Movie Reviews and Interviews

Miracle at St. Anna

2009-04-18T11:14:00.001-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: September 26, 2008.

Starring: Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Omar Benson Miller. Directed by: Spike Lee. A Touchstone release.

Drama. Rating: R. Running time: 166 min.

Sgt Aubrey Stamps (Derek Luke) is one of four members of the all black “Buffalo Soldier” Division stationed in Italy during World War II who find themselves trapped behind enemy lines after one of them risks his life to save an Italian boy.

This is an inspiring and powerful story that succeeds in transcending all boundaries and touches the goodness within us all.

Grade: B+

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Spike Lee interview.

Eagle Eye

2009-04-04T11:13:00.002-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: September 26, 2008.

Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Rosario Dawson, Michael Chiklis. Directed by: D.J. Caruso. A Dream Works release.

Thriller. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 118 min.

Jerry Shaw (Shia LaBeouf) and Rachel Holloman (Michelle Monaghan) are two strangers thrown together under mysterious circumstances who try to save their lives as they are confronted with a series of increasingly dangerous situations.

There is enough suspense in this race-against-time thriller to fill two average action movies.

Grade: B+

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

The Dark Knight

2009-03-25T13:53:00.002-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: July 18, 2008.
DVD Release Date: December 9, 2008.

Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal. Directed by: Christopher Nolan. A Warner Bros. release.

Drama. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 150 min.

Follow-up to the action hit “Batman Begins.”

Batman (Christian Bale) travels across the world in his quest to defeat a growing illegal organization when a rising criminal mastermind known as The Joker (Heath Ledger) unleashes a new reign of chaos.

The combination of a great story, great acting and great special effects make this an excellent movie.

Grade: A-

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Burn After Reading

2009-03-20T14:42:00.002-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: September 12, 2008.

Starring: George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, Brad Pitt. Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen. A Focus Features release.

Comedy. Rating: R. Running time: 97 minutes.

Osborne Cox (John Malkovich) is an ousted CIA official whose memoir accidentally falls into the hands of two foolish gym employees intent on exploiting their find.

I didn’t find this movie funny in part because it tries too hard to be humorous.

Grade: C-

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Transsiberian

2009-03-18T10:08:00.001-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: July 18, 2008.
DVD Release Date: November 4, 2008

Starring: Woody Harrelson, Emily Mortimer, Ben Kingsley, Kate Mara, Eduardo Noriega. Directed by: Brad Anderson. A First Look release.

Drama. Rating: R. Running time: 111 minutes.

Roy (Woody Harrelson) and Jessie (Emily Mortimer) are an American couple who take the Tran Siberian Express train from Beijing to Moscow. They form a bond with another traveling couple until they begin to realize that their friends aren’t who they appear to be.

I enjoyed this movie from beginning to end. It was entertaining, smart and educational in that it showed me places and people that are rarely shown in movies.

Grade: A-

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Hancock

2009-03-16T14:23:00.001-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: July 2, 2008.

Starring: Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman. Directed by: Peter Berg. A Sony release.

Drama. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 92 minutes.

Grade: B-

Hancock (Will Smith) is a hard-drinking superhero who has grown as disillusioned with his once-admiring public as they have of him.

This superhero sometimes acts like a villain. As a result the movie is interesting, original, full of surprises but also has some inconsistencies.

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Mongol

2009-03-09T11:54:00.002-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: June 6, 2008.

Starring: Tadanobu Asano, Sun Hong-Lei, Khulan Chuluun, Odnyam Odsuren, Amarbold Yuvinbayar. Directed by: Sergei Bodrov. A Picturehouse release.

Drama. Rating: R. Running time: 120 minutes.

Based on leading scholarly accounts of the life of Genghis Khan the movie delves into the eventful early years of the future conqueror who was born as Temudgin in 1162.

The film paints a multidimensional portrait by showing Temudgin’s (Tadanobu Asano) bravery and intelligence as well as his relationship with his wife, Borte (Khulan Chuluun), his lifelong love and most trusted advisor.

Grade: A-

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

The Love Guru

2009-03-04T16:17:00.001-05:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: June 20, 2008.

Starring: Mike Myers, Jessica Alba, Justin Timberlake, Romany Malco, Verne Troyer, Ben Kingsley. Directed by: Marco Schnabel. A Paramount release.

Comedy. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 88 minutes.

Pitka (Mike Myers) is an American who was left at the gates of an ashram in India as a child and raised by gurus. After moving back to the U.S. to seek fame and fortune in the world of self-help, he puts his unorthodox methods to the test.

This movie has no coherent plot and seems to be instead just a collection of jokes that usually don’t work.

Grade: D+

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Slumdog Millionaire

2009-02-25T10:13:00.001-05:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: November 12, 2008.

Starring: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Madhur Mittal, Anil Kapoor. Directed by: Danny Boyle.

Comedy, Drama, Romance. Rating: R. Running time: 120 minutes.

Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) is an impoverished orphan in a Mumbai slum who is trying to win a fortune on India's variant of Who “Wants to Be a Millionaire“ despite various villains who try to stop him.

Great story telling seamlessly mixing drama, romance and humor.

Grade: A-

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Get Smart

2009-02-23T10:21:00.003-05:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: June 20, 2008.

Starring: Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Arkin. Directed by: Peter Segal. A Warner Bros. release.

Comedy, Crime and mystery. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 110 minutes.

Maxwell Smart (Steve Carell) is the bumbling detective in this big-screen adaptation of the 1960’s-era TV comedy series. He is promoted to special agent after the evil geniuses at KAOS attack the headquarters of the U.S. spy agency Control and compromise the identity of the other agents.

This movie is not as funny as the TV series because the main actor is not put in as many silly and far-fetched situations.

Grade: C+

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Steve Carell interview.

The Incredible Hulk

2009-02-19T11:18:00.003-05:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: June 13, 2008.

Starring: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt, Tim Blake Nelson. Directed by: Louis Leterrier. Action and adventure, Fantasy, Science fiction. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 114 minutes.

Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) is a scientist who hunts for a cure to the radiation that causes his body to grow into: The Hulk. At the same time, he tries to avoid a powerful general who seeks to capture him and exploit his power.

This superhero movie is more unpredictable and suspenseful than most movies of this genre because of the hero’s unusual anger management problem.

Grade: B

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Liv Tyler interview.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

2008-07-02T12:51:00.001-04:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Theatrical Release Date: May 22, 2008

Starring: Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Shia LaBeouf, Karen Allen, Ray Winstone. Directed by: Steven Spielberg. A Paramount release.

Action and adventure. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 120 minutes.

Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) reprises his role as the famous archaeologist; this time venturing into the jungles of South America in a race against Soviet agents to find the mystical Crystal Skull.

Although the movie is not always believable, has a weak script and many jokes that fall flat, there are some great action/adventure scenes.

Grade: C+

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Iron Man

2008-06-23T09:07:00.001-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: May 2, 2008

Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow. Directed by: Jon Favreau. A Paramount release.

Action and adventure. Rating: PG-13 Running time: 126 minutes.

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is a wealthy industrialist who is kidnapped and forced to build a missile Instead, he constructs an indestructible robotic suit to escape his captors. Once free, he dons his suit to fight evil and protect the innocent.

This is a funny and entertaining superhero movie which is surprisingly thoughtful and original.

Grade: B+

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Gwyneth Paltrow interview.

The Visitor

2008-06-21T10:06:00.002-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: April 11, 2008

Starring: Richard Jenkins, Hiam Abbass, Haaz Sleiman, Danai Gurira. Directed by: Tom McCarthy. A Overture Films release.

Comedy, Drama. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 108 minutes.

Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins) is a lonesome college professor who goes to New York for a conference and finds that a young couple has moved into his apartment. After he decides to let them stay and befriends them, he learns that they are illegal immigrants who risk being deported.

This movie has a great script full of unpredictable twists which are always clever and alternatively funny, moving and sad.

Grade: B+

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Thomas McCarthy and Richard Jenkins interview.

21

2008-06-20T10:51:00.002-04:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Theatrical Release Date: March 28, 2008
DVD Release Date: July 22, 2008

Starring: Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Spacey. Directed by: Robert Luketic. A Columbia Pictures release.

Drama. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 123 minutes.

Based on a true story.

Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) is one of six brilliant M.I.T. students who are recruited by math professor Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey) to join a team he trains to beat the odds at blackjack, during weekend excursions to Las Vegas. They make lots of money until the casino security chief Cole Williams (Laurence Fishburne) catches on to the group and makes it his mission to put an end to their scam.

There is not enough suspense during most of the movie; the team just keeps on winning without any one figuring out what they're up to. There is more conflict toward the end but not enough to save the movie.

Grade: C-

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns

2008-06-18T09:46:00.003-04:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Theatrical Release Date: March 21, 2008
DVD Release Date: July 1, 2008

Starring: Tyler Perry, Angela Bassett, Rick Fox, Margaret Avery. Directed by: Tyler Perry. A Lionsgate release.

Comedy, Drama. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 100 minutes.

Brenda (Angela Bassett) is a single mother living in inner city Chicago, who starts to lose hope when she is laid off from her job. When a letter arrives announcing the death of a father she's never met, she takes her family to Georgia for the funeral. There, she finds that her luck begins to change.

The script is far too predictable which takes away from the movie’s attempts at humor. The first half is sometimes boring, sometimes melodramatic. The second half is better because there is more conflict.

Grade: C

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Vantage point

2008-06-16T16:07:00.002-04:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Theatrical Release Date: February 22, 2008
DVD Release Date: July 1, 2008

Starring: Forest Whitaker, Matthew Fox, William Hurt, Dennis Quaid, Bruce McGill. Directed by: Pete Travis. A Sony release. Drama, Crime and Mystery.

Rating: PG-13. Running time: 90 minutes.

Forest Whitaker (Howard Lewis) is an American tourist who has captured footage of an assassination attempt on the president of the United States, in Salamanca, Spain. As the stories of the other four witnesses are told from their unique perspectives, the audience finds how it happened.

The action is riveting from the beginning to end. There are many exciting twists even when the story is not completely believable.

Grade: B+

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

There Will Be Blood

2008-06-13T14:57:00.003-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: December 26, 2007
DVD Release Date: April 8, 2008

Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Kevin J. O'Connor, Ciarán Hinds. Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson. A Paramount Vantage release.

Drama. Rating: R. Running time: 158 minutes.

Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) is a ruthless oil pioneer who builds an empire by convincing small-town property owners to let him drill their land despite the opposition of eccentric teenage preacher Eli Sunday (Paul Dano).

The movie is successful at depicting a shrewd but ruthless businessman. Although it’s slow at times the acting is always excellent.

Grade: B

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Daniel Day-Lewis interview.

I Am Legend

2008-02-15T15:08:00.000-05:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: December 14, 2007

Starring: Will Smith, Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Salli Richardson-Whitfield. Directed by: Francis Lawrence. A Warner Bros. release.

Action and Adventure, Science Fiction, Drama. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 100 minutes.

Robert Neville (Robert Neville) is a virologist who thinks he may be the last human survivor of a man-made virus. He works to create a cure while living in a city inhabited by mutant victims of the plague.

This movie pulls off with only a few actors, what most movies with huge casts don’t. It succeeds in drawing you in with constant suspense and doesn’t let you relax until it’s surprising end.

Grade: A

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Will Smith interview.

Revolver

2008-02-14T12:02:00.001-05:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Theatrical Release Date: December 07, 2007

Starring: Jason Statham, Ray Liotta, Vincent Pastore, André Benjamin. Directed by: Guy Ritchie. A Samuel Goldwyn release.

Drama, Crime and Mystery. Rating: R. Running time: 106 minutes.

Jake Green (Jason Statham) is a gambler and conman who becomes entangled in a confusing story of revenge against someone responsible for him spending time in jail.

I found this to be one of the most boring movies I’ve seen in many years. It looks and feels like a film made by film school students with little talent and a limited budget.

Grade: F

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Charlie Wilson’s War

2008-02-12T15:36:00.000-05:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: December 21, 2007

Starring: Tom Hanks, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julia Roberts, Amy Adams. Directed by: Mike Nichols. A Universal release.

Drama. Rating: R. Running time: 97 minutes.

Based on a true story.

Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) is the former Democratic Texas congressman who helped the Afghan Mujahideen during the Soviet war in Afghanistan, along with CIA operative Gust Avrakotos and anti-communist socialite Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts).

This is a well acted movie with a clever script and an excellent cast. It’s so much fun to watch that it almost seems to go by too fast.

Grade: B+

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Tom Hanks interview.

National Treasure: Book of Secrets

2008-02-07T10:26:00.000-05:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Theatrical Release Date: December 21, 2007

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel, Ed Harris. Directed by: Jon Turteltaub. A Walt Disney Pictures release.

Action and Adventure. Rating: PG. Running time: 124 minutes.

Nicolas Cage (Benjamin Franklin Gates) is back as the famous treasure hunter in this adventure-filled sequel to the 2004 blockbuster National Treasure. This time he is looking to discover the truth behind the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

Although it’s not always believable how the hero and his team achieve their goals it’s always fun to watch.

Grade: B

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

The Great Debaters

2008-02-05T15:54:00.000-05:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: December 25, 2007.

Starring: Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Nate Parker. Directed by: Denzel Washington. A MGM release.

Drama. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 123 minutes.

Based on a true story.

Melvin B. Tolson (Denzel Washington) is a debate coach at historically black Wiley College during the Jim Crow 1930’s. He shapes his students into an elite debate team, which is eventually invited to take part in a debate with Harvard University.

It’s fun to learn about something that really happened while at the same time being entertained by a movie which is at times moving, sad and funny.

Grade: B+

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey interview.

No Country for Old Men

2008-02-04T14:31:00.000-05:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Theatrical Release Date: November 9, 2007.
DVD Release Date: March 11, 2008.

Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson. Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen. A Miramax release.

Drama, Crime and Mystery. Rating: R. Running time: 122 minutes.

Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) is a Vietnam vet who finds a load of heroin and two million dollars in cash in the back of a pickup truck, while hunting in southwest Texas. When he takes the money, he sets off a mysterious mastermind who goes on a rampage that the sheriff (Tommy Lee Jones) can’t contain.

This is a very entertaining and well acted movie. It’s full of man-on-the-run sequences between the hero and the relentlessly violent sociopath.

Grade: B+

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

American Gangster

2007-12-07T11:14:00.000-05:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: November 2, 2007

Starring: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Josh Brolin, Chiwetel Ejiofor. Directed by: Ridley Scott. A Universal release.

Drama, Crime and Mystery. Rating: R. Running time: 157 minutes.

Based on a true story.

Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) is a Harlem drug kingpin who builds a huge heroin operation during the Vietnam War, while outcast cop Ritchie Roberts (Russell Crowe) tries to gather enough evidence against him to put him in jail.

This is a fascinating and well acted story with two complicated main characters. They are similar in their belief in loyalty, diligence and hard work and surprisingly different in that Lucas is a family man and Roberts has a dysfunctional personal life.

Grade: B+

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe interview.

The Kingdom

2007-12-06T12:42:00.000-05:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview

Theatrical Release Date: September 28, 2007. DVD Release Date: December 26, 2007.

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Chris Cooper, Jason Bateman. Directed by: Peter Berg. A Universal release.

Drama, Crime and Mystery. Rating: R. Running time: 110 minutes.

Ronald Fleury (Jamie Foxx) is an FBI special agent who assembles a secret team of U.S. counter-terrorism investigators to enter the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and find the criminals behind a deadly attack on American forces.

This movie has lots of action, although at times it feels a little like a documentary.

Grade: B-

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Peter Berg interview.

Lust, Caution

2007-12-05T12:37:00.000-05:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Theatrical Release Date: September 28, 2007

Alternate Title: Se jieStarring: Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Tang Wei, Joan Chen. Directed by: Ang Lee. A Focus Features Release.

Drama, War, Romance, Crime and Mystery. Rating: NC-17. Running time: 158 minutes.

Wong Chia Chi (Tang Wei) is an acting student during the World War II Japanese occupation of Shanghai who joins up with a group of people determined to fight for their country. They devise an intricate plan for her to take on a false identity in order to befriend the wife of a top Japanese collaborator, Mr. Yee (Tony Leung), and eventually assassinate him.

This movie has it all: a great story, great cinematography and great acting. The main characters appear as real life people who are put in extraordinary situations which makes them both interesting and believable.

Grade: A-

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Michael Clayton

2007-12-04T13:14:00.000-05:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: October 5, 2007

Starring: George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton, Sydney Pollack. Directed by: Tony Gilroy. A Warner Bros. release.

Drama, Crime and Mystery. Rating: R. Running time: 120 minutes.

Michael Clayton (George Clooney) is an attorney at one of the largest law firms in New York where he often does unethical work at the behest of the firm’s co-founder Marty Bach (Sydney Pollack). When one of the firm’s guilt-ridden attorneys sabotages a case he was working on, Clayton faces the biggest challenge of his life.

This movie is for the most part fun to watch and smart, although at times it feeds too much information to the audience and as a result can be confusing. It has a great ending.

Grade: B

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a George Clooney interview.

2 Days in Paris

2007-11-29T09:56:00.000-05:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: August 10, 2007
DVD Release Date: February 5, 2008

Alternate Title: Deux jours à Paris. Starring: Julie Delpy, Adam Goldberg, Daniel Bruehl, Marie Pillet. Directed by: Julie Delpy. A Samuel Goldwyn release.

Comedy, Romance, Drama. Rating: R. Running time: 96 minutes.

French photographer Marion (Julie Delpy) and American interior designer Jack (Adam Goldberg) are visiting Marion's parents in Paris during a vacation that was supposed to be the ultimate romantic getaway. Unfortunately for Jack, he finds Paris to be quite a culture shock and he discovers that he doesn't know his girlfriend half as well as he had thought.

There are some insightful and funny observations about France from a writer, director and star who was born and raised in that country, but who also has a sensibility for the American culture.

Grade: B

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Julie Delpy interview.

Rush Hour 3

2007-09-07T08:35:00.000-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: August 10, 2007

Starring: Chris Tucker, Jackie Chan, Jingchu Zhang, Max von Sydow, Noemie Lenoir. Directed by: Brett Ratner. A New Line release.

Action and adventure, Comedy. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 90 minutes.

LAPD Detective James Carter (Chris Tucker) and Chinese Chief Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan) are back to fighting the bad guys, this time the Chinese Triads in Paris.

After seeing this movie I thought that the Rush Hour brand has been permanently damaged and that there won’t be a Rush Hour 4. Many jokes fall flat in this third installment of the action-comedy franchise and the script often merely recycles some of the best scenes of the previous movies.

Grade: C

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Chris Tucker and Brett Ratner interview.

The Bourne Ultimatum

2007-09-05T11:01:00.000-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: August 3, 2007

Starring: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, David Strathairn, Joan Allen. Directed by: Paul Greengrass. A Universal release.

Action and adventure, Drama. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 115 minutes.

Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) is the amnesiac secret agent who races around the globe (Moscow, London, Paris and Madrid) to find clues about his past, while being pursued by renegade government officials.

The unusual cinematography (the camera is often not steady) has the effect of making the audience feel as if it's in the middle of the action in this fast moving and suspenseful movie. An alternative title could be “Adrenaline Rush”.

Grade: B+

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Paul Greengrass interview.

The Simpsons Movie

2007-08-28T10:28:00.000-04:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Theatrical Release Date: July 27, 2007

Starring: Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Yeardley Smith. Directed by: David Silverman. A Fox release.

Animation, Comedy. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 87 minutes.

Homer, the animated TV character, hits the big screen with a bang when he badly pollutes lake Springfield. As a result, the government isolates the city under an enormous dome and his fellow city residents decide to lynch him. Will Homer and his family be able to escape in time?

Just like in the TV series, this movie is full of nonstop silliness and jokes. It pokes fun at the dysfunctional family by having the characters say things that real actors could never get away with.

Grade: B

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Talk to Me

2007-08-21T11:56:00.000-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: July 13, 2007

Starring: Don Cheadle, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cedric the Entertainer, Taraji P. Henson. Directed by: Kasi Lemmons. A Focus Features release.

Drama, Comedy. Rating: R. Running time: 118 minutes.

Based on a real story.

Academy Award nominee Don Cheadle portrays “Petey” Greene, the 1960’s ex-con who talks his way into an on-air radio gig. Combining biting humor with social commentary, Petey was determined to “tell it like it is” during a turbulent period in American history.

This movie has a few great acting performances and a very good script. Some of the lines will without doubt become classics.

Grade: B+

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Kasi Lemmons interview.

Transformers

2007-08-18T08:38:00.000-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: July 2, 2007

Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson. Directed by: Michael Bay. A Paramount release.

Action and Adventure, Science Fiction. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 143 minutes.

Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) is a young Earthling who may be mankind’s last hope for survival in the war between two groups of extraterrestrials: the evil Decepticons and the compassionate Autobots.

This is an extravaganza of special effects, action and humor. It’s a lot of fun if you can suspend your disbelief and recover some child-like qualities. Even on the few occasions when the story gets confusing, it’s still entertaining.

Grade: A-

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Megan Fox interview.

Live Free or Die Hard

2007-08-15T13:14:00.000-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: June 27, 2007

Starring: Bruce Willis, Justin Long, Timothy Olyphant, Maggie Q. Directed by: Len Wiseman. A Fox release.

Action and Adventure, Crime and Mystery. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 130 minutes.

John McClane (Bruce Willis) is an old fashioned New York cop who must stop a high-tech criminal mastermind (Timothy Olyphant) from crippling the entire country with an attack on it’s computer infrastructure.

Good action movie with really evil bad guys and a hero who is willing to do anything to save the day. He takes so many knocks that he should have been dead many times over. There are also some great special effects. And yet it feels like you’ve seen this movie many times before.

Grade: B

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch Bruce Willis interview.

Sicko

2007-08-12T08:38:00.000-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: June 22, 2007

Starring: Michael Moore. Directed by Michael Moore. A Weinstein Company release.

Documentary. Rating: PG-13. Run Time: 113 minutes.

Michael Moore sets out to investigate the American healthcare system.

This movie manages to shed light on complicated medical affairs in an entertaining and often hilarious manner.

Grade: B

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Michael Moore interview.

Evan Almighty

2007-08-09T15:25:00.000-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: June 22, 2007

Starring: Steve Carell, Morgan Freeman, Lauren Graham, John Goodman, John Michael Higgins, Jimmy Bennett, Wanda Sykes, Jonah Hill. Directed by Tom Shadyac. A Universal release.

Comedy, Fantasy. Rating: PG. Running time: 90 minutes.

Evan Baxter (Steve Carell) is a newly elected congressman from Buffalo who is summoned by God to build an ark before a big flood.

This movie is both funny and suspenseful.

Grade: B

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch Steve Carell and Lauren Graham interview.

Knocked Up

2007-07-07T08:06:00.000-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: June 1, 2007

Starring: Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Leslie Mann, Paul Rudd. Directed by: Judd Apatow. A Universal release.

Comedy, Romance. Rating: R. Running time: 132 minutes.

Allison Scott (Katherine Heigl) is a twenty-four-year-old journalist on the fast track who finds herself pregnant after a one-night stand with overgrown kid Ben Stone (Seth Rogen). The reluctant odd couple attempts to develop a relationship for the sake of their unborn child.

This movie has a script which is often brilliant in creating situations which are at the same time realistic, hilarious and intelligent. However, it can also be slow and even boring at times.

Grade: B

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow interview.

Mr. Brooks

2007-07-05T08:12:00.000-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: June 1, 2007

Starring: Kevin Costner, Demi Moore, Dane Cook, William Hurt. Directed by Bruce A. Evans. A MGM/UA release.

Drama, Crime and Mystery. Rating: R. Running time: 120 minutes.

Mr. Brooks (Kevin Costner) is a successful businessman, a generous philanthropist and a good family man who is also a cunning serial killer who no one would ever suspect -- until now.

This is a weird movie where the audience is asked to look at events from the perspective of a killer. Most of the major characters are creepy and sometimes sociopaths.

Grade: C-

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Kevin Costner interview.

The Valet

2007-07-03T10:43:00.000-04:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Theatrical Release Date: April 20, 2007

Alternate Title: La Doublure. Starring: Gad Elmaleh, Alice Taglioni, Daniel Auteuil, Kristin Scott Thomas. Directed by Francis Veber. A Sony Classics release.

Comedy. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 85 minutes.

François Pignon (Gad Elmaleh) is a restaurant valet who is photographed by a paparazzo leaving the hotel at the same time as a wealthy tycoon and his beautiful mistress. In an attempt to avoid an ugly divorce, the billionaire offers to pay François a large sum of money to pretend to be Elena’s boyfriend, while at the same time convincing Elena to live with François in his cruddy apartment until the dust settles.

There are some contrived entanglements, but over all this is a funny and entertaining farce which brings many smiles and some hearty laughter.

Grade: B

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

28 Weeks Later

2007-07-01T09:41:00.000-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: May 11, 2007

Starring: Robert Carlyle, Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner, Harold Perrineau Jr., Catherine McCormack. Directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo. A Fox Searchlight release.

Horror, Science Fiction, Crime and Mystery. Rating: R. Running time: 91 minutes.

Don Harris (Robert Carlyle) and his family are among the first wave of refugees returning to the British Isles, 28 weeks after a devastating rage virus was eradicated. They soon discover that the virus is about to strike back with a vengeance.

This sequel is not as compelling as the first movie and can even be confusing at times. It over relies on flashbacks to explain what’s happening. I got the feeling that the producers attempted to rush out a script to capitalize on the success of the original movie.

Grade: C-

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Robert Carlyle interview.

Ocean's Thirteen

2007-06-29T08:19:00.000-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical release date: June 8, 2007

Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Al Pacino, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, Andy Garcia, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Eddie Jemison, Shaobo Qui, Carl Reiner, Elliott Gould, Vincent Cassel, Ellen Barkin. Directed by: Steven Soderbergh. Warner Bros. release.

Comedy, Crime and Mystery, Drama. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 113 minutes.

Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and his team set into motion a bold plan to avenge his mentor Rueben Tishkoff (Elliot Gould) who was betrayed by Willy Bank (Al Pacino), a powerful Las Vegas casino owner in this third installment of the glitzy crime comedies.

This movie has so many stars who had to be given a sufficiently sizable part, that the plot is often confusing and seems disconnected. However, it also has a few some very good moments.

Grade: C+

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Steven Soderbergh interview at the Cannes Film Festival.

2007-06-04T16:16:00.000-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: April 27, 2007

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Julianne Moore, Jessica Biel, Thomas Kretschmann. Directed by Lee Tamahori. A Paramount release.

Action and Adventure, Science Fiction, Crime and Mystery. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 96 minutes.

Based on a short story by acclaimed sci-fi author Philip K. Dick.

Cris Johnson (Nicolas Cage) is a Las Vegas magician who possesses the ability to witness events of the immediate future a few minutes before they happen. To this point in his life he has never used his power for anything other than making a living. But when he experiences a vision of Los Angeles being incinerated in a nuclear holocaust he realizes that he could hold the key to saving millions of lives.

This movie is entertaining although it stretches credulity at times by assuming that it is possible for the hero to see two minutes into the future. If that were possible, it seems that he wouldn’t run into most of the troubles he encounters.

Grade: C

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Julianne Moore interview.

Disturbia

2007-05-29T09:05:00.000-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: April 13, 2007

Starring: Shia LaBeouf, David Morse, Sarah Roemer, Carrie-Anne Moss. Directed By D.J. Caruso. A Paramount release.

Crime and Mystery. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 104 minutes.

Kale (Shia LaBeouf) is a high-school senior who is trying to deal with witnessing the death of his father in a terrible car accident. When he's put under court-ordered house arrest after an altercation at school, he teams up with girl-next-door Ashley (Sarah Roemer) to investigate their suspicious neighbor whom he believes to be a wanted serial killer.

This movie has a good script which pays attention to detail and provides plenty of surprises. It's always full of suspense, is often scary, and will definitely get your blood pressure up.

Grade: B+

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Shia Lebeouf interview.

The Last Mimzy

2007-05-24T09:56:00.000-04:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Theatrical Release Date: March 23, 2007

Starring: Timothy Hutton, Joely Richardson, Rhiannon Leigh Wryn, Rainn Wilson, Chris O‘Neill. Directed by Robert Shaye. A New Line release.

Family and Children, Action and Adventure, Drama. Rating: PG. Running time: 90 minutes.

Based on the acclaimed sci-fi short story by Lewis Padgett, “The Last Mimzy”

Emma and Noah (Rhiannon Leigh Wryn and Chris O‘Neill) are two children who find a box containing some strange devices they think are toys. They soon find out that a stuffed toy rabbit they name Mimzy has the ability to communicate with them and to impart some of his wisdom and superior powers. The government eventually learns about Mimzy and discovers from a scientific scan that it is part high level electronic, and part organic. Where is he from and what does he want?

At the beginning, this movie seems to go nowhere and doesn’t draw you in. It gets better later, although it’s sometimes unfocused by seeming to cater alternatively to adults and to kids.

Grade: C+

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Spider-man 3

2007-05-20T11:42:00.000-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: May 4, 2007

Starring: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Thomas Haden Church. Directed by Sam Raimi. A Sony release.

Action and Adventure, Science Fiction, Crime and Mystery. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 139 minutes.

Peter Parker AKA Spiderman (Tobey Maguire) is the part time regular guy, part time super hero that Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) loves. All is well in New York City until several characters are transformed into formidable foes that could destroy him.

From the beginning, this movie pushes all the right emotional buttons. It’s full of action, romance and humor. There are great special effects and several subplots which come together nicely. The characters, including Spiderman are interesting and often totally unpredictable.

Grade: A-

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Tobey Maguire & Kirsten Dunst interview.

Fracture

2007-05-15T09:26:00.000-04:00

Movie review and trailer.

Theatrical Release Date: April 20, 2007

Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Gosling, Rosamund Pike, David Strathairn. Directed by Gregory Hoblit. A New Line release.

Crime and Mystery. Rating: R. Running time: 113 minutes.

Ted Crawford (Anthony Hopkins) is an aging engineer who shoots his younger wife shortly after seeing her in the arms of another man. When he is found not guilty of the attempted murder, the district attorney (Ryan Gosling) who prosecuted him becomes a crusader for justice.

This is an intelligent legal thriller with lots of surprises. It’s also a movie about revenge which turns into a chess match between an crafty lawbreaker and an inexperienced prosecutor.

Grade: B

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

The Namesake

2007-04-24T08:05:00.000-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: March 9, 2007

Starring: Kal Penn, Tabu, Irfan Khan, Jacinda Barrett. Directed by Mira Nair.
A Fox Searchlight release.

Drama. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 122 minutes.

Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli (Irfan Khan and Tabu) are a recently married couple from Calcutta who move to New York after their arranged marriage. As their family begins to grow in their adopted land, their son Gogol (Kal Penn) goes through the challenge of finding his unique identity without losing his heritage.

This movie is full of insightful observations about American and Indian cultures. It’s great attention to detail makes it at times sad and funny in many subtle ways.

Grade: B

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Mira Nair interview.

Shooter

2007-04-21T08:19:00.000-04:00

Movie review and trailer.

Theatrical Release Date: March 23, 2007

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Michael Pena, Danny Glover, Kate Mara. Directed by Antoine Fuqua. A Paramount release.

Drama. Rating: R. Running time: 124 minutes.

An adaptation of Stephen Hunter's novel Point of Impact.

Bob Lee Swagger (Mark Wahlberg) is a former top Army sniper who left the military after being betrayed by his superiors. When government officials locate him at his mountain retreat, they coerce him back into service in order to help prevent an assassination attempt on the President. He soon discovers that things are not as he had been told.

This movie has a good suspenseful story, lots of excitement and some really bad guys. But its premise is not believable: it would seem that the government would have enough resources not to need a sniper to undo such a conspiracy.

Grade: B

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

300

2007-04-18T11:21:00.000-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: March 9, 2007

Starring: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, David Wenham, Dominic West. Directed by Zack Snyder. A Warner Bros. release.

Action and adventure, War, Drama. Rating: R. Running time: 117 minutes.

Sparta king Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 of his fiercest combatants fight to the death against Xerxes and his huge Persian army in this film based on Frank Miller’s retelling of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae.

This is a very well made movie. It’s full of action, has plenty of unexpected scenes and is always entertaining. However, it tends to glamorize war and has some unrealistic fight scenes reminiscent of the old westerns, where one cowboy could defeat 100 Indians.

Grade: B+

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Gerard Butler interview.

Wild Hogs

2007-04-02T09:53:00.000-04:00

Movie review and trailer.

Theatrical Release Date: March 2, 2007

Starring: John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, Tim Allen, William H. Macy. Directed by Walter Becker. Written by Brad Copeland. Produced by Brian Robbins and Michael Tollin. A Touchstone release.

Action and Adventure, Comedy. Rating: PG-13. Run Time: 99 minutes.

Four middle-aged friends (John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, Tim Allen, William H. Macy) hit the road on a motorcycle trip to take a breather from their stressful jobs and family responsibilities. When they encounter a real-life biker gang they find out that pretending to be bikers will bring them more problems than they had bargained for.

This is not a bad movie: it has a good plot, some funny moments and a competent cast. And yet, it disappoints by not having that special magic which makes a movie memorable.

Grade: B-

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Black Snake Moan

2007-03-31T12:54:00.000-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: March 2, 2007

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci, Justin Timberlake, S. Epatha Merkerson. Directed by Craig Brewer. Written by Craig Brewer. Produced by John Singleton and Stephanie Allain. A Paramount release.

Comedy, Drama. Rating: R. Run Time: 115 minutes.

Lazarus (Samuel L. Jackson) is a God-fearing, middle-aged man who finds a half naked and beaten unconscious woman (Christina Ricci) left for dead on the side of the road. As he nurses her back to health by using unusual methods, he keeps her presence a secret from the residents of the small Tennessee town where they live.

I enjoyed how this movie manages to be part drama, part comedy and even part documentary on small town southern life in the 21st century. There are many surprises as well as great acting performances by Samuel Jackson and Christina Ricci.

Grade: B+

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci, Justin Timberlake interview.

Reno 911!: Miami

2007-03-29T12:03:00.000-04:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Theatrical Release Date: February 23, 2007

Starring: Thomas Lennon, Ben Garant, Kerri Kenney, Cedric Yarbrough. Directed by Robert Ben Garant. Written by Ben Garant, Thomas Lennon, Kerri Kenney. Produced by Danny DeVito, Ben Garant, Kerri Kenney, John Landgraf, Thomas Lennon, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher. A Fox release.

Comedy. Rating: R. Running time: 81 minutes.

The blundering cops of the hit Comedy Central television series go to Miami Beach for a national police convention, and find that they must leap into action to prevent the convention center from being destroyed by a terrorist attack.

This movie feels like a low budget college project made up more of a bunch of gags strung together, than a coherent script. There is also bad acting and incompetent cinematography. And yet at a certain level it works because it manages to always be silly and sometimes funny.

Grade: C+

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

The Astronaut Farmer

2007-03-27T10:52:00.000-04:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Theatrical Release Date: February 23, 2007

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Virginia Madsen, Bruce Dern, Tim Blake Nelson. Directed by Michael Polish. Written by Michael Polish and Mark Polish. Produced by Mark Polish, Michael Polish, Paula Weinstein and Len Amato. A Warner Bros. release.

Comedy, Drama. Rating: PG. Run Time: 104 minutes.

Charles Farmer (Billy Bob Thornton) is a former astronaut-in-training who decides to pursue his lifelong dream of going into space by building his own rocket. Although he encounters all sorts of problems which ultimately put his family at risk, he remains determined to reach his goal.

This is another movie about following ones dreams, but with the added twist that in this case the audience has to wonder whether or not the dream is worthwhile.

Grade: C

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Breach

2007-03-22T14:30:00.000-04:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Theatrical Release Date: February 16, 2007

Starring: Chris Cooper, Ryan Phillippe, Laura Linney, Dennis Haysbert. Directed by Billy Ray. Written by Adam Mazer, William Rotko and Billy Ray. Produced by Lindsey Dold, Scott Kroopf, Robert F. Newmyer, Jeffrey Silver and Scott Strauss. A Universal release.

Drama, Crime and mystery. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 110 minutes.

Based on a true story.

Robert Hanssen (Chris Cooper) is the member of the FBI’s elite Soviet Analytical Unit who sold thousands of pages of classified documents to the Soviets during the 1980’s and 90’s. When a young agent named Eric O'Neill (Ryan Phillippe) is assigned the task of keeping tabs on Hanssen by suspicious higher-ups, the notorious traitor is arrested and sentenced to life in prison with no chance for parole.

Despite a slow pace at the beginning, this movie picks up steam later and becomes pretty good. There is effective character development which makes it a successful psychological thriller.

Grade: B

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Norbit

2007-02-28T11:57:00.000-05:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Theatrical release date: February 9, 2007

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Thandie Newton, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Eddie Griffin. Directed by Brian Roberts. Written by Jay Scherick, David Ronn, Charles Q. Murphy. Produced by John Davis, Eddie Murphy, Michael Tollin. A Dream Works release.

Comedy, Romance. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 102 minutes.

Norbit (Eddie Murphy) is a meek and naïve man married to an overbearing and obnoxious wife (also Murphy). When he sees his childhood love Kate (Thandie Newton) after many years, he has only one thought: spending time with Kate while not getting caught by his wife and her brothers.

This movie is bad on many different levels. 1) It’s supposed to be a comedy and yet it’s almost never funny (the best scenes are all in the trailer). 2) It’s full of clichés. 3) It’s marketed as a family movie and yet it has many scenes which are inappropriate for children.

Grade: D

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls

2007-02-26T08:20:00.000-05:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: February 14, 2007

Starring: Gabrielle Union, Idris Elba, Louis Gossett Jr., Tracee Ellis Ross. Directed by Tyler Perry. Written by Tyler Perry. Produced by Tyler Perry and Reuben Cannon. A Lionsgate release.

Comedy, romance. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 95 minutes.

Monty (Idris Elba) is a single father who struggles to make ends meet as he raises his three young daughters on his own. When he loses custody to his crooked ex-wife, he tries to enlist the help of Julia (Gabrielle Union), a beautiful and hard-nosed attorney he can’t afford to hire.

This is a well told morality tale about love and life in Atlanta. It has many twists and turns and is both funny and moving.

Grade: B+

Smokin’ Aces

2007-02-24T17:27:00.000-05:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical release date: January 26, 2007

Starring: Jeremy Piven, Ray Liotta, Andy Garcia, Ben Affleck, Common. Directed by Joe Carnahan. Written by Joe Carnahan. Produced by Tim Bevan, Joe Carnahan, Liza Chasin, Eric Fellner. A Universal release.

Drama, comedy. Rating: R. Running time: 108 minutes.

Buddy "Aces" Israel (Jeremy Piven) is a small time scammer who becomes the target of every bounty hunter in Nevada when he turns state’s evidence against Las Vegas mobster Primo Sparazza.

This movie seems to throw as many jokes and outrageous scenes as possible at the audience in the hope that enough of them will work. For me about 70% of them did.

Grade: B

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Joe Carnahan and Alicia Keys interview.

Volver

2007-02-22T14:43:00.000-05:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Theatrical release date: November 3, 2006
DVD release date: April 24, 2007

Starring: Penélope Cruz, Yohana Cobo, Lola Dueñas, Carmen Maura. Directed by Pedro Almodóvar. Written by Pedro Almodóvar. Produced by Esther Garcia. A Sony Classics release.

Comedy, Drama. Rating: R. Running time: 120 minutes.

In Spanish with subtitles.

Raimunda (Penélope Cruz) is a working-class woman from Madrid, Spain. When her daughter accidentally kills her abusive stepfather, Raimunda devises an elaborate plan to cover up the killing.

Although this movie has a killing at it’s center, it’s more a story about the lives of three generations of women who survive all kinds of adversity thanks to their kindness and their courage. However, it becomes too melodramatic for me at times.

Grade: C+

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie. (In Spanish with subtitles.)

Night at the Museum

2007-02-20T11:31:00.000-05:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Theatrical Release Date: December 22, 2006

Starring: Ben Stiller, Carla Gigino, Dick Van Dyke, Robin Williams. Directed by Shawn Levy. Written by Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon. Produced by Shawn Levy, Michael Barnathan, Chris Columbus, Bob Ducsay, Josh McLaglen, Lorne Orleans. A Fox release.

Family and children, fantasy, action and adventure, comedy. Rating: PG. Running time: 108 minutes.

Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) is a good-hearted dreamer who has been down on his luck for most of his life. When he takes a job as a security guard at a museum of natural history, he hopes that things are finally going to look up for him. Instead, they really take a turn for the worst and he finds himself having to battle the various exhibits which have come to life and threaten to destroy the museum.

I found this movie to be inventive and funny. It’s a good family movie which manages to mix Mayans, Roman gladiators, cowboys, Neanderthals, Attila the Hun, a T-Rex and Teddy Roosevelt in a well constructed plot.

Grade: B

Blood Diamond

2007-02-07T12:49:00.000-05:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: December 8, 2006

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly, Djimon Hounsou, Arnold Vosloo. Directed by Edward Zwick. Written by Charles Leavitt and C. Gaby Mitchell. Produced by Gillian Gorfil, Marshall Herskovitz, Graham King, Darrell James Roodt, Paula Weinstein, Edward Zwick. A Warner Bros. release.

Action, adventure, crime, mystery, drama. Rating: R. Running time: 138 minutes.

Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio), is a Rhodesian mercenary looking for a way to get rich quick in war torn Sierra Leone. When he learns that Mende fisherman, Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou), has found and hidden a rare pink diamond, he thinks that he has hit the jackpot.

Although this movie is well intentioned, it doesn’t sufficiently explain the causes for the problems it describes. On the other hand, it tells an interesting story and shows the harm which results from the purchase of diamonds from war torn areas.

Grade: B-

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch Leonardo DiCaprio interview.

Stomp the Yard

2007-02-04T09:41:00.000-05:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Theatrical Release Date: January 12, 2007

Starring: Columbus Short, Meagan Good, Ne-Yo, Darrin Henson. Directed by Sylvain White. Written by Robert Adetuvi. Produced by William Packer. A Sony release.

Drama, musical. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 115 minutes.

DJ Williams (Columbus Short) is a gifted 19-year-old street dancer who leaves Los Angeles to attend college in Atlanta after witnessing the death of his younger brother. There, he meets beautiful coed April (Meagan Good) and joins a fraternity where he uses his dancing skills in a nationwide steppin’ contest.

I found this movie entertaining and fun. I liked the way it glamorizes college life.

Grade: B

Click on the image below to see the trailer to this movie.

Children of Men

2007-02-03T10:56:00.000-05:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: December 25, 2006

Starring: Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, Chitewel Ejiofor. Directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Written by Timothy J. Sexton, Alfonso Cuarón (an adaptation of author P.D. James' gripping 1992 novel). Produced by Marc Abraham, Eric Newman, Hilary Shor, Tony Smith. A Universal release.

Action, adventure, science fiction, drama. Rating: R. Running time: 108 minutes.

Théo (Clive Owen) is a bureaucrat in 2027 Britain as civilization descends into chaos and women can no longer give birth. When he is contacted by his activist ex-wife Julianne (Julianne Moore) to escort the only woman to get pregnant in years into the care of an organization trying to preserve humanity he encounters all kinds of problems.

Although this movie is original and has a different feel, I didn’t really like it. I found it slow with only adequate acting and too much talking. It’s full of weird scenes, strange people and has a confusing plot where at times everyone seems to be shooting at everyone for no apparent reason.

Grade: C-

Click on the image below to see the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch an Alfonso Cuarón interview.

Dreamgirls

2007-01-08T12:10:00.000-05:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: December 15, 2006

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover, Jennifer Hudson. Directed by Bill Condon. Written by Bill Condon based on Tom Eyen's Tony award-winning Broadway musical. Produced by Laurence Mark. A Dream Works release.

Drama, musical. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 125 minutes.

Deena (Beyoncé Knowles), Effie (Jennifer Hudson), and Lorrell (Anika Noni Rose) are a trio of singers discovered at a local talent show by ambitious promoter Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx). They are soon offered the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of singing back-up for popular singer James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy). As their fame grows they encounter many challenges.

This movie has some great singing and acting performances, not only from the well established stars, but also from Effie (Jennifer Hudson) who I believe will become a superstar in the near future. The audience broke out clapping several times during her singing.

Grade: A-

Click on the image below to see the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Jamie Foxx interview.

The Good Shepherd

2007-01-07T09:51:00.000-05:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: December 22, 2006

Starring: Matt Damon, Robert De Niro, Angelina Jolie, William Hurt. Directed by Robert De Niro. Written by Eric Roth. Produced by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, James G. Robinson. A Universal Release.

Drama, Romance, Crime and Mystery. Rating: R. Running time: 160 minutes.

Edward Wilson (Matt Damon) is a brilliant student at Yale during the 1930’s who joins the secret society of Skull and Bones, a breeding ground for future world leaders. Upon graduation he is recruited by the OSS (the precursor to the CIA). His dedication to his job comes at the price of major problems with his wife Clover (Angelina Jolie) and with his beloved son.

Slow in beginning, this movie picks up steam midstream although it never reaches the level that I had hoped for based on its all star cast.

Grade: C+

Click on the image below to see the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch an Angelina Jolie, Matt Damon and Robert De Niro interview.

The Pursuit of Happyness

2007-01-05T10:49:00.000-05:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical Release Date: December 15, 2006

Starring: Will Smith, Thandie Newton, Jaden Christopher Syre Smith, Brian Howe. Directed by Gabriele Muccino. Written by Steve Conrad. Produced by Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, James Lassiter, Will Smith, Steve Tisch, Teddy Zee. A Columbia Pictures release.

Drama. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 116 minutes.

Inspired by a true story.

Chris Gardner (Will Smith) is a struggling salesman who becomes homeless after being evicted, along with his five-year-old son, from their San Francisco apartment. Desperate to improve his financial situation, he applies for an internship at a prestigious stock brokerage firm where only one in ten candidates is eventually hired.

This is a very well made movie about how the human spirit can prevail in situations which seem hopeless. It has enough twists and turns to be inspirational without feeling like a message movie.

Grade: B+

Click on the image below to see the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Will Smith interview.

Apocalypto

2006-12-18T09:47:00.000-05:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Theatrical Release Date: December 8, 2006

Starring: Rudy Youngblood, Dalia Hernandez, Jonathan Brewer, Morris Birdyellowhead. Directed by Mel Gibson. Written by Mel Gibson and Farhad Sanifia. Produced by Mel Gibson and Bruce Davey. A Buena Vista release.

Action and adventure. Rating: R. Running time: 138 minutes.

Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood) is a family man living an idyllic life in a community of pre-Columbian Mexico until an army of Mayan soldiers attacks his village and takes him prisoner so that he can be offered as a human sacrifice.

I found the first hour of this movie to be unnecessarily violent. Although it continued to be violent later on, the mayhem was more justified by the plot. It included a foot chase that had more suspense than most million dollar car chases and a heart warming love story.

Grade: B+

Click on the image below to see the trailer to this movie.

Deja Vu

2006-12-17T14:54:00.000-05:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Theatrical release date: November 22, 2006

Starring: Denzel Washington, Val Kilmer, Paula Patton, Bruce Greenwood, James Caviezel. Directed by Tony Scott. Written by Terry Rossio and Bill Marsilli. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. A Buena Vista release.

Drama, crime and mystery. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 128 minutes.

Doug Carlin (Denzel Washington) is an ATF agent who is investigating a cataclysmic explosion on a New Orleans ferry. He soon discovers that there may be a way to reverse that event by participating in a groundbreaking experiment.

This is a most satisfying science fiction movie because it is based to a significant extent on real science. It explores aspects of quantum physics which have to do with the nature of time. It also delves into whether or not destiny can be changed and shows how in the process of trying to solve a problem we often create an even bigger one. As such, this movie is not only entertaining but smart. It is also fascinating to see the devastating effect hurricane Katrina had on New Orleans on a screen larger than that of our TV’s.

Grade: A

Click on the image below to see the trailer to this movie.

Casino Royale

2006-12-16T16:15:00.000-05:00

Movie review and interviews (trailer was not available).

Theatrical release date: November 17, 2006

Starring: Daniel Craig, Judy Dench, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen. Directed by Martin Campbell. Written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Paul Haggis. Produced by Barbara Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson. A Columbia Pictures release.

Action and adventure, crime and mystery. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 144 minutes.

Daniel Craig (James Bond) is the British secret agent 007 whose latest mission takes him to Madagascar, the Bahamas and Montenegro to try to prevent a crooked banker from raising funds to finance a criminal gang.

This James Bond is more ruthless and more complex than he was in his previous incarnations and as such he is more believable. However, the plot of this movie is very uneven; every fifteen minutes I kept changing my mind as to whether this was a good movie or a bad movie.

Grade: C+

Click on the image below to watch the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Daniel Craig interview.

Harsh Times

2006-11-26T09:57:00.000-05:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Theatrical Release Date: November 10, 2006

Starring: Christian Bale, Freddy Rodriguez, Eva Longoria, Terry Crews. Directed by David Ayer. Written by David Ayer. Produced by David Ayer and Andrea Sperling. A MGM/UA release.

Action and Adventure, Crime and mystery, drama. Rating: R. Running time: 115 minutes.

Jim Davis (Christian Bale) is an ex-Army Ranger who kills time by hanging out with his buddy Mike (Freddy Rodriguez) while waiting to hear about a position with the LAPD. Little by little they start to slide into a life of drugs, violence and crime.

I didn’t enjoy this movie because, like the two main characters, it aimlessly wanders without direction (or a plot). It shows antisocial behavior without going through the trouble of explaining why it happens. Besides, the acting wasn’t great.

Grade: D+

Click on the image below to see the trailer to this movie.

Babel

2006-11-25T09:27:00.000-05:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Movie release date: October 27, 2006

Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael Garcia Bernal, Koji Yakusho. Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. Written by Guillermo Arriaga. Produced by Steve Golin, Jon Kilik, Alejandro González Iñárritu. A Paramount Classics release.

Drama. Rating: R. Running time: 143 minutes.

Richard (Brad Pitt) and Susan (Cate Blanchett) are American tourists who are traveling in the Moroccan desert. Meanwhile, their children are illegally taken by their nanny from San Diego to Mexico. At the same time, the father of a Japanese teen rebel is sought by the police in Tokyo. When Susan is severely injured by a rifle shot, the audience starts to learn how these three stories are connected.

Although this is a very ambitious movie, it works. From the opening scene the audience is taken to far away worlds which are fun to watch. We are reminded that people around the world often live very different lives and yet have very similar problems. As such, this is a true globalization film where we are encouraged to see the story from diverse perspectives. The conflict in this movie comes from people trying to do what’s right and yet having a negative impact on others.

Grade: B

Click on the image below to see the trailer to this movie.

Stranger Than Fiction

2006-11-24T12:24:00.000-05:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Theatrical release date: November 10, 2006

Starring: Will Ferrell, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Queen Latifah. Directed by Marc Forster. Written by Zach Helm. Produced by Lindsay Doran. A Sony release.

Comedy, romance, drama. Rating: PG-13. Run time: 113 minutes.

Harold Crick (Will Ferrell) is a character in the novel Karen Eiffel (Emma Thompson) is writing. As she tries to figure out how to kill him off, he inexplicably comes to life and is aware of her words. He must find her and persuade her to change her (and his) ending.

Despite the all-star cast, this movie is too confusing and weird to be funny. We are asked to laugh at what most resembles schizophrenia. It would probably help to be mentally ill to get the humor, since humor is a lot about recognition. Like the title says, the movie is strange, unfortunately, it’s not funny.

Grade: C-

Click on the image below to see the trailer to this movie.

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

2006-11-11T11:20:00.000-05:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Nationwide Theatrical Release: November 3, 2006

Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Ken Davitian, Pamela Anderson, Pat Haggerty. Directed by Larry Charles. Written by Sacha Baron Cohen, Peter Baynham, Anthony Hines, Dan Mazer, Todd Phillips. Produced by Sacha Baron Cohen, Jay Roach. A Fox release.

Comedy. Rating: R. Running time: 84 minutes.

Borat (Sacha Baron Cohen) is a Kazakhstani reporter who travels to the U.S. to make a documentary. He meets real people in real situations during an eventful cross-country road-trip.

This movie is a mix of outrageous humor, offensive social satire and keen observations. It’s full of crazy and over the top scenes. It manages to make the actors sound and look like real people which gives it the feel of a real documentary. The end result is a very funny movie where I and the rest of the audience couldn’t stop laughing.

Grade: B+

Click on the image below to see the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to see a Sacha Baron Cohen interview.

Catch a Fire

2006-11-10T12:41:00.000-05:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Movie release date: October 27, 2006

Starring: Derek Luke, Tim Robbins, Bonnie Henna, Mncedisi Shabangu. Directed by Phillip Noyce. Written by Shawn Slovo. Produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Robyn Slovo. A Focus Features release.

Drama. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 102 minutes.

Based on a true story.

Patrick Chamusso (Derek Luke) is a completely apolitical family man during South Africa’s oppressive apartheid system of the 1980’s. After he is unjustly accused of the sabotage of an oil refinery, he is arrested and tortured by police colonel Nic Vos (Tim Robbins). When his wife is also arrested and tortured, he becomes radicalized and determined to fight for a change.

This movie effectively shows some of the horrors of the apartheid system by telling the story of an ordinary man. Although the filmmaking is not perfect, the movie manages to depict how the apartheid regime tortured and murdered innocent people.

Grade: B-

Click on the image below to see the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to see a Tim Robbins and Derek Luke interview.

The Prestige

2006-11-02T09:39:00.000-05:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Movie release date: October 20, 2006

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Piper Perabo, David Bowie. Directed by Christopher Nolan. Written by Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan based on Christopher Priest’s novel. Produced by Christopher Nolan, Aaron Ryder, Emma Thomas. A Buena Vista release.

Crime and mystery. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 135 minutes.

Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) are two rival magicians in turn-of-the-century London. The movie shows the extent to which their bitter rivalry takes them in their attempt to out do each other.

I didn’t like the grayish and depressing cinematography of this movie. On the other hand, it was fun to see the magic tricks where I learned some of the secrets of real life magicians. The movie has more than it’s share of surprises and interesting twists. This is definitely not a predictable movie.

Grade: C+

Click on the image below to see the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch a Hugh Jackman interview.

Flags of Our Fathers

2006-11-01T11:48:00.000-05:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Movie release date: October 20, 2006

Starring: Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford, Adam Beach, Paul Walker. Directed by Clint Eastwood. Written by Paul Haggis and William Broyles Jr. based on James Bradley and Ron Powers' book, Flags of Our Fathers. Produced by Clint Eastwood, Steven Spielberg and Robert Lorenz. A Dream Works release.

Drama, War. Rated R. Running time: 132 minutes.

John "Doc" Bradley (Ryan Phillippe) is one of the six World War II soldiers who raised the American flag on Mont Suribachi at the end of the Battle of Iwo Jima. His story is told from the beginning of that battle to when he and two other soldiers in his unit were selected to go back to the States and sell bonds to finance the war effort.

My first impression after watching this movie for a few moments was that it was very ambitious. It starts with a huge war scene which seems to have cost a fortune to recreate. I was pleased to see that the movie shows the horror of war without glamorizing it. It effectively tells the story of the three main characters in a way which I found to be both historically accurate and entertaining.

Grade: B

Click on the image below to see the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to watch an interview with Clint Eastwood.

Employee of the Month

2006-10-31T14:19:00.000-05:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Movie release date: October 6, 2006

Starring: Jessica Simpson, Dane Cook, Dax Shepard, Efren Ramirez. Directed by Gregory Coolidge. Written by Don Calame, Greg Coolidge, Chris Conroy. Produced by Peter Abrams, Barry Katz, Robert L. Levy, Andrew Panay, Joe Simpson, Brian Volk-Weiss, Brian Weiss. A Lionsgate release.

Comedy. Rating PG-13. Running time: 103 minutes.

Zack (Dane Cook) and Vince (Dax Shepard) work at a Costco-like store. When they hear that a hot new checker named Amy (Jessica Simpson) will sleep with whoever becomes the employee of the month, they start a no holds bar competition for the honor.

Although this movie has a stupid premise, it works. It tries hard to be silly and it succeeds. It’s full of slapstick humor and makes no pretense to be anything other than a fun teenage movie. In a way, it proves that even a stupid movie can be entertaining if it’s well made.

Grade: B-

Click on image below to see the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to see a Jessica Simpson interview.

The Departed

2006-10-19T10:02:00.000-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Movie release date: October 6, 2006

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Martin Sheen, Anthony Anderson, Mark Wahlberg. Directed by Martin Scorsese. Written by William Monahan, Alan Mak and Felix Chong. Produced by Martin Scorsese, Brad Grey, Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt and Graham King. A Warner Bros. release.

Drama, crime and mystery. Rating: R. Running time: 149 minutes.

Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) is an undercover cop in South Boston who is assigned to infiltrate the local mob syndicate run by Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). Meanwhile, Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), is a member of Costello’s gang who has risen to a position of power within the police department. A chess game between the police and the syndicate starts when it becomes clear to each party that there is a mole in their midst.

This a well directed movie, with a clever script and five or six actors who are famous enough to carry a movie by themselves. Furthermore, I saw enough twists and turns, tough talk, psychos and violence to fill two or three typical action movies.

Grade: B+

Click on the image below to see the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to see a Leonardo DiCaprio interview.

Man of the Year

2006-10-18T11:20:00.000-04:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Movie release date: October 13, 2006

Starring: Robin Williams, Laura Linney, Christopher Walken, Jeff Goldblum. Directed by Barry Levinson. Written by Barry Levinson. Produced by Barry Levinson and James G. Robinson. A Universal release.

Comedy. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 115 minutes.

Tom Dobbs (Robin Williams) is a talk show host who has made a career out of making fun of politicians. He becomes so popular that he ignites a grassroots movement that puts him on the ballot for the presidency of the United States. To everyone’s surprise, he wins--only to learn that a computer programming error gave him the victory. As Inauguration Day approaches he has to decide whether or not to reveal that he wasn’t legitimately elected.

Although this movie is supposed to be a comedy, at no point did I find it funny. That feeling seemed to have been shared by everyone else in the audience who didn’t laugh at the stupid one liners that kept coming one after the other. This director definitively chose to go for quantity rather than quality when it came to jokes. In someone else’s hands this movie could have been a funny and smart political satire. Instead, it was bland and boring.

Grade: D

Click on image below to see the trailer to this movie.

The Marine

2006-10-17T15:31:00.000-04:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Movie release date: October 13, 2006

Starring: John Cena, Kelly Carlson, Robert Patrick, Anthony Ray Parker. Directed by John Bonito. Written by Michelle Gallagher and Alan B. McElroy. Produced by Joel Simon. A Fox release.

Action and adventure, crime and mystery, drama. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 93 minutes.

John Cena (John Triton) is a U.S. Marine whose wife is kidnapped by a ruthless criminal when he returns home from Iraq. He uses his military skills to try to rescue her.

This movie is so bad that after seeing it I wasn’t even going to bother writing a review. I decided to mention it only to warn you not to waste your time and money. It’s predictable, poorly directed and with terrible acting. One of the worst movies I’ve seen in years.

Grade: D-

Click on image below to see the trailer to this movie.

Jet Li's Fearless

2006-10-07T11:46:00.000-04:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Movie release date: September 22, 2006

Starring Jet Li, Betty Sun, Dong Yong, Shidou Nakamura. Directed by Ronny Yu
Written by Christine To, Chris Chow, Wang Bin, Li Feng. Produced by Ronny Yu, William Kong, Jet Li, Yang Butling. A Rogue Pictures release.

Action and Adventure, Drama. Rated PG-13. Running time: 103 minutes.

Based on a true story.

Huo Yuanjia (Jet Li) is the martial arts legend who became the most famous fighter in China at the turn of the 20th Century while facing a huge amount of personal tragedy. The movie shows his journey from childhood to stardom and beyond.

I enjoyed this movie very much on several levels. First, I learned some interesting details about Chinese culture, such as how the sense of humor of everyday people can be both subtle and stinging. Second, I found that it was a perfectly well told story with many ups and downs and plenty of surprises. Third, I gained a real appreciation for how humiliated the Chinese felt during the European and Japanese colonization period along with all the implications that has on today’s politics.

Grade: A-

Click on the image below to see the trailer to this movie.

Gridiron Gang

2006-10-06T14:33:00.000-04:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Theatrical Release Date: September 9, 2006

Starring: The Rock, Xzibit, Kevin Dunn, Leon Rippy. Directed by Phil Joanou. Written by Jeff Maguire. Produced by Neal Moritz and Lee Stanley. A Sony release.

Drama. Rated PG-13. Running time: 120 minutes.

Inspired by filmmaker Jac Flanders' 1993 documentary of the same name.

Sean Porter (The Rock) is a probation officer at a detention camp for troubled youths. He is convinced that the violent offenders who have been placed in his care would have a better chance at rehabilitation if he can install in them a sense of discipline in a sports environment. When he suggests to form a high-school-level football team with them, he is at first met with resistance from his superiors.

This movie is both melodramatic and silly. It’s full of clichés and is predictable at every turn. There is also terrible acting.

Grade: D-

Click on the image below to see the trailer to this movie.

All the King's Men

2006-10-05T10:10:00.000-04:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Movie release date: September 22, 2006

Starring Sean Penn, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, James Gandolfini, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Hopkins. Directed by Steven Zaillian. Written by Steven Zaillian. Produced by Ken Lemberger, Mike Medavoy, Arnold Messer, Steven Zaillian. A Sony release.

Drama. Rated PG-13. Running time: 141 minutes.

Based on Robert Penn Warren's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1947 novel. The first version of the movie won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress after its release in 1949.

Willie Stark (Sean Penn) is a southern politician who is elected governor of Louisiana after running a populist campaign. He is opposed by the entrenched power elite who is determined not to allow him to implement his program to improve the lives of the poor. He persists by using bribes and threats until the forces united against him decide to try to impeach him.

I found this movie boring because the story was poorly told. Basically, there was too much talking. On the positive side, the acting by the all-star cast was outstanding and they were all able to pull off authentic sounding southern accents despite the fact that three of them (Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Anthony Hopkins) are from the UK.

Grade: C

Click on the image below to see the trailer to this movie.

Scoop

2006-09-21T09:57:00.000-04:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Movie release date: July 28, 2006

Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Hugh Jackman, Woody Allen, Ian McShane. Directed by Woody Allen. Written by Woody Allen. Produced by Letty Aronson and Gareth Wiley. A Focus Features release.

Comedy and romance. Rating: PG-13. Running time: 96 minutes.

Sondra Pransky (Scarlett Johansson) is an American journalism student who is in London to visit with friends. One evening, while she is attending a magic show by magician Sid "Splendini" Waterman (Woody Allen), she comes across some information about the possible identity of the serial murderer known as the "Tarot Card Killer". Knowing that she may have the scoop of the decade, she begins investigating the story with the magician's help.

I found this movie to be smart, funny and witty from beginning to end thanks to good character development and the keen observation skills of the director. There are a few weaknesses in the story, such as why would Sondra put herself at risk by volunteering to be alone with a man she suspects to be a murderer, but they can be forgiven because in this case logic shouldn’t get in the way of some very good jokes.

Grade: B+

Click on the image below to see the trailer to this movie.

Idlewild

2006-09-20T09:48:00.000-04:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Movie release date: August 25, 2006

Starring: André Benjamin, Antwan André Patton, Paula Patton, Terrence Howard. Directed by Bryan Barber. Written by Bryan Barber, Doug Stern. Produced by William Green, Robin O’Hara, Scott Macaulay. A Universal release.

Drama, musicals. Rated R for nudity and adult language. Running time: 90 min.

Two musicians (André Benjamin, Antwan André Patton) work in a 1930’s southern speakeasy while dealing with the greed of a gangster who is employed in the same establishment.

Idlewild made me think of an African-American version of the movie “Chicago”, in that it’s set in the 1930’s and has plenty of good music and action. It’s also funny and moving, happy and sad. However, the very original and effective directing sets it apart from other movies I’ve seen recently.

Grade: A-

Hollywoodland

2006-09-19T12:56:00.000-04:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Movie release date: September 8, 2006

Starring Adrien Brody, Diane Lane, Ben Affleck, Bob Hoskins, Lois Smith. Directed by Allen Coulter. Written by Paul Bernbaum. Produced by Glenn Williamson. A Focus Features release.

Drama, crime and mystery. Rated R. Running time: 126 min.

Inspired by one of Hollywood's most infamous real-life mysteries.

George Reeves (Ben Affleck) is the 1950’s small-screen Superman who is shot by a single gunshot wound in his Hollywood Hills home. After the Los Angeles Police Department closes the case, his grieving mother, hires private detective Louis Simo (Adrien Brody) to try to get answers to a number of questions which seem to have been swept under the rug.

Despite some good acting by Adrien Brody, the movie can be confusing at times because of an over reliance on flashbacks. It’s also too long and has too many inside Hollywood type jokes.

Grade: C

Step Up

2006-09-11T07:58:00.000-04:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Movie release date: August 11, 2006

Starring Channing Tatum, Jenna Dewan, Mario, Damaine Radcliff. Directed by Anne Fletcher. A Buena Vista release.

Drama, Romance, Musicals. Rated PG 13. Running time: 98 minutes.

Tyler Gage (Channing Tatum) is a juvenile delinquent who is sentenced to community service at the Maryland School of the Arts. There, he meets a privileged ballet dancer, Nora (Jenna Dewan), who is having trouble finding a great dance partner for her senior showcase. When she discovers that he is a gifted street dancer, she hopes that she can teach him her routine and convince the school administrator to let him dance with her.

I found the movie to be very average. Basically, it’s a formula teen flick with some slick dance moves but a lot of pat characters and contrived conflict.

Grade: C

Invincible

2006-09-10T08:15:00.000-04:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Movie release date: August 25, 2006

Starring Mark Wahlberg, Greg Kinnear, Elizabeth Banks, Kevin Conway. Directed by Ericson Core. Produced by Mark Ciardi, Gordon Gray, Ken Mok. A Buena Vista release.

Drama. Rated PG 13. Running time: 104 minutes.

This movie is inspired by a true story.

Vince Papale (Mark Wahlberg) is a substitute teacher and part-time bartender who plays football during his free time with a ragtag bunch of guys in his working class Italian-American neighborhood. As the most talented player in his group, he decides to tryout for the Philadelphia Eagles when a new coach opens the tryouts to anyone in the public.

Although everyone in the audience knows all along what’s going to happen at the end, the story is entertaining because it’s well told. There are many great football scenes and effective cinematography.

Grade: B-

Crank

2006-09-09T15:42:00.000-04:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Movie release date: September 1, 2006

Starring Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Efren Ramirez. Directed by Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor. A Lionsgate release.

Action and Adventure, Crime and Mystery. Rated R for crude language and themes. Violence. Running time: 83 minutes.

Hitman Chev Chelios (Jason Statham) wakes up one morning feeling unusually groggy. When he gets a call from his enemy Ricky Verona (Jose Cantillo), he finds out that he has been poisoned with a special concoction which will kill him in about an hour if he can’t keep his adrenaline flowing. In order to stay alive, he goes on a wild run throughout the streets of Los Angeles while trying to find an antidote and staying two steps ahead of his enemies who are trying to kill him.

Since the hero is an unlikable jerk the best thing about the movie is its high energy which makes it appear like it’s on steroids from beginning to end.

Grade: C-

Snakes on a Plane

2006-08-26T09:35:00.000-04:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Movie release date: August 18, 2006

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Julianna Margulies, Kenan Thompson, Bobby Cannavale. Directed by David R. Ellis. Written by John Heffernan, Sebastian Gutierrez. A New Line release.

Action and adventure, Horror, Thriller. Rated R for language, a scene of sexuality and drug use, and intense sequences of terror and violence. Running time: 105 minutes.

Neville Flynn (Samuel L. Jackson) is an FBI agent whose mission is to escort the eyewitness to a murder by a powerful criminal on a flight from Hawaii to Los Angeles. Halfway during the fight, hundreds of deadly snakes start appearing everywhere and it becomes clear that the crime lord has found a way to bring down the plane and eliminate the witness before he can testify against him.

This movie didn’t live up to my expectations which I admit were high because of the huge internet buzz that preceded it’s release. The clever marketing had promised that a badass Jackson would really kick some snake booty while providing non stop laughs. Instead, there were only few humorous moments and the movie turned out to be a below average action flick. It seemed that the director couldn’t decide whether he wanted to make a funny or a scary movie and as a result he achieved neither. I was never drawn into the story nor particularly entertained.

Grade: C-

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

2006-08-16T10:51:00.000-04:00

Movie review and movie trailer.

Movie release date: August 4, 2006

Starring Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Sacha Baron Cohen, Gary Cole, Michael Clarke Duncan, Leslie Bibb, Amy Adams. Directed by Adam McKay. Written by Will Ferrell, Adam McKay. Produced by Jimmy Miller and Judd Apatow. A Columbia Pictures release.

Action and Adventure, Comedy. Rated PG 13 for crude and sexual humor, language and drug references. Running time: 110 minutes.

Talladega Nights is a comedy about Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell), a NASCAR driver who after reaching the top of his profession thanks to a “win at any cost” attitude, suddenly looses both his career and his family. He has a chance to regain some of his past glory when he’s challenged by a flamboyant French Formula One driver for the supremacy of NASCAR.

Despite some funny moments at the beginning, the movie looses momentum during long stretches in the middle. It relies on gags, slapstick humor and one liners to poke fun more or less effectively at the southern subculture that produced NASCAR, at American commercialism and at French arrogance.

Grade: C+

Miami Vice

2006-07-29T11:38:00.000-04:00

Movie review, movie trailer and interview.

Movie release date: July 28, 2006

Starring Jamie Foxx, Colin Farrell, Gong Li and Naomie Harris. Directed and written by Michael Mann. Produced by Michael Mann and Pieter Jan Brugge. A Universal release.

Crime drama. Rated R for strong violence, language and some sexual content. Running time: 132 min.

Ricardo Tubbs (Jamie Foxx) and Sonny Crockett (Colin Farrell) are two cops who work undercover to try to identify a group responsible for several murders while they enjoy sometimes tumultuous, sometimes tragic romances with two very sexy ladies (Gong Li and Naomie Harris).

I found the movie entertaining even if the plot was a little convoluted in the first fifteen minutes because of the director's attempt to over explain who was who. But things sorted themselves out as the story developed, and it became clear who the good guys and who the bad guys were which helped draw me into the story. I found myself enjoying all the action and exotic locales which included Cuba, Haiti, Colombia, Switzerland and of course Miami. It was fun to see and learn about places I haven't had the opportunity to travel to yet.

At the end of the movie, I listened to some of the comments from other moviegoers and found that they also seemed to have enjoyed it very much.

Grade: B

Click on the image below to see the trailer to this movie.

Click on the image below to see a Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell interview.

Movie reviews, interviews, previews and trailers

2006-07-26T09:55:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my blog where I (and on occasion my guest critics) will review new movies.

Feel free to write your own review in the comments section.