Yesterday’s Oscar nominations gave us a few major surprises. From the snub of Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow (“Zero Dark Thirty”) to the exclusion of Ben Affleck (“Argo”) in the directorial race, many critics were wondering what the Academy was thinking.
In “Zombieland,” director Ruben Fleischer took a well-known movie subject (zombie attacks) and turned it on its head. The film embraced the lunacy of poor civilians being hunted by the undead. In “Gangster Squad,” the director once more takes a
“This is unbelievable,” Alice (Marisa Tomei) cries out in the new movie, Parental Guidance. Truer words have seldom been spoken in a film. It is unbelievable that such great comedic talent–Tomei, Billy Crystal and Bette Midler, to name a few–have
It’s been about eight years since a massive tsunami devastated muchof the Asian continent. The tsunami hit the day after Christmas in 2004 andkilled more than 100,000 people. It also affected millions of otherfamilies who were in the area or
It’s been more than a decade since the Pixar animated film “Monsters, Inc.” first arrived in theaters. And like many of its fellow Pixar classics, this idealistic family film remains as wonderful today as it was back in 2001. This
The choice to cast former “Ghostbuster” Bill Murray as Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, was a clever one indeed. Murray, known predominantly as a comic actor whose quirky roles have made him a must-see star
A novelist (Rafe Spall) is promised a story that would make him believe in God at the beginning of “Life of Pi.” The writer was told by a friend to visit a man named Pi whose life story is so
There is something innately human about the three main characters in “A Royal Affair.” Despite the inarguable fact that all three greatly influenced the future of Denmark, these characters are all presented as relatable and fully-dimensional people who – sometimes
The new movie “Fun Size” is one of the strangest film concoctions I’ve ever seen. Like candy corn eaten with ketchup, the film attempts to combine two disparate genres–family drama and raunchy comedy– and comes up short in both areas.
There is something noble about Jay Moriarity, the main character in the new film, “Chasing Mavericks.” Jay is eight when the story begins but despite his youth, he fervently wants to learn how to surf. He insists. He starts surfing
“I’m always in somebody’s way, I thought,” says the lead character in “The Sessions,” a film about someone in his 30s struggling with losing his virginity. Loosely based on a true story, the movie follow a man who has suffered
“Seven Psychopaths” is twisted, demented and gratuitously violent. It’s also one of the best surprises of 2012. Starring Colin Farrell and a scene-stealing Christopher Walken, this violent drama about a dog kidnapping is an escapist pleasure that is more fun
“Won’t Back Down” begins around the same point where the 2010 documentary “Waiting for Superman” ended. One of the final scenes in “Superman,” which panned the impact some teachers unions have on public education, showed parents waiting to learn if
“I didn’t think anyone noticed me,” Charlie (Logan Lerman) says while leaving a party in “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.” Charlie is the new student in school and was invited to the event by high school friends Patrick (Ezra
Yes, folks. Dredd keeps his helmet on in this one. That’s the biggest news to come out of “Dredd 3D,” which arrives in theaters 17 years after Sylvester Stallone’s “Judge Dredd”floundered at the box office. In the new adaptation of
Cully’s high school memories are ones that he would like to forget. He was the bully, picking on the younger and smaller kids and making their lives miserable. He’s given up his destructive past in the new reunion drama “10
Thereare two main characters in the gritty cop thriller “End of Watch” but for much ofits running time, it feels like there are only two characters inthe whole film. The plot so revolves around Officers Brian Taylor (JakeGyllenhaal) and Mike
The young actor Henry Cavill (“Immortals,” “The Tudors”) has played a variety of characters during his short career, but his biggest role is still ahead of him. Next year, Cavill will don tights and star as Superman in the highly
“Don’t you know words ruin everything?” So says Clay Hammond (Dennis Quaid), the author of a new book detailing the rise of a successful writer who publishes another man’s manuscript as his own in the new drama “The Words.” Both
“It is not the violence that sets men apart. It is the distance that he is prepared to go.” So says Forrest Bondurant (Tom Hardy) in the new Prohibition-era drama, “Lawless.” The fact-based film focuses on three brothers selling outlawed
Sylvester Stallone’s character is asked what the plan of attack is against the man responsible for the execution of a fellow “Expendable.” His directive, like the movie itself, is simple. “Track him. Find him. Kill him.” That mission – seeking
A college experiment releases a deadly spirit in the stale new horror film “The Apparition.” Franchise faves Ashley Greene (“Twilight”) and Tom Felton (“Harry Potter”) star in the tale of three college students testing their theories about the supernatural. Their experiment
“Sparkle,” more than anything else, will likely be remembered as Whitney’s Houston’s last movie. In the ’60s-era film, the late singer plays a supporting role as the strict and religious mother of three quality singers whose road to success is paved
When Meryl Streep’s character calls her 31st wedding anniversary an “off-year” at the beginning of “Hope Springs,” she means more than the odd number of years she’s been married to Tommy Lee Jones’ character. She’s talking about the entire last
One of the best things about the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” franchise is the mischievous sensibilities of its title character. Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon) has never been the typical cutesy and idealistic movie child. He can be arrogant, manipulative
“Killer” Joe is a difficult film to recommend to most movie goers. The movie features extremely graphic scenes of nudity and death, so those who are weary of such elements should not see this film under any circumstances. In other
Freida Pinto, the young actress who has played supporting characters in blockbusters like “Slumdog Millionaire” (2008) and “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” (2011), deserves a moment in the spotlight. She has taken center stage in a few smaller
The American Heritage College Dictionary says the noun “savages” can be applied to individuals who are “primitive or uncivilized” and those who are “brutal, fierce or vicious.” In director Oliver Stone’s new film, two types of people are identified as
Silverdocs, a documentary film festival that takes place outside of WashingtonD.C., celebrated its 10th anniversary last month. For the second year in a row I attended the annual film event, a festival which once more offered up a variety of
“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”That Albert Einstein quote adorns one of the posters seen behind high school studentPeter Parker (Andrew Garfield) in “The Amazing Spider-Man.” It’s anappropriate lesson to be highlighted in a reboot of the Spider-Man franchise. We
Step aside, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Mark Wahlberg is quickly becoming my favorite Massachusetts movie star. Wahlberg, the rapper-turned-model-turned-actor, has done some incredible work over the past few years. Whether he was garnering an Oscar nomination for his supporting
Silverdocs, a documentary film festival that takes place every year outside of Washington D.C., recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and for my second year in a row, I attended the annual event. Like in 2011, the festival offered up a
Hundreds of movies arrive in theaters every year and, in that group, there are inevitably ones that seek greatness but end up settling for mediocrity. A film’s quality can be as fragile as the camera it was filmed with, and
“Men use women,” the villainous Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron) says in the new film, “Snow White and the Huntsman.” Ravenna, on the other hand, uses everyone. She uses a new husband to take over his kingdom. She uses her brother
“Chernobyl Diaries” is the type of movie you want to like despite its obvious flaws. Full of stereotypical characters and pumped with silly clichés, “Diaries” is an imperfect horror film with few surprises. But despite such red flags, I enjoyed
Based on actual events, “For Greater Glory” tells the story of the Mexican government’s war on the Catholic Church in the early 20th Century. Although the events transpired nearly a century ago, the movie’s focus on religious freedom is one
After the summer movie season was kicked off in style a few weeks back with “The Avengers,” it’s difficult to accept a big-budget movie like “Battleship” that often settles for being ordinary. Based on the Hasbro board game, “Battleship” is
Zac Efron wasn’t the obvious choice to play the lead in the new film based on the Nicholas Sparks bestseller, “The Lucky One.” The actor isn’t well-known for his dramatic performances, and the main character was written to be a
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“Love is love. It doesn’t matter if it’s a dog.” Diane Keaton’s character says in the new family drama “Darling Companion.” The film, directed by Lawrence Kasdan (“The Big Chill,” “Wyatt Earp”), tells a nice — but sometimes desperate — story
It’s been nearly twenty-five years since Bruce Willis tore up the screen as John McClane in the unforgettable action thriller “Die Hard.” McClane was a sarcastic but admirable police officer forced to take on a group of terrorists to save
