Blips on Hits and Misses
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
An origins story centered on the centuries-old feud between the race of aristocratic vampires and their onetime slaves, the Lycans. Prequel to the previous two "Underworld" films.
July 4th, 2009
Choke
A sex-addicted con-man pays for his mother's hospital bills by playing on the sympathies of those who rescue him from choking to death.
July 3rd, 2009
The Haunting of Molly Hartley
Molly Hartley looks to put her troubled past behind her with a fresh start at a new school, where she sparks with one of the most popular students...
July 2nd, 2009
New in Town
New in Town I seriously wanted to like this movie, but I couldn't. I like Renee Zellweger as an actress, but she just did not work out as the fast track corporate zealot Lucy Hill, when she was tough as nails and when she began showing her softer side. Harry Connick, Jr. is a good singer, he should;
July 2nd, 2009
He's Just Not That Into You
Therefore the premise of this film is to take a position that the collective interpersonal relationships between men and women are not that complex, that men and women have separate rules that govern their relative perspective on the reality of their individual sociological perspectives fitting into that great market of meat...
June 18th, 2009
Rachel Getting Married
A young woman who has been in and out from rehab for the past 10 years returns home for the weekend for her sister's wedding.
June 16th, 2009
Last Chance Harvey
As Harvey Shine, Hoffman brings to the stage a rumpled, humble, little man, who has been passed over at many points in his life, and is resolved to retain his dignity in his pursuit of an otherwise purposeful life.
June 14th, 2009
Incendiary
The sadness associated with a terrible loss can be the undoing of some and the rebirth of others. In "Incendiary," the young mother may experience a bit of both in this morality play that endeavors to investigate the twin brothers of terrible human loss and the random, insane acts of Muslim terrorists under the command of Osama bin Laden.
June 10th, 2009
Killshot
Keep the fires stoked Satan until these two murderous, sorry souls can be sent to your nonhuman resources department. That's the message of this tale of a half-breed Native American hitman, who killed for profit and convenient efficiency, and his admiring sidekick, who mimicked his hero at every opportunity.
May 29th, 2009
Nothing But the Truth
Valerie Plame is married to the former Ambassador to Iraq, Jo Wilson, who was very critical of the Bush administration's incursion into Iraq Theater in the World Wide War on Terror. Valerie Plame was an analyst at the CIA, who had been an operative earlier in her career.
May 27th, 2009
Taken
Reminiscent of the ravaging revenge engendered in the first "Death Wish," "Taken" is an action picture with a purpose and a bit of a message. The purpose is to alert children that our world, at its worse, is not a safe or happy place to live, and is best that one keeps their adventures somewha
May 21st, 2009
The Spirit
The Spirit Frank Miller's adaptation of the Will Eisner comic strip of the same title was his follow- up to his last two very successful films (both financial and critical), Sin City and 300, was less impressive and in terms of art design, narrative and pace was a pale imitation of his previous succ
April 26th, 2009
Flash of Genius
Flash of Genius This is an important little film, even though at some moments, it is like watching paint dry in the 119 minutes it took to tell this tale. That said, "Flash of Genius" is well acted in all of the central roles, while telling an inspirational story of the little guy chasing equity, re
April 22nd, 2009
Bedtime Stories
Bedtime Stories This may eventually become a significant children's movie, but I doubt it. Instead, what we have been served up is another formulaic Happy Madison production that is not rooted in reality, so the fantasy scenes ring hollow, shallow and uninspiring. The fantasy may work for some child
April 21st, 2009
Transporter 3
Transporter 3 Jason Statham put his "butt-kicking" franchise on the line in "Transporter 3;" however, it was not enough to save this high energy, "low-brow" movie. Director Olivier Megaton got the action scenes right. The problem is: he got the rest of the movie wrong. The story and the dialogue wer
April 17th, 2009
Body of Lies
Body of Lies It is a good film. I was just expecting more. Leonardo DiCaprio has developed into a fine actor: able to project extreme intensity in a very convincing manner. Russell Crowe is one of the best and most versatile actors ever. Ridley Scott has directed some of my favorite films (of them t
April 10th, 2009
Nights in Rodanthe
Nights in Rodanthe This re-creation through celluloid of the New Bern, NC native Nicholas Spark's novel, of the same title, was a major disappointment for a variety of reason s - so many, I don't know where to begin. Spending as much time as I do on North Carolina's beautiful Outer Banks, I was happ
April 6th, 2009
Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Zack and Miri Make a Porno "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" is the latest formula comedy from Director / Writer Kevin Smith starring Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks. I must admit, there are some funny scenes; like when they are coming up with title for their prospective porno movie, but for the most part
April 4th, 2009
The Duchess
The Duchess Fathers don't let your daughters grow up to marry narcissistic, philandering Dukes. This sad tale details the life and loves of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, who originally hailed from the House of Spencer. Georgiana, very convincingly portrayed by Kiera Knightly, is married off to t
April 4th, 2009
Swing Vote
Swing Vote This film may work for others; however, there is no doubt that it works for this political junkie. I enjoyed the whole of this film, irrespective of the fact that the premise that one man's vote, not being counted, would have triggered the situation that his vote would have to be recast a
April 2nd, 2009
Elegy
Elegy If you thought, by watching "Elegy," it would be easy negotiating its emotional streams flowing deeper and deeper into your psyche: it ain't. Director Isabel Coixet was most successful drawing one inexorably, "kicking and Screaming," deeper into the lives of the two primary characters, who hav
March 31st, 2009
Charlie Bartlett
Charlie Bartlett On occasion, and with great irregularity, I have had the pleasure to experience a film made about post adolescent high school students; made primarily for an audience of those same post adolescents, that connects with the general audience - me: a middle aged, feisty older gentleman
March 30th, 2009
Quantum of Solace
Quantum of Solace This is the Best Bond film in a long time and a notch ahead of the last Bond film, Casino Royale, Daniel Craig's first film as James Bond. The action is unrelenting and Daniel Craig is the first truly believable Bond since Sean Connery originated the character in "Dr. No." Daniel C
March 28th, 2009
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Hellboy II: The Golden Army First, what did I like about Hellboy II? The movie, written and directed by Guerillermo del Toro who also wrote and directed the stylishly beautiful "Pan's Labyrinth," was artfully shot with outstanding, necessary and not gratuitous computer graphics, crisp in its deliver
March 28th, 2009
Role Models
Role Models Paul Rudd co-wrote the screenplay with Director David Wain and some of it is funny. The best parts of this often humorous vignette regarding these two losers; Rudd as Danny Donahue and Sean William Scott as simply Wheeler, is when they meet with "Big Brother" like Director Gayle Sweeney,
March 27th, 2009
