years and four movies of disco ball vampirism, lupine six packs and Kristen Stewart’s monotone delivery, “The Twilight Saga” breathes its last in “Breaking Dawn – Part 2,” and it’s well overdue. The final installment of Stephenie Meyer’s monster plays out like a primetime episode in the Friday night graveyard slot, as director Bill Condon (“Chicago,” “Dreamgirls”)...
As I stepped into the surprisingly spacious screening room of Downtown Riverside’s Culver Center, I expected “Martha Marcy May Marlene” to be a cookie-cutter psychological thriller. The independent film was released early 2011 at the Sundance Film Festival and only saw a limited release. What I saw instead was a film that is as much about questions of identity...
“Skyfall, directed by Sam Mendes, is the latest addition to the James Bond franchise since it began 50 years ago with Sean Connery in “Dr. No” (1963). After earning critical acclaim for his performance in the 2006 series reboot "Casino Royale" (followed by "Quantum of Solace" in 2008), Daniel Craig assumes the role of James Bond for the third...
If the sight of a herd of corpulent men grinding against each other’s pasty, Pabst-slathered bodies and prancing about in the nude to Donnie & Joe Emerson’s “Baby” is likely to inflict lasting trauma on your mind, steer clear of “The Comedy.” Tim Heidecker of Adult Swim’s “Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!” settles into the lifestyle of...
Director Rich Moore (“The Simpsons,” “Futurama”) made his theatrical debut this weekend, but did he succeed in making “Wreck-It Ralph” a knockout? Yes and no. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ latest feature film boasts its usual top notch visual effects, and Moore definitely hit the mark with fast-paced direction that bombards the audience with a roller coaster marriage of classic...
It’s been a few years since director Robert Zemeckis created such a buzz with a work of his, and with Denzel Washington heading the bill along with what appears to be a solid story, “Flight” looked ready for take off and success.
There’s no denying that “Flight” deals with some pretty heavy issues, such as alcoholism and addiction, but multiple...
You may think that director/screenwriter Michael J. Bassett (“Deathwatch,” “Solomon Kane”) recently took over the reins of the “Silent Hill” film franchise. What he did was fumble with the reins, veer off-road and manage to get the carriage trampled beneath the horses. Apparently Bassett believes that sequels are supposed to be unpleasant to sit through, and that making a...