Best Worst Movie — 2 stars — Opens July 2, 2010
June 30, 2010 on 9:14 am | In Uncategorized | No CommentsCute documentary about the rediscovery of “Troll 2″—a really bad Italian horror film made in Utah in the 80’s. Follows the actors, none of them well known, as they attend midnight showings and tries to tie the late success to cult favorites including “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Fun, but feels a little forced. Continue reading Best Worst Movie — 2 stars — Opens July 2, 2010…
Knight and Day (PG-13)—3 stars—Opens June 23, 2010
June 23, 2010 on 4:14 pm | In Uncategorized | No Comments“Knight and Day” shows off surprisingly great chemistry between Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. Cruise plays an over the top spy who either has gone rogue or has a line on some traitors in his midst. Whatever, he meets Diaz in the airport and uses her luggage to smuggle a secret weapon through security. Soon Cameron’s involved in car crashes, gun battles, helicopter and airplane adventures and an around the world chase. “Knight and Day” didn’t look like much but serves up a better than expected comedy adventure. It reminds me of the kind of movies they used to make—and that’s in the best sense of the word. Tom Cruise still has a creep factor but “Knight and Day” should help propel him into a longer and more successful run. Continue reading Knight and Day (PG-13)—3 stars—Opens June 23, 2010…
Grown Ups (PG-13) — 2 1/2 stars — Opens June 25, 2010
June 23, 2010 on 4:06 pm | In Uncategorized | No CommentsAdam Sandler creates a reunion of childhood friends in “Grown Ups.” He throws in the usual bodily fluid jokes and adds a few about breast feeding, peeing in the swimming pool, and getting banged in the crotch. Nice cast includes his SaturdayNight Live alums David Spade and Rob Schneider. Kevin james turns in an especially likeable job as a big overweight lug. Chris Rock plays a hen pecked husband and feels underused. Salma Hayek adds a nice surprise as Sandler’s glamorous designer wife. “Grown Ups” feels like several other movies but gets a lift from some occasionally funny bits of dialog. I won’t call it great, but I will call it watchable. Continue reading Grown Ups (PG-13) — 2 1/2 stars — Opens June 25, 2010…
Cyrus (R) — 2 1/2 stars — Opens June 25, 2010
June 23, 2010 on 4:00 pm | In Uncategorized | No CommentsLikeable character actor John C. Reilly stars as a divorced loser who meets the girl of his dreams—Marisa Tomei. They connect and things go well—until he meets her 22 year old live at home son—Cyrus—played by the very funny Jonah Hill. Don’t expect great production in this small indepedent production, but do expect a sly comedy about family systems and a standard issue love triangle as boyfriend and son battle for the mother’s attention and love. Whew! Continue reading Cyrus (R) — 2 1/2 stars — Opens June 25, 2010…
I am Love (R) — 1 star — Opens June 25, 2010
June 23, 2010 on 3:56 pm | In Uncategorized | No CommentsTilda Swinton stars as the Russian born wife of a wealthy Italian industrialist. She falls in love with her son’s best friend and touches off a family disaster. This movie looks beautiful and feels totally weird. AT best I can recommend to those who don’t want the same old thing. Continue reading I am Love (R) — 1 star — Opens June 25, 2010…
Toy Story — 3 1/2 stars — Opens June 18, 2010
June 16, 2010 on 3:11 pm | In Uncategorized | No CommentsPixar does it again—they pick up the characters from Toy Story eleven years later and give together a story so good it bring the magic of the first two episodes roaring back. In this installment, Andy—the kid who owns and loves the characters—packs up for college. Will Woody and Buzz and their friends go into storage in the attic—or worse yet—will they be donated or even thrown into the trash. A few misunderstandings finds our heros donated to a day care center where little kids very nearly tear them apart. A sub plot revels the center is run by a Huggie Bear who turns the place into a prison. Of course Woody will save the day with help from Buzz. Many new characters appear including Big Baby, and Ken of Ken and Barbie. The pixar animation has always made you forget you’re watching animation. It’s better than ever in this movie. The story touches on themes of growing up, of out growing your toys, and the inner life of these characters and of their great need to bring joy to a new generation of kids. In short, Toy Story 3 brings out the kid in all of us, and most like will make the adult in us shed more than a tear or two. My one quibble is the 3 D—which adds a little depth but not much else. With a story and animation this good—who needs it? Continue reading Toy Story — 3 1/2 stars — Opens June 18, 2010…
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (R) - 3 1/2 - Opens 6/18/2010
June 16, 2010 on 2:39 pm | In Uncategorized | No CommentsDriven stand up comic Joan Rivers allowed a film crew to follow her for a year. Shot when she was 75, the documentary gives us a clear view of a driven, ambitious completely focused artist. Sometimes bitter, often profain, very funny and always fascinating, “Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work” defies you to avert your eyes. This clear eyed fascinating film produces one of the most honoest portraits of show business and entertainment ever. There’s nothing funny about this very funny woman. Continue reading Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (R) - 3 1/2 - Opens 6/18/2010…
Jonah Hex (R) — 2 stars — Opens June 18, 2010
June 14, 2010 on 12:31 pm | In Uncategorized | No CommentsA cross between a western and a horror movie, Josh Brolin plays the title character—a former confederate soldier who turned against his regiment, and paid a dear price in return. We don’t know exactly what happened except that bad guy John malkovich tortures Brolin, brands his face with a hex, and kills his wife and child. A few years later, the U.S. prepares for the 100th anniversary of the nation’s founding, and Malkovich, who has faked his death, hopes to b ring chaos to America with the help of a few dozen atomic style bombs. Megan Fox plays Jonah’s new girlfriend. The movie starts pretty well but runs out of gas and feels long, even thought it’s just a few minutes over an hour. I notice Megan Fox has a thin reedy voice—I wonder if they deepened it for the Transformer movies? Continue reading Jonah Hex (R) — 2 stars — Opens June 18, 2010…
The Karate Kid — 3 1/2 Stars — Opens June 11, 2010
June 9, 2010 on 3:22 pm | In Uncategorized | No CommentsWill Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s son Jaden shows real star quality in this remake of the 1984 classic. I’m surprised to tell you I like this one better than the original. Smith and his widowed mother (Taraje P. Henson) move to China for her job. In this foreign land, he flirts with a girl and raises the ire of a local bully. He finds help in an unlikely friendship with maintenance man Jackie Chan. Chan and Smith have some eye popping scenes together as the old man introduces the young man to Kung Fu. Smith makes the movie work because you want him to succeed. I think he has a great career ahead. Continue reading The Karate Kid — 3 1/2 Stars — Opens June 11, 2010…
Solitary Man (R) — 3 1/2 stars — Opens June 11, 2010
June 9, 2010 on 3:17 pm | In Uncategorized | No CommentsMichael Douglas turns in a wonderful performance as a sixty year old car dealer who fears death. A word from his doctor about taking some tests clicks something in his brain—soon he runs his business into the ground, divorces his wife, and starts chasing every young girl in sight and catching many of them. Douglas holds this story together in a way that completely compels. In many scenes he looks exactly like his father Kirk—an aging lion. Great cast includes Susan Sarandon, Mary Louise Parker, and Danny DeVito. Douglas could get an Oscar nomination for this—he deserves it. Continue reading Solitary Man (R) — 3 1/2 stars — Opens June 11, 2010…
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