It’s been a while since American audiences have been treated to a realistic look at the rise and descent of young love. In fact, as far as realistic films about young twenty-somethings falling in and out of love go, they’re a rare species. When one eventually comes along a chord is struck with the generation [...]

A $23.4 million opening weekend for what had been widely billed as the major comedy event of the summer seemed a tepid shrug of a reaction, and certainly not in line with the expectations and media buzz preceding it. But it won the weekend, however weak the competition was, and there remained room to suggest [...]

The great director Frank Capra was well known for his whimsical, bright, and intelligent films. They were often filled with some of the biggest leading men of the time such as Jimmy Stewart and Clark Gable, but it was for a film called Arsenic And Old Lace that he made two of the wisest casting [...]

Woody Allen is one of the most well-respected writers and directors in the last fifty years of American cinema, but not much is said of his acting. Well, not a lot great things, that is. He’s often criticized for “playing the same character” and not branching out. This is unfair. His mannerisms may be consistent, [...]

Possibly the filmmaker who personifies the 1980s more than any other, writer / director John Hughes has died of a heart attack at age 59 (via Variety). Being too young at the time to appreciate the seminal big hits that made his name, established his brand (Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink), I [...]

Continuing with stand-out performances from this year, we move along to another Saturday Night Live alumni. For years, Sandler worked on SNL and in several “comedies” as an idiot man-child and quickly became one of the biggest box-office draws in America. Never once did Adam Sandler show even a glimmer of any dramatic capabilities. Then, [...]

When you hear those two names, what do you think of? TV’s “The Office” and “SNL.” Yet, when the these two appeared as the young couple searching for a place to raise their unborn child in Sam Mendes’ Away We Go, they created one of the most realistic and relatable couples to ever grace the [...]

Robert Duvall or Gene Hackman would more likely be my gut response, but Cazale’s all-too-brief film career certainly sported the best batting average of his or any period. He did five features: The Godfather, The Conversation, The Godfather: Part II, Dog Day Afternoon, The Deer Hunter. Wow.  His volatile vulnerability was both searing and thoughtful, [...]

IT BLEW.

James Cameron’s forthcoming magnum opus Avatar has been a highly guarded secret ever since we first heard of it a whopping 12 1/2 years ago now. It’s been speculated over and endlessly rumored, and no amount of digging could uncover its secrets. This kind of crush, naturally, leads to extremes in expectations. Especially when we [...]

Since she first appeared on the scene in 1994, presented as a fragile, lovely rosebud whose petals were still tender and dew-kissed, Liv Tyler has maintained a presence that belies her origins as well as her career in the interim.

This luminously bleak but achingly humane Nicholas Ray noir is built around a late Humprey Bogart performance that may well be his richest and deftest. His tortured screenwriter Dixon Steele, by turns violent and vulnerable, charming and ugly, is the best argument against anyone who opines that he just coasted on his well-worn tough guy [...]

Poor Ron Paul. The esteemed doctor cum 2008 presidential candidate with a dedicate following thought he was being interviewed on the issue of Austrian economics (who knew he was so keen on it?). What awaited him instead when a light suddenly ‘broke’ mid-interview was a flaming homosexual entrapment. Brüno dropped his pants in a seductive dance, and Dr. Paul stormed out of the interview

It’s been a slow year for standout films, but Duncan Jones’ resourceful and eerie Moon is the best 2009 release yet seen, as well as the most thoughtful and compelling sci-fi film in many years. Applying some of Soderbergh’s Solaris gloss (which smartly classes up the shoestring effects) to the disorienting claustrophobia of ’70s sci-fi [...]

iciner reactions to Michael Mann’s Public Enemies varied, with much focus on whether period and digital can coexist: Zen_Guy: Saw it. I was underwhelmed. And it was not a good idea to shoot in digital. Sometimes it looked very terrible, and when it did it had a cheap look to it. HankyStanky: Meh. It was [...]

I can’t stop thinking about this film. It’s not perfect, and there are a few brief parts of the film that fail terribly, but the gist of the film is simple, brilliant, and increasingly relevant today. Peter Sellers is remarkably restrained and heartbreaking as the gardner Chance, a sweet, polite, middle-aged man with a severe [...]

“Tell Ted Turner to keep his damned Crayolas away from my movie!” – Orson Welles

The world has gone ga-ga over Wall-E, Pixar’s ninth animated feature. We respond.

I had my doubts about Gran Torino going in, but after seeing it I can honestly say that this is a wonderful movie. It is not without it’s flaws by any means. The inexperienced cast is a little rough around the edges to say the least. It is also a weak screenplay, full of clichés, [...]

Happy-Go-Lucky is more of a slice-of-life character study than a film with a coherent narrative or plot, yet it is a rich and rewarding experience that shines with genuine emotion and intelligence. It has been billed by many as Mike Leigh’s happy film. However, I didn’t buy the carefree, jubilant film everyone is selling it [...]