— by CAM SMITH — It has been more than 20 years since Walt Disney Pictures released “The Little Mermaid” to rapturous universal acclaim and wide-eyed, astonished wonder. That film, a sumptuous, lovingly-crafted visual banquet, arrived at a precarious time in[...]
Archive for the ‘Reviews’ Category
Under Review: ‘Crazy Heart’
— by MARIUSZ ZUBROWSKI — There is something about the underdog that makes the idea so popular; perhaps it’s because anyone can relate to these world-weary warriors or perhaps it’s just because it makes good cinema. Last year, “The Wrestler” earned acclaim for[...]
Under Review: ‘Up in the Air’
— by JASON EAKEN — Jason Reitman is the real thing. Though comparisons to the family patriarch may never go away, he has managed to effortlessly establish himself as his own entity. At 32 years old, he is one of the best filmmakers working today. More impressive than his age, he’s [...]
Under Review: ‘Tick Tock’
— by SEAN GERSKI — Despite clocking in at less than 10 minutes long, “Tick Tock” still tells a full story. Unlike some short films, however, it never feels rushed or pressed for time. Also, unlike many feature-length films, it doesn’t feel stretched out. It is a story[...]
Under Review: ‘It Might Get Loud’
— by JOEL CRARY — “It Might Get Loud” is the best superhero movie since “The Dark Knight.” It’s like a crossover issue that provides all but the expected big battle for supremacy. Jack White ponders what will happen when he gets together with guitarist icons[...]
Review: Veronika Decides to Die
— by MARIUSZ ZUBROWSKI — The novel “Veronika Decides to Die” can best be described as a modern-day “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” — its darker take on mental illness reflects on the times where clinical depression is on the rise for many[...]
Under Review: ‘Invictus’
— by ALEXA MILAN — Any time the names Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman are attached to a movie, more often than not some sort of Oscar buzz will emerge from it. “Invictus” is no exception, even if the story is unusually optimistic for an Eastwood film. “Invictus”[...]
Under Review: ‘The Legacy’
— by SEAN GERSKI — Imagine if you woke up one day and discovered your father was a retired superhero. And not just any superhero, but Kryptoman! (Think: Superman) Writer-director Mike Doto has taken that concept and crafted 12 of the most majestic and enchanting minutes you are likely to[...]
Under Review: ‘Pray the Devil Back to Hell’
— by BEV QUESTAD — Throughout the world and throughout time, women have been victimized by renegade soldiers driven by powerlessness and dehumanization. For possibly the first time in the history of the African continent, if not the world, a group of women of different faiths and[...]
Under Review: ‘Brief Encounters With Hideous Men’
— by BEV QUESTAD — Say it ain’t so Tiger! Dave Letterman, John Edwards, Eliot Spitzer, Bill Clinton, and even our ancient hero Odysseus … infidelity and adultery are chronic age-old temptations of the susceptible ego. Sara Quinn, played by Julianne Nicholson, is a graduate st[...]
Under Review: ‘Brothers’
— by ALEXA MILAN — If you’ve seen the trailers for the ensemble drama “Brothers,” you probably think it’s just another tired, melodramatic love triangle story. But this movie is the perfect example of why you shouldn’t always judge a film by its trailer[...]
Under Review: ‘Armored’
— by MARIUSZ ZUBROWSKI — Imagine this scenario: You desperately need money and your co-worker at the armored truck company offers you the chance to steal a truck that contains $42 million. On top of that, child-welfare services wants to take your brother out of your guardianship[...]
Under Review: ‘The Road’
— by MARIUSZ ZUBROWSKI — Upon seeing “The Road,” I’ve stockpiled as much Coca Cola as I could get my hands on. Why such an endeavor? It’s because John Hillcoat’s sophomore film showed me that even when you can’t trust the sanity of your fellow man, you[...]