Talk, Talk, Talk: December 2008

By Bill Gibron

Just like the end of an inspiring speech that may or may not succeed in making its point, these final four weeks before 2009 tend to define or defeat the entire awards season purpose. [12 September 2008]

Frost/Nixon: An Interview with a Vampire

By Chris Barsanti

Frank Langella seethes and pulsates with cunning as the deposed president in 'Frost/Nixon', a far cry from the grinning cowboy executive Josh Brolin presented in 'W'. [4 December 2008]

(more The Screener)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

By Bill Gibron

What did Dr. Seuss ever do to Hollywood? How did the genial children's author, responsible for many of the most memorable kid lit classics of all time turn into such a cinematic pariah? [20 October 2009]

Angels & Demons

By Todd R. Ramlow

A Harvard professor is an unlikely candidate for the hero of a summer blockbuster, and Angels & Demons demonstrates exactly why. The film is filled with talk, talk, talk. [15 May 2009]

Frost/Nixon

By Cynthia Fuchs

No matter Frost/Nixon's efforts to revise it, history will never be the same. [5 December 2008]

The Da Vinci Code (2006)

By Marc Acherman

If religion, to paraphrase Oscar Wilde, is the fashionable substitute for belief, then The Da Vinci Code, judging by author Dan Brown’s quasi religious following, has asserted itself as the fashionable substitute for religion [12 November 2006]

The Da Vinci Code

By Cynthia Fuchs

In straining to make its spaces and secrets 'scary', Da Vinci literalizes thoughts and dreams, and abandons mystery and nuance. [19 May 2006]

The Da Vinci Code (2006)

By Cynthia Fuchs

In straining to make its spaces and secrets 'scary', Da Vinci literalizes thoughts and dreams, and abandons mystery and nuance. [18 May 2006]

Cinderella Man

By Cynthia Fuchs

Whether sad, frustrated, or even thinking about losing his temper, Jim is never less than stalwart. [3 June 2005]

The Missing

By Cynthia Fuchs

At the first moment you see Maggie (Cate Blanchett) on screen in Ron Howard's The Missing, you know this is one of those Cate Blanchett tough-girl projects. [23 February 2004]

The Missing

By Cynthia Fuchs

Maggie's toughness is surely enhanced by Blanchett's fabulous cheekbones and icy eyes. [20 November 2003]

Felicity

By Jessica Harbour

Early rumors labeled the show 'Ally McBeal Goes to College', and it's taken two full seasons to grow into the designation. [1 January 1995]

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

By Todd R. Ramlow

A Beautiful Mind (2001)

By Lesley Smith

A Beautiful Mind idealizes mental illness as spectacle, a feel-good gladiatorial games of the psyche where the human spirits always triumphs and love always blooms.

Short Ends and Leader: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000): Blu-ray

Short Ends and Leader: ‘Angels’ Betters ‘Da Vinci’...But Not By Much

Unlike Da Vinci, which threatened to rewrite the legacy of one of the most important figures in world history, all we have here is a bunch of dead cardinals and the possibility of the Vatican being destroyed. [15 May 2009]

Short Ends and Leader: ‘Frost/Nixon’ Feigns Actual History Well

Mixed Media: Frost/Nixon Stills and Trailer

Oscars ignore ‘The Dark Knight,’ except for Ledger nomination [23 January 2009]

In battle of stage vs. screen, the play wins [8 January 2009]

From stage to screen, Nixon’s the one for Frank Langella [15 December 2008]

Fast chat with ‘Frost/Nixon’ co-star Michael Sheen [11 December 2008]

Tricky shtick: Nixon film portrayals are irresistible to actors, but essence is elusive [7 December 2008]