Four Christmases
After their flight is canceled, a happily unmarried couple is forced to spend Christmas with each of their four parents, all in one day. Mayhem ensues. The story has some humorous moments here and there, but this material is way below the best work of actors Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Jon Voight and Mary Steenburgen […]
Crazy Heart
Poignant character study of Bad Blake, an aging country singer whose existence is something of a mess, until, that is, he meets a young female reporter. Actor Jeff Bridges embraces the personality of the ragged, seen it all country singer so convincingly it doesn’t even feel like a performance, it feels like real life. He […]
Passing Strange
Flashy filmed performance of a Broadway stage play. Set in the late 1970s, a young black musician rebels against his church-going, middle-class, South Central roots by traveling the world in an effort to experience something “real” in life. Los Angeles performance artist Stew narrates what is essentially a concert trip through a dizzying number of […]
Moon
Psychological science fiction about an astronaut harvesting precious Helium-3 on the moon alone….or so he thinks. Thought provoking drama owes a definite debt to 2001: A Space Odyssey. While this drama suffers in the comparison to that science fiction classic, it still presents some interesting ideas. The isolated mood is tense and it begins well. […]
The Young Victoria
Opulent romantic drama set during the 1830s about Queen Victoria, her accession to the throne and her relationship with Prince Albert. The machinations of the court of England are captured in all their back-stabbing glory. We as the audience feel an intimate look behind the scenes. Emily Blunt has a commanding presence as the youthful […]
All That Jazz
Vulgar, decadent, autobiographical musical about Bob Fosse. Interestingly, the portrait is not flattering despite being written, directed, even choreographed by Fosse himself. There is real self -loathing here as the film challenges the viewer to care for the main character. He’s morally repellent and downright unpleasant. Joe Gideon’s constant daily routine is Vivaldi, Visine, Alka-Seltzer, Dexedrine and […]
Fame
Ambitious musical drama follows a group of students through their four years at the New York High School of Performing Arts, as they take music, theater and dance. Raw and profane, this bears little resemblance to the hit TV series that followed. Nevertheless, this is a heartfelt and emotionally involving slice of life. Rarely has […]
The Lovely Bones
Interesting drama about a young girl who watches from heaven as her family attempts to find out her murderer. Feelings of loss and mourning is the theme explored here. However, Peter Jackson’s surprisingly restrained adaptation of Alice Sebold’s best-selling novel works best as a “Will they or wont they catch her killer?”. Gorgeously crafted fantasy […]
42nd Street
Archetypal backstage musical about putting on a Broadway show, from casting call to opening night. Actress Ruby Keeler is Peggy Sawyer, the ingénue, in her film debut. Landmark musical holds up pretty well considering its age, but features a storyline full of what would later become well-worn clichés. Three Busby Berkeley production numbers: “Shuffle Off […]
Funny Girl
Bright musical biography of Ziegfeld Follies star Fanny Brice. Barbra Streisand, reprising her Broadway role is nothing less than astonishing in her film debut. As a biography, its authenticity is questionable, but as an introduction to the talent that is Barbra Streisand, it‘s stunning. This film is the prefect star vehicle for the egomaniac. Everything […]