Movies
Movie Review
Unhappily Ever After
The wrenching Blue Valentine tells one of the most honest love stories of the year
December 23rd, 2010
Movie intimacy reaches groundbreaking new heights in this shocking story of a young marriage on the rocks, thanks to the charisma and range of two of the screen’s most appealing new stars. Blue Valentine (opens Dec. 31) juxtaposes two narratives, set in the present and past, about love found and lost with uncompromising honesty. Read more »
Movie Review
Marky Mark and the Punchy Bunch
With great acting and a compelling story, The Fighter delivers a knockout
December 16th, 2010
The Fighter is the gravel-kicking true story of boxer Micky Ward; his wasted, battered, has-been older brother, Dickie Eklund, who threw away his career in the ring on booze, drugs and whores; and the scabby, loudmouthed trailer-trash family of creeps who drove them both to success and destruction, in equal doses. It’s a boxing comeback movie with every cliché in the book, directed by David O. Russell, a master of pretentious self-indulgence responsible for some of the worst movies ever made (I’m still trying to wipe out toxic memories of a thing called I Heart Huckabees). Read more »
Movie Review
Get a ‘CLU’
Like a dumb blonde, the Tron sequel looks great but doesn’t have much to say
December 16th, 2010
I was working at the Campus Drive-In in San Diego in 1982 when Steven Lisberger’s Tron opened. At the time I didn’t so much care that the story was severely lacking because the visuals were so unlike anything I’d seen. Nearly 30 years later, audiences get Tron: Legacy, a belated sequel that measures up to the original film inasmuch as it falls prey to the same priority of flash over substance. Read more »
Movie Review
Not Quite Up to Olympic Standards
Reese Witherspoon strikes out as a lovelorn softball player
December 16th, 2010
I just don’t know about How Do You Know (that title is asking for it, right?). The latest dram-com from James L. Brooks starts out frozen solid—all glossy surface, no beating heart—but, over the course of two hours, it thaws, drawing you in, warming you up. It’s not on a par with Broadcast News or As Good As It Gets, but it’s certainly not as bad as Spanglish. So there’s that. Read more »
Movie Review
The Tourist (PG-13)
★★★☆☆
December 16th, 2010
Elise (Angelina Jolie) is a double-agent meeting the man of her dreams, Alexander, in Venice. Following Alexander’s instructions, Elise befriends American high school teacher Frank (Johnny Depp) to throw Interpol off their trail. The Tourist is a glamorous and lighthearted espionage comedy. The plot doesn’t make sense because it’s not supposed to. Check your brain with the usher and enjoy the beauty of Venice, Depp and Jolie. Read more »
Movie Review
Casino Jack (R)
★★☆☆☆
December 16th, 2010
Director George Hickenlooper’s tale of corruption shellacs rather than shackles its GOP super-lobbyist anti-hero, Jack Abramoff. A miscast Kevin Spacey nails Abramoff’s ego and ambitiousness, but not his oily desperation. Even as a crash course in Abramoff’s numerous sins, Casino Jack is too flippant, especially when the lobbyist system in Washington goes on unchecked. Like its subject, Casino Jack is too slick for its own good. Read more »
Movie Review
Burlesque (PG)
★★☆☆☆
December 9th, 2010
Born of every campy musical cliche, the story follows Ali (Christina Aguilera) from her truck-stop-diner existence in Iowa to Los Angeles where she stumbles across a dance club owned by Tess (well played by Cher). Although it’s far from the traditional style of “burlesque” it pretends to represent, Ali makes herself a permanent fixture as a self-appointed cocktail waitress chomping at the bit for a chance to prove her abilities. Read more »
Movie Review
The Nutcracker in 3D (PG)
★☆☆☆☆
December 9th, 2010
This film botches history with a trashy narrative that barely resembles Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet. There’s hardly a nod to the traditional storyline as Mary (Elle Fanning playing the character that is normally named Clara) and the Nutcracker Prince are swept up in an epic war against an evil Rat King (John Turturro) his sci-fi themed giant rodent soldiers. Read more »
Movie Review
Finding His Voice
This courageous tale of overcoming hardship is the best film of 2010
December 9th, 2010
I firmly oppose the idea that art is competitive, and I deplore all back-slapping, self-congratulatory awards shows without exception. So predicting year-end prize-winners a month early is usually to be avoided at all costs. Having said that, I remain passionate in my unalterable opinion as I declare The King’s Speech the Best Film of 2010. Read more »
Movie Review
The Next Three Days (R)
★★☆☆☆
December 9th, 2010
Writer/director Paul Haggis’ prison-break drama is so full of plot holes that it defies all suspension of disbelief. Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks play husband and wife John and Lara. When Lara is jailed for murder, John takes a crash course in how to break Lara out. Haggis phones in the would-be suspense elements in favor of some heavy emoting from Crowe. Read more »
