Author: coolpapae
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The Iceman just wants to be a landlord
The Iceman – 2013 Director Ariel Vroman Starring Michael Shannon, Winona Rider, Chris Evans, Ray Liotta, James Franco, David Schwimmer, Stephen Dorff, Erin Cummings, Robert Davi Screenplay by Vroman and Morgan Land No one can economize a performance like Michael Shannon. His countenance is always sober, but seething underneath. His performance in Man of Steel was a thankless…
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Now You See Me is a cute date that vanishes after the show
Now You See Me – 2013 Director Louis Leterrier Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Mélanie Laurent, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Common, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Michael Kelley, Elias Koteas Screenplay Ed Solomon, Boaz Yakin, Edward Ricourt Now You See Me is the kind of trick that shows you how its done while its setting you up for the next trick. Four magicians (Eisenberg, Fisher, Harrelson and Franco)…
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The World’s End: Is a bit of a leap from a pub crawl
The World’s End Director Edgar Wright Starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Paddy Considine, Martin Freeman, Eddie Marsan, Rosamund Pike, Pierce Brosnan Written by Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg British comedy is often overrated, in the same way that France gets too much credit in the romance department. There are three citizens of the U.K. that help bridge the gap between how funny they…
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The Great Gatsby: His count of enchanted objects had diminished by one…
The Great Gatsby – 2013 Director Baz Luhrmann Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, Isla Fisher, Jason Clarke Screenplay by Luhrmann and Craig Pearce based on the book by F. Scott Fitzgerald “It was all for her. The house. The parties. Everything.” Daisy is his Rosebud. But she’s so much less. The moment his heart was fulfilled was the moment that…
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Forgotten Gem: Elmore Leonard’s Out of Sight – Made of stars
Out of Sight – 1998 Directed by Steven Soderbergh Starring George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Ving Rhames, Steve Zahn, Dennis Farina, Don Cheadle, Albert Brooks, Samuel L. Jackson, Luis Guzman, Isaiah Washington, Catherine Keener, Nancy Allen, Viola Davis, Michael Keaton Screenplay by Scott Frank, based on the novel by Elmore Leonard There was a time, before I was married, when…
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At Any Price: A patent on life
At Any Price – 2012 Director Ramin Bahrani Starring Zac Efron, Dennis Quaid, Heather Graham, Kim Dickens, Clancy Brown, Red West, Maika Monroe Screenplay by Bahrani and Hallie Elizabeth Newton Things I don’t mind seeing: Any movie introducing the debate about GMO seeds. An actor attempting to move forward in their profession. Films about the difficulties involved…
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Pain & Gain: Meat
Pain & Gain – 2013 Director Michael Bay Starring Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Mackie, Tony Shalhoub, Ed Harris Screenplay Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely based on the book by Pete Collins Let’s not get down to the nitty-gritty on this. No one will benefit from knowing whether the events in the movie are true or not. What is remarkable is the…
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Forgotten Gem: Sayles’ Passion Fish takes us for longing
Passion Fish – 1992 Written and Directed by John Sayles Starring Mary McDonnell, Alfre Woodard, David Strathairn, Angela Bassett, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Leo Burmester, Lenore Banks, John Henry Redwood “White trash?” said Chantrelle. “It’s more complicated than that…” Mary-Alice replied. There is a mid-way through Passion Fish where Mary-Alice (McDonnell) sees her “more complicated than that” crush Rennie…
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Forgotten Gem: Sayles’ Casa de los Babys has something to show
Casa de los Babys – 2003 Written and Directed by John Sayles Starring Daryl Hannah, Marcia Gray Harden, Mary Steenburgen, Lili Taylor, Susan Lynch, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Rita Moreno, Martha Higareda, Vanessa Martinez There is a point in Casa de los Babys that is startlingly different than most anything else that he has portrayed before. A somewhat muted…
Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews 