The Gospel clearly has one goal in mind: to get the world interested in gospel music. That’s actually an admirable goal, especially in these times of foul-mouthed rap music that celebrates murder, prostitutes, and drugs. Even the film points that out. The surrounding story behind this goal is a convoluted… Continue reading
There is no question that many will be wondering why Roman Polanski, of all directors, has decided to do another telling of the classic Charles Dickens story, Oliver Twist. Polanski is, after all, one of our most creative directors and one who is rightfully associated with very high quality productions.… Continue reading
The Greatest Game Ever Played had all the reasons in the world to be yet another tired “underdog wins it all” sports cliché films. The Disney sports formula, after all, is tried and true – and predictable. But leave it to director Bill Paxton to up the ante and deliver… Continue reading
It seems as though we are all extra curious as to whom we share an airplane with these days. I only fly about twice a year, but post 9/11 the tension can be felt upon the first step onto the aircraft. We look each other over as we walk down… Continue reading
A heavy-handed drama with a dash of standard superhero fare, A History Of Violence is a mishmash of ideas and emotions that never gets the response it desires. Director David Cronenberg’s penchant for excessiveness interferes with an otherwise constructive character study that winds up as a black comedy. This analysis… Continue reading
Touted as such by its director, Scott Derrickson, The Exorcism of Emily Rose may in fact be the first courtroom horror film. The TV spots and trailers would not lead you to believe that, however, as all we see is a horrified Emily Rose contorting her body and experiencing visions… Continue reading
Jesus is everywhere, and that’s not just according to The Bible. In this materialistic eBay era, Jesus is on Eggo waffles, toast, and a variety of other breakfast foods and inanimate objects. When an elderly woman in East Texas spots the image of Jesus on her screen door while doing… Continue reading
Never have I seen New York City look so dank and depressing. The white rain comes down in speckled sheets outdoors, and then leaks in black, sludgy drops indoors. There are times during Walter Salles’ remake of Dark Water (another import from Japan) where we wonder if it will ever… Continue reading
Ah, Gotham. The city where no one has an umbrella when there’s a torrential downpour. The city of mass corruption. The city in need of a hero, a symbol, and hope. Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins is a masterstroke of creativity, excitement, and sheer cinematic bliss. This is a film that… Continue reading
Skateboarding is one of those sports that looks much easier than it actually is. As someone who once tried (and failed) to learn the art of balancing one’s self on a piece of wood with wheels, I am here to say that things are significantly tougher than they seem. The… Continue reading