Dear John — 2 1/2 stars — Opens February 5, 2010
February 4, 2010 on 5:11 pm | In Uncategorized | No CommentsRich girl amanda Seyfriend meets enlisted soldier Channing Tatum on the beach in South Carolina. Of course they fall in love and their two weeks together move her to promise to write every day and wait for him. “Dear John” celebrates the art of letter writing. Better yet, Nicholas Sparks’ story goes to some unexpected places and manages to tug your heartstrings with subplot of parential tension, mental challenges, serious illness, and the effect of the 9/11 attacks. The actors look cute, but the script carries them along for a better than expected movie. “Dear John” reminds me of the weepies they used to make in the 40’s and 50’s. Continue reading Dear John — 2 1/2 stars — Opens February 5, 2010…
The Last Station - 3 stars - Opens February 5, 2010
February 4, 2010 on 5:05 pm | In Uncategorized | No CommentsChristopher Plummer and Helen Mirren chew the scenery in this intense period piece. Russian writer Leo Tolstoy toys with leaving his royalties to the state, thanks to the influence of Paul Giamatti, an aid possibly placed in Tolstoy’s circle by the state. Helen Mirren wishes otherwise. The story boils over into a family feud filled with backroom dealing, flight by night, death and rage. Mirren and Plummer received oscar nominations for their work. Continue reading The Last Station - 3 stars - Opens February 5, 2010…
From Paris with Love (R) - 1 star - Opens February 5, 2010
February 4, 2010 on 4:59 pm | In Uncategorized | No CommentsJohn Travolta shaves his head and blasts away about a hundred people in this mismatched buddy spy thriller. Jonathan Rhys Meyers longs to ascend from his job as an embassy aide to the glamorous life of an undercover spy. A subplot with Meyers girlfriend helps, but we’ve all seen this movie in a dozen earlier versions. Travolta left me wondering—what the heck is this? Continue reading From Paris with Love (R) - 1 star - Opens February 5, 2010…
Edge of Darkness (R) — 3 stars — Opens January 26, 2010
January 31, 2010 on 7:57 pm | In Uncategorized | No CommentsMel Gibson’s new thriller delivers the goods—so good in fact that sometimes it feels like an Alfred Hitchcock thriller. As the movie begins, Mel picks up his daughter at the airport who seems worried, with reason a few minutes later when a drive by assassin shoots her dead. Mel, a Boston Police detective, determines to find her killer. The mystery involves a corporate/government/political conspiracy and ends with a satisfying and quite violent twist. Continue reading Edge of Darkness (R) — 3 stars — Opens January 26, 2010…
Extraordinary Measures - 2 stars - Opens January 22, 2010
January 21, 2010 on 2:45 pm | In Uncategorized | No CommentsHarrison Ford does a lot of yelling in “Extraordinary measures.” Even as a grumpy old man Ford loks great and has plenty of big screen charisma. However, the script lets him and us down. Continue reading Extraordinary Measures - 2 stars - Opens January 22, 2010…
Tooth Fairy — 2 stars — Opens January 22, 2010
January 21, 2010 on 12:48 pm | In Uncategorized | No CommentsDwayne “The Rock” Johnson gets pressed into service as the tooth fairy when he almost gives the secret away to a little girl. With Julie Andrews and Billy Crystal in cameos and Ashley Judd as the Rock’s girlfriend. What do you expect—”Hamlet”? Continue reading Tooth Fairy — 2 stars — Opens January 22, 2010…
The Book of Eli (R) - 2 stars - Opens January 15, 2010
January 14, 2010 on 6:25 pm | In Uncategorized | No CommentsDenzel Washington walks across what’s left of the U.S. after the apocalypse. In his backpack he carries one of the few copies of the Bible left in existence. Small town villain Gary Oldman wants that bible, in hopes of using it to gain power over the new civilization. ”The Book of Eli” has several fight scenes that add energy to the story. But the endng leaves you puzzled with more questions than answers. Basically this end with a “Huh?” Look at it this way, miss it and it’s not the end of the world. Continue reading The Book of Eli (R) - 2 stars - Opens January 15, 2010…
The Lovely Bones — 1 star — Opens January 15, 2010
January 14, 2010 on 6:19 pm | In Uncategorized | No CommentsBased on the widely admired book about a young girl abducted, raped, and murdered by a serial killer living in the neighborhood. After her death the young girl watches over her family as they cope and try to find and killer. The great actor Stanley Tucci players the killer so convincingly that he creeped me out. So did this movie. Continue reading The Lovely Bones — 1 star — Opens January 15, 2010…
Crazy Heart (R) — 3 1/2 stars — Opens January 8, 2010
January 7, 2010 on 5:15 pm | In Uncategorized | No CommentsJeff Bridges sings in “Crazy Heart” and sounds pretty good. He plays a burnt out down on his luck country singer reduced to playing bowling alleys and VFW Halls. Robert Duvall played a similar character in “Tender Mercies.” By no coincidence Duvall appears in this story as Jeff Bridge’s friend and mentor. Duvall helped produce “Crazy Heart” I imagine as an update of “Tender Mercies.” The two movies feel similiar and in this instance I mean that as a compliment. The excellent maggie Gyllenhaal plays a young music writer who begins an affair with Bridges and helps him to pull himself together. ”Crazy Heart” captures the grit of the music business and the feel of the great American Southwest. Continue reading Crazy Heart (R) — 3 1/2 stars — Opens January 8, 2010…
Youth in Revolt (R) — 2 1/2 stars — Opens January 8, 2009
January 7, 2010 on 5:09 pm | In Uncategorized | No CommentsThe great Michael Cera plays a nerd who invents an alter ego to change his image with girls. ”Francois” is a suave dude with attitude who unfortunately burns down a city block to gain the attention of beautiful Portia Doubleday. ”Youth in Revolt” dishes up a lot of genuine laughs, even thought it remins your standard teen angst story. Continue reading Youth in Revolt (R) — 2 1/2 stars — Opens January 8, 2009…
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