There is a point in the new film “The Hunter” when the title character — played with quiet intensity by Willem Dafoe — wonders about the Tasmanian tiger that he’s hunting for a mysterious corporation. The character asks if the
There is something strangely appealing about the new film, “The Kid with a Bike.” Perhaps its appeal comes in part because the film’s name is as simplistic as its title character is complicated. The boy with a bike is both
In the 2010 drama “Cyrus,” writer/director team Jay and Mark Duplass created a uniquely odd familial situation. With three quirky main characters, that story was strangely endearing and oddly entertaining. The Duplass brothers attempt to create another sympathetic family unit
“Friends with Kids” could have been a familiar dramedy about two friends planning to maintain a platonic relationship while raising a child. Instead, this new film is surprisingly funny, wickedly smart and unmistakably heartwarming. Jennifer Westfeldt–who previously brought us “Kissing
“Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds” arrived in theaters last Friday but like many of Perry’s previous projects was not screened in advance for critics. Perry wrote, directed and stars in this film about a successful man named Deeds who eventually becomes
This has been a year of great male performances in the movie theaters. It’s unfortunate, though, that that Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences failed to recognize two of the year’s best. Michael Fassbender’s work in “Shame” should have
A ten-week old marriage and a tragic accident. A fierce dichotomy exists between the two, but Kim and Krickitt Carpenter experienced both in 1993 when a car accident stole Krickitt’s memories and forced her husband to make her fall in
It’s difficult not to appreciate the contemporary significance of the new film “Coriolanus.” The story follows a brilliant military leader who — upon returning to Rome after a valiant fight — is cast out of the city. Perhaps the title
Both “Coriolanus” and “This Means War” arrive in theaters this weekend. The former is actually about war. The latter doesn’t involve battle sequences but a rivalry between two men of action. The word “War” sounds better on a movie marquee,
When people think of the first official chapter in the “Star Wars” saga one character comes to mind: Jar Jar Binks. The film’s comic relief created so much animosity than even diehard fans of the series were turned off. The
James Badge Dale isn’t a household name. But he should be. Over the past ten years, the young actor has played supporting roles in several major films and starred in one of the most acclaimed mini-series of the past decade.
The Golden Globes Awards “are just like the Oscars but without all that esteem,” host Ricky Gervais said during last night’s Golden Globes telecast, his third stint hosting the annual show. The ceremony–featuring awards handed out by the Hollywood Foreign
The use of the word “armed” isn’t often a point of argument in movies today. In fact, jousting over rhetorical choices typically isn’t a point of contention in entertainment at all. It is, however, a major focal point in the
With the success of the 3-D release of “The Lion King,” it’s no wonder a new version “Beauty and the Beast” arrives in theaters this weekend. The classic 1991 film was the first animated feature to be nominated for Best
Looking over my list of the ten best movies of 2011, they all seem to have one quality in common: intelligence. Those films may have focused on a variety of subjects– ranging from Marilyn Monroe and “Moneyball” to politics and
Although 2011 started out slowly at the multiplex and the summer was full of big-budget disappointments — I’m looking at you, “Transformers 3”– this year took an unexpectedly strong turn in the fall when a lot of great smaller movies
There are some who doubt filmmakers can still make great movies. They doubt that Hollywood – with its focus on celebrities over substance, computer effects over strong cinematography and stereotypes over stories – can still create classic movies that will
The new film “We Bought a Zoo” focuses on a widower who buys a new home for his two young children. The house has one amenity that didn’t make it to the brochure; it has a zoo in the backyard.
Late in the new movie “Shame,” the main character’s sister tells her brother that “we’re not bad people. We just come from a bad place.” That place — the people and the circumstances that made them who they are –
There’s something that can be said for the subtlety of emotions. A knowing glance. An inconspicuous nod. A slight glare. All of these things show how emotions can be depicted onscreen in films that create complicated characters. “New Year’s Eve”
Mitch Albom may be a well-known sports writer, but he didn’t become a bestselling author writing about professional sports. That happened after Albom found worldwide success with the publication of his nonfiction book, “Tuesdays with Morrie.” It’s been over a
Only one word can describe Michelle Williams’ performance in the new film, “My Week with Marilyn” – intoxicating. Williams imbues her character with class, sexuality and self-doubt, making her one of the front-runners for the best actress Oscar next year.
If you take away the wonderful sweetness of 2009’s “500 Days of Summer,” you would be left with “Like Crazy.” Both films explore young love in its idealistic state, but “Summer” does it with a light airiness while the latter
William Shakespeare once wrote, “To thine own self be true.” It’s an ironic line, considering that hundreds of years after his death, some still question whether or not Shakespeare is actually the one who wrote all of his famous plays.
In ‘Johnny English Reborn,’ Rowan Atkinson stars as a secret agent with a dash of Mike Myers’ ’60s-era hero Austin Powers. Like Powers, English is an awkward secret agent trying to prevent a supervillian from completing a dastardly plot. [youtube
[youtube oleuD8479uM nolink] What’s to Like: McG, who previously directed ‘Charlie’s Angels’ and ‘We Are Marshall,’ is at the helm of this new film about two CIA agents who realize they are dating the same woman (Reese Witherspoon). This action
‘Margin Call’ begins like ‘Up in the Air,’ chronicling the downturn of the U.S. economy through the perspective of a human interest story. It tells the tale of a financial firm that realizes belatedly that it’s holding onto too much
The 1984 ‘Footloose’ told a fun, jaunty story about a teen named Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon) who moves into a Christian community and rebels against a local law prohibiting “public dancing.” It wasn’t a great movie, but it’s an enjoyable
Governor Mike Morris (George Clooney) is one charismatic politician. He’s smart, witty and his rhetoric is so unabashedly liberal that the Democratic Party is close to choosing him as their party’s nominee. It’s no wonder that idealistic press secretary Stephen
‘There’s too many movies that are anti-hillbilly, and I needed to stick up for the uneducated poor bumpkin in the woods,’ director Eli Craig told me recently in a phone interview about his new movie, ‘Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil.’