Category: The Twenty-First Century
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Labor Day [2014] ★★½
Valentine’s day is upon us. This is cue for Hollywood studios to release their romantic films. Exhibit A: “Labor Day”, written and directed by Jason Reitman (“Up In The Air”) and based on the 2009 novel by Joyce Maynard. I think it’s fair to say that moviegoers know what to expect when they see one…
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Ride Along [2014] ★½
The first comedy of the year has a damn fine chance of being the worst. “Ride Along” isn’t just a lousy comedy flick, it should numb the brains of moviegoers of all sexes and ages. Before you start hating, I think you should know that I’ve got nothing against a dumb comedy film on a…
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Devil’s Due [2014]
Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the movies, here comes another “found footage” horror flick about a couple expecting the devil’s child. This is the cue for directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gilett (yes it took two people to direct this) to throw a collection of clichés that soon turns…
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I, Frankenstein [2014]
Here’s a shrieking bore of a January movie that’s meant to spice things up by casting Aaron Eckhart (a decent actor) as the classic Frankenstein monster. I’m calling bullshit. After an Ok prologue that pays homage (well not entirely) to the classic Mary Shelley story, this loud, noisy, video-game like mess made my eyes bleed.…
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طالع نازل (Stable Unstable) [2013] ★★½
It’s been a hectic month at the movies. I’ve seen a lot of good films and some terrible ones as well. “Stable Unstable”, the latest Lebanese film from writer/director Mahmoud Hojeij (in his feature debut) falls somewhere in between. It’s far from being perfect, yet as a showcase for a host of talented Lebanese actors,…
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Ender’s Game [2013] ★★
I don’t know what “Ender’s Game” purists would make of this big screen adaptation, but as someone who has never read the book, I wasn’t impressed with the overall result. This is not to say that the movie doesn’t have impressive visuals. The futuristic settings, costumes and overall production design are a treat to watch.…
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Dallas Buyers Club [2013] ★★★½
After years of watching Matthew McConaughey waste his talent on mediocre movies (“Ghosts of Girlfriends Past”? Really?), it’s a pleasure to finally see him sink his teeth into a challenging role. In “Dallas Buyers Club”, he plays Ron Woodroof, the homophobic man who gets diagnosed with HIV and finds himself with just 30 days to…
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Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit [2014] ★★½
While everyone is busy with Oscar nominations, “Jack Ryan” sneaks into theaters in time to remind us that January releases don’t have to be strictly terrible (I’m talking to you, Hercules). Yes, it’s a routine spy thriller. Yes, three actors have already played the same role in the past (Alec Baldwin in “Hunt for Red…
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Enough Said [2013] ★★★
I’ve enjoyed most of Nicole Holofcener’s movies (“Please Give”, “Friends with Money”) but she has outdone herself with “Enough Said”. Her characters are real, richly drawn and utterly believable. With a light of comic touch, and without a whiff of pretension, she manages to explore some of the craziness of adult relationships, creating superior entertainment.…
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All Is Lost [2013] ★★½
Robert Redford is alone on a sailboat. The boat is sinking. Robert is about to die, hence the title of the movie “All Is Lost”. I’m not spoiling anything here since the main character leaves a farewell message as soon as the movie opens. We learn that the boat has been badly damaged, 17 000…
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Inside Llewyn Davis [2013] ★★½
I wish I could write a thoughtful, positive review of the Coen brothers’ latest film “Inside Llewyn Davis”, but to be perfectly honest, I didn’t love it. I appreciate it, and admire its beautiful soundtrack, but I don’t know quite what to make of it. At least I can start on a positive note: Oscar…
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The Book Thief [2013] ★★½
I don’t like pigeonholing films, and I’ve never been a huge fan of the term “tear jerker”, but I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t tell you that several people at the screening I attended were moved to tears by “The Book Thief”, while I was unresponsive at some point. I’ve never read the book,…
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Her [2013] ★★★½
Yes, this is the movie where Joaquin Phoenix falls in love with a machine. No, this is not a movie you should rush to avoid. Screenwriting this smart, inventive and passionate is a rare species these days. So all praise to Spike Jonze, who wrote and directed his most original film since 1999’s “Being John…
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August: Osage County [2013] ★★½
Meryl Streep is terrific in “August: Osage County”, the big screen adaptation of Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer Prize- winning show, and she’s worth the price of ticket alone. But I wish I liked it more. I was completely captivated from the first moment she appeared onscreen, playing a mother who is fighting cancer and her family…
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The Legend Of Hercules [2014] ★½
Another January dud. After last week’s horrible “Paranormal Activity”, “The Legend of Hercules” thinks it’s “Gladiator”. Talk about delusional. This is basically the story of Hercules (played by a dreadful Kellan Lutz), son of Zeus, who was betrayed by his stepfather the King and how he embarked on a journey to overthrow him and restore…
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Saving Mr. Banks [2013] ★★★
If you love movies, “Saving Mr. Banks” is hard to resist. It paints an evocative picture of Hollywood and the methodology of filmmaking, circa 1961, while offering juicy roles to Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks, two of the finest actors of their generation. It has a different flavor from most movies I’ve seen in 2013,…
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Blue Jasmine [2013] ★★★½
Woody Allen has had his ups and downs over the years (“Anything Else” was awful for instance), but “Blue Jasmine” is one of his best movies in years. As usual he has assembled an impressive cast and given them interesting roles to play. It’s a treat to watch Cate Blanchett (in an Oscar worthy performance),…
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American Hustle [2013] ★★★
It’s damn hard to dislike any movie directed by David O. Russell (“The Fighter”) and starring Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Jeremy Renner. O. Russell, who did such a fine job with last year’s “Silver Linings Playbook”, follows it up with the highly entertaining “American Hustle”. It has so many good…
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The Right Kind Of Wrong [2013] ★★
An entirely predictable chick flick that will probably go down much easier on DVD with a few Margaritas and a slice of pizza with extra cheese (pun intended). It’s a date! Rating: 2/4
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Frozen [2013] ★★★
Disney’s take on Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen” is a tuneful, entertaining, great looking animated feature that will capture the hearts of young kids and adult movie buffs alike (that would be me). All the classic Disney ingredients are here: a heroine we can root for, an unlikely hero who has to prove himself, a colorful…
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