RSSReview: Sci-Fi Cinema Did It Better Before 'Oblivion'
Joseph Kosinski’s sci-fi flick “Oblivion” is like the South Park episode “Simpsons Already Did It,” where Butters tries to cause havoc, and is continually foiled when he learns that “The Simpsons did it!” first. With Kosinski’s film though, you might say, “Cinema did it!” repeatedly after the introduction of each well-traveled science fiction theme in the movie.
In “Oblivion,” Jack (Tom Cruise) is one of the last remaining people on an Earth scorched by war with alien invaders. Mankind is colonizing a new home, so most humans are preparing for the voyage, on a giant space station orbitin...
READ MOREIn “Oblivion,” Jack (Tom Cruise) is one of the last remaining people on an Earth scorched by war with alien invaders. Mankind is colonizing a new home, so most humans are preparing for the voyage, on a giant space station orbitin...
Tom Cruise's 'Oblivion' Easily Takes Top Spot At Box Office
Forgotten Friday Flick - 'Moon'
‘42’ Is About More Than Just One Man’s Struggle
Brian Helgeland’s “42” is a biopic about Jackie Robinson, the African American athlete who broke down baseball’s color barrier. The film chronicles his difficult road to the majors and the results of his challenging rookie season with the Brooklyn Dodgers. What’s funny about the movie is that even though it’s a Jackie Robinson biopic, he doesn’t feel like the main character.
There’s more emphasis on Branch Rickey, the owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, played by Harrison Ford. Rickey decides in the beginning that he wants a black player on his squad to attract African American fans. As Rickey ...
READ MOREThere’s more emphasis on Branch Rickey, the owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, played by Harrison Ford. Rickey decides in the beginning that he wants a black player on his squad to attract African American fans. As Rickey ...
'42' Lands Biggest Opening Ever For A Baseball Film
Review: '42' Swings For The Bleachers!
Weekend Movie Preview: ‘Evil Dead’ and ‘Jurassic Park 3D’
Welcome back to Weekend Movie Preview. Things have been pretty busy for me over the last month or so, which is why you haven’t seen as many of my movie reviews coming out. However I’m trying to get back into the swing of things and hope to deliver you guys with more regular columns. I had such fun at the theater this week, I felt like I just needed to share my thoughts on the new “Evil Dead” and “Jurassic Park 3D.”
EVIL DEAD
Five twenty-something friends spend a weekend at a remote cabin, where they discover a Book of the Dead and accidentally summon demons residing in the nearby woods....
READ MOREEVIL DEAD
Five twenty-something friends spend a weekend at a remote cabin, where they discover a Book of the Dead and accidentally summon demons residing in the nearby woods....
'Evil Dead' Frightens Off The Competition At The Box Office
4 Facts About the New 'Evil Dead '
Arkin Astounds In ‘The Incredible Burt Wonderstone’
Films like “The Illusionist” and “The Prestige” use magic as a vehicle for suspense and intrigue, but Don Scardino's comedy “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” reminds us that this trade doesn't need to be taken so seriously. In Scardino's movie, a magician's calling isn't to fool you; it's to inspire your childlike sense of awe and spark your imagination. This gooey idea is one that the picture sets up right in its beginning and continues to reinforce throughout.
“The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” opens in the early 80s and focuses on young Burt and Anton, two social outcasts who discover th...
READ MORE“The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” opens in the early 80s and focuses on young Burt and Anton, two social outcasts who discover th...
Review: 'The Incredible Burt Wonderstone' Has Little In Its Bag Of Tricks
'The Incredible Burt Wonderstone' Unfortunately Isn't All That Incredible
Book Review: ‘Shh! It’s a Secret’ by Daniel M. Kimmel
Full disclosure: author Daniel M. Kimmel is my friend, and my colleague in The Boston Online Film Critics Association. However I can honestly say that I would have loved his book Shh! It’s a Secret: a novel about Aliens, Hollywood, and the Bartender’s Guide, regardless of whether I knew him personally. Kimmel’s debut novel is brilliant satire of the film industry, which also happens to be a hilarious, heartwarming science fiction story about unexpected friendship.
To provide some context for his expertise, Kimmel has been a critic for over 25 years and is currently a professor of film at...
READ MORETo provide some context for his expertise, Kimmel has been a critic for over 25 years and is currently a professor of film at...
Casey Affleck Joins IFFBoston As Creative Advisor
I just found out some very cool news about Independent Film Festival Boston, the awesome Boston film festival that I cover each year. IFFBoston has recently announced that actor Casey Affleck has been named Creative Advisor to the festival.
According to IFFBoston's recent press release, Affleck will have a multifaceted role, which will include outreach to studios, filmmakers, and talent on behalf of the festival, offering programming input, connecting the festival with local charities, and advising on festival growth. He'll also make an annual appearance there, something I'm looking forwar...
READ MOREAccording to IFFBoston's recent press release, Affleck will have a multifaceted role, which will include outreach to studios, filmmakers, and talent on behalf of the festival, offering programming input, connecting the festival with local charities, and advising on festival growth. He'll also make an annual appearance there, something I'm looking forwar...
Joaquin Phoenix And Casey Affleck Team Up For 'An Uplifting' Death Documentary
Casey Affleck Supports Farm Animal Cruelty Bill
Weekend Movie Preview: ‘A Good Day To Die Hard,’ & ‘Beautiful Creatures’
Hello readers! Hope everyone had a Happy Valentine’s Day. First off, what did you think of last week’s films “Side Effects” and “Identity Thief?” Leave me a comment and share your thoughts.
My column this week features reviews of the Bruce Willis action flick “A Good Day to Die Hard,” and the young-adult romance “Beautiful Creatures.”
A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD
Tough-as-nails New York cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) travels to Russia to bail out his estranged son, but learns that Jack (Jai Courtney) is actually a CIA agent trying to protect a political prisoner with valuable intelli...
READ MOREMy column this week features reviews of the Bruce Willis action flick “A Good Day to Die Hard,” and the young-adult romance “Beautiful Creatures.”
A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD
Tough-as-nails New York cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) travels to Russia to bail out his estranged son, but learns that Jack (Jai Courtney) is actually a CIA agent trying to protect a political prisoner with valuable intelli...
Bruce Willis' 'A Good Day To Die Hard' Tops President's Day Weekend Box Office
Review: 'A Good Day To Die Hard' Proves That Willis Should Have Stopped At #4 (Video)
Weekend Movie Preview: 'Side Effects' & 'Identity Thief'
Did you have a chance to check out last week’s films “Warm Bodies” and “Bullet to the Head?” If so, leave me a comment and let me know why you liked them or not.
I’m still working my way through my awards season screener pile and posting new reviews on my website. Over the course of this week I’ve shared my opinion of “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” “Anna Karenina,” “The Master,” and “Rise of the Guardians.”
I found “Beasts” visually stunning and unique, but a bit abstract for my taste. “Anna Karenina” was very flashy with too much style and not enough substance for me. I thought “The Mast...
READ MOREI’m still working my way through my awards season screener pile and posting new reviews on my website. Over the course of this week I’ve shared my opinion of “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” “Anna Karenina,” “The Master,” and “Rise of the Guardians.”
I found “Beasts” visually stunning and unique, but a bit abstract for my taste. “Anna Karenina” was very flashy with too much style and not enough substance for me. I thought “The Mast...
'Side Effects': A Satisfying Thriller With Twists & Turns You Won't See Coming
Red Hot Photos From The 'Side Effects' Premiere: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Channing Tatum & More!
Weekend Movie Preview: 'Warm Bodies,' & 'Bullet to the Head'
Am I the only one flabbergasted that “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters,” is Number 1 at the box office right now? I still haven’t watched it yet, but I’ve heard from several colleagues that it’s terrible, and not in the awesomely bad way. Did you like the film? Leave me a comment telling me why you enjoyed it so much. Maybe you’ll convince me to give it a shot.
I’m quite sad by how hard Arnold’s comeback film “The Last Stand” is tanking at the box office. I know a lot of people have written him off as an action hero; however I urge them to give this movie a chance. It’s not a masterpiece o...
READ MOREI’m quite sad by how hard Arnold’s comeback film “The Last Stand” is tanking at the box office. I know a lot of people have written him off as an action hero; however I urge them to give this movie a chance. It’s not a masterpiece o...
Zombie Flick 'Warm Bodies' Takes Top Spot At Weekend Box Office
Nicholas Hoult Struggled With Brain Munching Scenes In 'Warm Bodies'
Weekend Movie Preview: 'Gangster Squad' & 'A Haunted House'
Welcome to the second Weekend Movie Preview of the New Year. As you might suspect based on last week’s reviews of “Zero Dark Thirty” and “Promised Land,” I’m still catching up on screeners from 2012 and probably will be for the rest of this month. You can keep up with my progress weekly by checking out the mini movie reviews on my website.
Today’s column features the first new film that I’ve seen in 2013: Ruben Fleischer’s “Gangster Squad.” It also contains my thoughts on the trailer for the Marlon Wayans horror spoof “A Haunted House.”
GANGSTER SQUAD
On the crime-infested streets of L...
READ MOREToday’s column features the first new film that I’ve seen in 2013: Ruben Fleischer’s “Gangster Squad.” It also contains my thoughts on the trailer for the Marlon Wayans horror spoof “A Haunted House.”
GANGSTER SQUAD
On the crime-infested streets of L...
Check Out 'Gangster Squad' On DVD, Blu-ray & More April 23
Review: 'Gangster Squad' Might Have To Sleep With The Fishes
