Thursday, May 7 2009
A Shortage of Villainy
While director Abrams' handling of Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman's propulsive screenplay is sleek and spiffy, to say the least, it ultimately hews far closer to his television work than might have been wise for a big-screen reboot.
Friday, May 1 2009
The Skeptic
You know you're in trouble when the most appealing element your film is Tom Arnold.
Monday, April 27 2009
Summer of Same: May 2009
May's titles include the fourth films in two aging franchises, more Pixar perfection, and the reboot of a TV series from 40 years ago. And they say there are no new ideas.
Monday, July 21 2008
Vantage Point
It’s almost rather brilliant the way the film betrays and sabotages itself as it comes down the home stretch.
Friday, February 22 2008
Vantage Point
As Vantage Point becomes increasingly busy with personal betrayals and redemptions, the ostensible politics, reductive to begin with, fall by the wayside.
Monday, December 15 2003
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Johnny Depp spent time learning to swordfight, so that Captain Jack Sparrow could be poised and everready -- in a word, the Muhammad Ali of swordfighters.
Thursday, July 10 2003
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Ingenious and mesmerizing, Johnny Depp embodies the film's essential fantasy, that a pirate's life is exciting and unfettered.
Thursday, September 26 2002
Snipes (2001)
As Erik puts it, he has 'business to take care of.' That business is hip-hop.
Thursday, February 14 2002
Crossroads (2002)
Unlike the audiences at most movie previews, these folks at 'Crossroads' were amped.
