Movies

Inglourious Basterds

September 24, 2009

“Inglourious Basterds.” Quentin Tarantino, director. Weinstein/Universal, 152 minutes. In one of his early, low-budget films, Alfred Hitchcock cast himself in two minor roles to avoid paying an extra actor, and a tradition was born. His famous walk-ons continued in almost every film, first because he superstitiously believed it contributed to his success, and later as [...]

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Julie & Julia

September 24, 2009

“Julie & Julia.” Nora Ephron, director. Columbia Pictures, 123 minutes. “Julie & Julia” is two stories in one, both of them true. In 2002 Julie Powell (Amy Adams) was in a funk, working for an insurance company dealing with survivors of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and looking for something meaningful to do with her life [...]

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My Sister’s Keeper

September 24, 2009

“My Sister’s Keeper.” Nick Cassavetes, director. Curmudgeon Films, 109 minutes. After Cain kills his brother Abel in a fit of rage, God asks him where his brother is (as if God didn’t already know…). Cain’s response has sparked debate and influenced public policy for millennia: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Good question. Are we responsible [...]

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Drag Me to Hell (well, not literally)

June 24, 2009

“Drag Me to Hell,” directed by Sam Raimi. Buckaroo Entertainment, 2009, 99 minutes. I confess to a lifelong love of horror movies–the good old-fashioned kind that tingle the spine with dread, without resorting to gratuitous gore. A truly great suspense film can terrify audiences without a single drop of blood being shed. I haven’t seen [...]

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The Taking of Pelham 123

June 21, 2009

“The Taking of Pelham 123.” Tony Scott, director. Sony Pictures, 121 minutes. Rated R for language and violence. In 1994 a quiet, unassuming, former computer systems analyst for a large investment firm built several gasoline bombs out of mayonnaise jars and alarm clock timers, intending to deposit them in subway trains around New York City [...]

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The Brothers Bloom

June 15, 2009

School’s out for summer, and teen comedies abound. Most of them are trite, raunchy, potty-mouthed, formulaic– and immensely successful. “The Hangover” is one of them. Its big-budget advertising throughout the spring made it look clever and entertaining, and its 80% approval rating on rottentomatoes gave it an air of respectability from the critics. Largely a [...]

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The Soloist

May 31, 2009

“The Soloist.” Joe Wright, director. Dreamworks, 117 minutes. “The Soloist” begins the way “State of Play” ends: opening credits roll as newspapers are printed, bundled and delivered. The papers are a blur of color as they whiz through the machinery, a tribute to the pressmen who invented the processes that have sped up delivery of [...]

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State of Play

May 31, 2009

“State of Play.” Kevin Macdonald, director. Tony Gilroy, writer. Universal, 127 minutes. “State of Play” is a good old-fashioned newspaper thriller in which the curmudgeonly journalist solves the case using wits, not guns. The film is fast-paced without being manic, the story full of satisfying twists without abandoning credibility. Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe) is an [...]

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Memorial Day Movie – Young @ Heart

May 24, 2009

“Young @ Heart.” Stephen Walker, director. Fox Searchlight, 107 minutes. Like newspaper columnists, film documentarians are always on the lookout for a great story. The difference is, they have to begin filming the story before they know how it’s going to end, or even whether it’s going to turn out to be a story worth [...]

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When in Doubt…

February 10, 2009

“What Do You Do When You’re Not Sure?” Doubt. John Patrick Shanley, writer/director. Miramax Films, 104 minutes. reviewed by Jo Ann Skousen Innocent until proven guilty. This is the principle upon which our legal system is based, and it has served us well for over 200 years. Yes, it means that occasionally a guilty person [...]

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