Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews

Month: May 2014

  • This is not your father’s Robocop, it’s your younger son’s

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    coolpapae
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    Robocop – 2014 Director José Padilha Starring Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson, Abbie Cornish, Jackie Earle Haley, Michael K. Williams, Jennifer Ehle, Jay Baruchel Screenplay by Joshua Zetumer Poor ED-209.  Never has there been such a cool looking law enforcement officer destined only to be the sucker.  In both the original classic and the good, but softer remake, ED-209 performs as the…

  • Pompeii is just a flaming heap

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    coolpapae
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    Pompeii – 2014 Director Paul W.S. Anderson Starring Kit Harington, Emily Browning, Carrie-Anne Moss, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jessica Lucas, Jared Harris, Kiefer Sutherland Screenplay Janet Scott Batchler, Lee Batchler, Michael Robert Johnson Many fault Paul W.S. Anderson for bringing the inspired collaboration of Alien vs. Predator to an almost screeching halt.  It’s true that the 2004 film performed well below expectations, it really wasn’t nearly as…

  • Forgotten Gems: Phenomenon Dance with life

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    coolpapae
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    Phenomenon – 1996 Director John Turteltaub Starring John Travolta, Kyra Sedgwick, Forest Whitaker, Robert Duvall, Brent Spiner Screenplay Gerald Di Pego When one ponders the fate of the film Phenomenon, it really shows how much time has passed since its début in 1996.  At the time it was a sizeable hit, never reaching #1 but certainly lingering in the top 10.…

  • Enough Said Curbed Enthusiasm

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    coolpapae
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    Enough Said – 2013 Writer and Director Nicole Holofcener Starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener, Toni Collette, Ben Falcone James Gandolfini had the rare gift of expression through silence.  Or quiet at least.  His voice large as it felt, was low enough that it drew you in, and before you knew it, you were hooked by his wizened smile.  His…

  • Out of the Furnace The fire’s gone

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    coolpapae
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    Out of the Furnace – 2013 Director Scott Cooper Starring Christian Bale, Woody Harrelson, Casey Affleck, Forest Whitaker, Willem Dafoe, Zoe Saldana, Sam Shepard Screenplay Brad Ingelsby and Cooper “He might be safer over in Iraq” It’s hard to recall the last movie that featured common folk in Steel Mill country of Pennsylvania that started out with anything close to a sunny day.…

  • The Rules of The Counselor

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    coolpapae
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    The Counselor – 2013 Director Ridley Scott Starring Michael Fassbender, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem, Brad Pitt, Dean Norris, John Leguizamo Written by Cormac McCarthy Rule 13: A spec script, or non-commissioned screenplay, is not solicited by anybody.  It must be sold. Rule 25: A good opening scene, with remarkable visuals and as a bonus incredible sound, gives the viewer hope that they…