Grey Gardens
Exploitative documentary about a reclusive mother and her 56-year-old daughter both named Edith Beale, in Grey Gardens, a crumbling mansion in Gothic decay. Film documents their once high society lifestyle and current circumstances in utter squalor in the wealthy neighborhood of East Hampton, NY. How they ended up this way, is never fully explained. What […]
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Sci-Fi actioner is a loud, chaotic mess, occasionally reaching sublime heights of ridiculousness. Confusing plot concerns evil Decepticon Transformers pursuing our hero Sam Witwicky for a shard of the “All Spark”, while being protected by the good Autobot Transformers. One’s enjoyment of the film will be inversely proportional to your demands for a sensible, well […]
Cabaret
Somewhat overrated musical drama set in decadent Berlin before the rise of the Nazis under Adolf Hitler. Liza Minnelli is a standout as Miss Sally Bowles, a flamboyant American singer at the Kit Kat Klub. Flashy musical numbers are the highlight of the film, and personify the events happening in the real world. In particular, […]
Stardust
Absorbing fantasy about a young man in search of a fallen star he promises to bring back to win the heart of his true love. Jane Goldman & Matthew Vaughn’s script is breathtaking in its ability to masterfully weave multiple storylines in creating an otherworldly universe that will delight, amuse and enchant.
The Brothers Bloom
Whimsical crime comedy about a pair of con-men brothers who mastermind one last scheme to deceive an eccentric millionaire out of her money. Predictably, one of them falls in love with the attractive victim. Director Rian Johnson’s follow-up to his stylish Brick, feels inspired by the films of Wes Anderson. It’s just as charming, but a […]
The Proposal
Cute romantic comedy about a she-devil of a book editor who blackmails her persecuted assistant into marriage in order to avoid being deported to Canada. You’ll guess every plot point before it happens in this predictable story. However, Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds exhibit genuine chemistry and their romance is appealing enough to carry the […]
Defiance
Gripping WWII drama based on a true story about four Jewish brothers in Nazi-occupied Poland who provide shelter for a constantly growing number of refugees. Director Edward Zwick has a habit of taking the extraordinary and rendering it ordinary in his films. Nevertheless, it’s the intense battle scenes of the Jewish refugees who courageously fight […]
Fired Up
Weak teen sex comedy about two high school football players who join a cheer camp in order to be around female cheerleaders. Halfhearted script is never bold enough to commit to the kind of raunchy comedy this film requires. As a result the film feels dull and uninspired. Most importantly, it’s just not funny. To […]
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
Astonishing performance from Maggie Smith highlights this somewhat stuffy character study about a forward thinking schoolteacher who refuses to follow the school’s curriculum. Miss Jean Brodie’s liberated views of love, politics and art are too much for a conservative girls’ school in 1930s Scotland. Maggie Smith’s tour de force performance deservedly won an Oscar for […]
The Hangover
Amusing comedic farce follows three groomsmen who wake up the next morning after a wild night of carousing in Vegas, missing their buddy who is about to be married. Director Todd Phillips cleverly unfolds the story in pieces, as we join our buddies in solving the mystery of what happened to their missing friend. Goofy, […]