‘While We’re Young’ best American film of the year so far
Ben Stiller stars in the best American film of the year so far. I realize that may come as a shock to some people who know him primarily from the Fokker movies or those Museum flicks but Stiller has always had ambitions beyond broad comedy.10 years ago
‘Get Hard’ will get laughs, but it’s hardly good
"Get Hard" is exactly what you'd expect from a Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart vehicle - it's dumb, low-brow, and yes, funny, even if only intermittently.10 years ago
‘Cinderella’ equal parts gorgeous & bland: 8-year-old kids will love it
Disney's live-action versions of the fairy tales haven't made as big a splash as often, but when they do, they've been huge at the box-office too. Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" made over a billion dollars worldwide and Angelina Jolie's "Maleficent," over $800 million.11 years ago
If ‘Chappie’ wants to live, audiences must accept a mish-mash of clashing tones
The short-hand take on "Chappie" is that it plays like a mash-up of "Robocop," "E.T." and "Blade Runner."11 years ago
Don’t get conned into thinking ‘Focus’ is a good movie – it’s not
"Focus" is a slick new movie about a high-stakes con man and a gorgeous woman who wants to be his protege. Since those two are played by Will Smith and the new "It Girl" Margot Robbie, you can rest assured this movie is going to be a very polished, high-gloss affair. Lots of rich, beautiful people dressed to the nines and hanging out in swanky 5-star hotels in exotic locations.11 years ago
Tom Tangney’s Oscar predictions & who he thinks should win
Recently, the Academy Awards have become more like coronations than competitions. So many award shows have already taken place by the time the Oscars come around, that the winners are mostly foregone conclusions. But not this year! There are legitimate toss-ups in three of the biggest categories - Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Director.11 years ago
‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ is more like 50 shades of tame
"Fifty Shades of Grey" is a two-hour tease with no climax. (Insert whatever sexual joke you want here.)11 years ago
‘Jupiter Ascending’ too silly to take seriously, but still not fun
"Jupiter Ascending" is a very flashy movie but it's a flash in a very shallow pan. Sure, it's got lots of bright colors, loud explosions, fanciful, imaginary creatures, elaborate fantasy worlds, and futuristic gizmos like anti-gravity boots and invisibility shields.11 years ago
Award-worthy actresses Julianne Moore, Marion Cotillard shine in ‘Still Alice,’ ‘Two Days, One Night’
On Friday, two movies open that did earn their leading ladies Academy Award nominations - Julianne Moore in "Still Alice," and Marion Cotillard in "Two Days, One Night."11 years ago
Jennifer Aniston dares not to wear makeup! But ‘Cake’ deserves higher praise than that
In the lead up to the release of Jennifer Aniston's latest film, "Cake," a lot was made of her physical appearance. Jennifer does an entire movie sans make-up, how shocking! Aniston looking terrible - how daring! Why would a beautiful woman make herself so unbecoming? To act, of course ... and perhaps to win awards along the way? Maybe even an Oscar?11 years ago
Clint Eastwood keeps us at arm’s length in ‘American Sniper’
"American Sniper" has great credentials. Nominated for six Academy Awards, it's based on a popular memoir by an American military hero, Chris Kyle. It stars Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper and it's directed by the legendary Clint Eastwood.11 years ago
The inherent vice of ‘Inherent Vice’
"Inherent Vice" is unlike anything you're apt to see all year.11 years ago
See it or skip it: 6 movies opening on Christmas Day
A rush of big movies open Christmas Day. All of them are worth seeing, but some more than others. Here's a quick rundown, alphabetically.11 years ago
‘Foxcatcher’ a sordid tale told at arm’s length
"Foxcatcher" has an incredibly dramatic and disturbing true story to tell and yet it does so in a very even-keeled way. No heightened melodrama, no cheap histrionics - just a quiet and deliberate laying out of the events, more or less as they happened over the course of a couple years, events that culminated in a shocking tragedy.11 years ago
1100-mile hike in ‘Wild’ not as moving as it wants to be
In the new movie "Wild," Reese Witherspoon stars as a woman who deals with a series of personal crises by hiking a thousand mile trail alone.11 years ago
‘Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1’ counts down to box office cleanup
"The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1" is a mouthful of a title but most viewers, I imagine, will leave the theater feeling underfed, hungering for a lot more story that this second sequel offers.11 years ago
‘The Theory of Everything’ avoids cliches but is still too glossy to ring true
"The Theory of Everything" is a portrait of a marriage, but not just any marriage. It's about the joys and pains of a marriage with a man suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease. And, oh yeah, that man just happens to be the world famous physicist Stephen Hawking.11 years ago
The Invisible Berlin Wall
Thanks to a RIAS fellowship, I was lucky enough to visit Berlin for the 20th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall five years ago. With Sunday's 25th anniversary now upon us, I've decided to post my RIAS essay on the Berlin Wall from my visit in 2009.11 years ago
‘Interstellar’ is an ambitious, spectacular sight to behold
"Interstellar" is basically "Gravity" squared. Last year's big sci-fi blockbuster was a spectacular depiction of the perils of life in outer space for one emotionally vulnerable astronaut.11 years ago
Method, madness in ‘Whiplash’ deliver early Oscar buzz
The movie "Whiplash" was the big winner at Sundance this year and is definitely in the running for some major year-end acting awards, including the Oscars. Pretty impressive for a low-budget film with a pretty simple premise: a music teacher challenges a student drummer.11 years ago
‘Dear White People’ is smart satire with mandatory dose of booze and parties
As you might suspect from the title, "Dear White People" is a smart social satire on the tricky nature of race relations in this country.11 years ago
‘Birdman’ takes flight, then collapses in exhaustion
Early on in the new Michael Keaton movie "Birdman," a cocky actor tells a teenage girl fresh out of rehab that she's "kind of a beautiful mess." That's how I'd sum up the movie as well. A beautiful mess.11 years ago
An interview with ‘Laggies’ director Lynn Shelton
Thanks to smart, refreshing movies like "Humpday" and "Your Sister's Sister," local filmmaker Lynn Shelton has become a darling of the indie film world.11 years ago
