Traitor is a serviceable thriller with a couple of nice twists and some amazing locations, but it never really decides what it wants to be. As an action/suspense film, it misses the mark by being too talky. As a drama and commentary on current geopolitical and religious themes, it’s too… Continue reading
On the surface The House Bunny is certainly nothing new or special. Take every “we must save this fraternity/sorority!” flick that comes to mind and know that this one doesn’t deviate one iota from the formula. The separator is Anna Faris, a one-person army of a comedienne who has finally… Continue reading
I suppose it was only a matter of time until the stoner comedy collided with the action film. Pineapple Express attacks the notion full-throttle, and the results are largely a success. The film reunites the screenwriting team of Superbad and adds renowned Independent director David Gordon Green to the mix.… Continue reading
Perhaps the R-rated comedy’s return isn’t so brief. Had it been released a mere two years ago, Step Brothers surely would have been neutered to suit the PG-13 crowd. Thank goodness it wasn’t, because the film is another pleasant surprise out of the Judd Apatow juggernaut. The majority of the… Continue reading
The Dark Knight is an unbridled masterpiece; a dark and gloomy commentary on the state of our country today. Filmed in blacks and dark blues, there are only occasional rays of hope as Batman takes on Gotham’s latest batch of evil. Yet there is a feeling of giddiness as you… Continue reading
I have no doubt that the notion of a “working man’s” superhero reads great on the written page. Hellboy is such a character, but for the second time on the big screen he really fails to be all that engaging. He’s a big brute with an attitude that is easy… Continue reading
As any filmgoer knows, Pixar is the gold standard for animated film. They continually write clever, audience-pleasing screenplays that are brought to life by cutting-edge, breathtaking animation. WALL-E certainly fits the Pixar bill, but it is also a departure for a company that has traditionally played it safe (this is… Continue reading
Get Smart is the latest in the endless chain of sitcoms, regardless of quality, getting the big screen treatment by Hollywood. I fondly remember watching the show on TV as a kid and being amused by the slapstick humor and sheer stupidity of Maxwell Smart, played to perfection by Don… Continue reading
You have to hand it to the comic book genre for producing the same story over and over until they get it “right.” That would be “right” according to the fans. Ang Lee’s 2003 telling of the Hulk wasn’t praised all that much, and rightly so. Fans wanted carnage and… Continue reading
I knew the Sex and the City screening was going to be some kind of surreal experience. Here I am, a 26-year-old straight male – the last demographic on the planet for this material – and I’m supposed to sit through two hours of girly girl tripe. Granted, Sex and… Continue reading