You know a movie is in big trouble when the sight of copious bare breasts becomes boring. Such is the case in Spring Breakers, a thoroughly detestable piece of gutter trash masquerading as some kind of abstract piece of pop art. Defenders point to its supposed satirizing of a material… Continue reading
Captain Richard Phillips: There’s got to be something other than being a fisherman or kidnapping people. Muse: Maybe in America, Irish, maybe in America. Captain Phillips is an astonishingly well-made thriller, and that’s saying something considering the majority of the audience already knows the ending. Perhaps the most suspenseful and… Continue reading
(Columbus, December 29, 2013) The Central Ohio Film Critics Association is pleased to announce the nominees for its 12th annual awards. Winners will be announced on the evening of January 2nd, 2014. Note on the nominees: ties in the nomination round produced six nominees in the Best Director, Best Cinematography,… Continue reading
The Wolf of Wall Street is Martin Scorsese’s best movie since 1995’s Casino, and that’s saying something as Marty’s output is consistently very good. The film, based upon the life of stock broker Jordan Belfort, is a completely out-of-control three-hour spectacle of sex, drugs, greed, and comeuppance. The cuts from… Continue reading
It would only seem natural to assume that Grudge Match is some kind of “Rocky v. Raging Bull” spinoff, but there’s nothing to indicate that it is. Sure, there’s some potshots at both films, but Grudge Match positions itself as more of a light-hearted comedy that fully understands the ridiculousness… Continue reading
Many will recall the January 1, 2009 shooting of Oscar Grant III, as it was not only tragic but also one of the first “real-time” shootings caught on video by dozens of spectators with flip-phones. The incident would spark nationwide protests, riots, and heated discussion about race relations. Fruitvale Station… Continue reading
Nebraska is gentle and heartfelt. It doesn’t really go anywhere fast, but it still strikes an emotional chord that falls right in line with director Alexander Payne’s other recent works. Payne has always been fascinated by themes such as aging and friendship, and here, working from Bob Nelson’s script, returns… Continue reading
First Road House, now this. Variety is reporting that Ed Helms has been cast as Lt. Frank Drebin in Paramount’s reboot of The Naked Gun. As we all know, he’ll be attempting to fill the shoes of the iconic Leslie Nielsen, perhaps the greatest dry humor actor ever. Word is… Continue reading
Spoiler alert: Mary Poppins gets made. But it’s the long and frustrating journey to reach the final product that is the subject of Saving Mr. Banks, a refreshingly insightful look into the mind of the troubled author who wrote the book. This could have easily been two hours of Disney… Continue reading
You have to hand it to American Hustle for taking its breadth of talent and just letting them run with every scene. Writer/director David O. Russell has gathered the finest cast of the year (including Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, who hit the jackpot last year in Russell’s Silver Linings… Continue reading