Category: Movie Reviews
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Dear John is an end to the relationship between the heart and the brain
Dear John Director – Lasse Hallström Starring – Channing Tatum, Amanda Seyfried, Richard Jenkins, Henry Thomas Lasse Hallström directed 26 music videos by the pop band, ABBA. Amanda Seyfried starred in the wildly successful movie version of the ABBA-inspired Mamma Mia! One would deem this combination of talents a natural progression for each. The end…
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Scorcese has an off night with Shutter Island
Shutter Island Director – Martin Scorcese Starring – Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Patricia Clarkson, Michelle Williams There is a scene almost 3/4 through Shutter Island where a bunch of Nazis who are being walked in a line by U.S. infantry and one of the prisoners breaks ranks and makes a run for it.…
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Del Toro’s The Wolfman – The Delays Were for Good Reason
The Wolfman Director Joe Johnston Starring Benecio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, Hugo Weaving Seven directors were attached to this film, since it was announced to be made in March 2006. Only two were seriously considered, but with talent of the likes of Frank Darabont and Martin Campbell left on the sidelines, one wonders…
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So…Alice is Wonderful; Depp…not so much
Alice in Wonderland Director: Tim Burton Starring Mia Wasikowska, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Crispin Glover, Michael Sheen, Johnny Depp, Alan Rickman There was the book, Alice in Wonderland. This movie isn’t about that, so much. Then there was the book, Through The Looking Glass, and, What Alice Found There. This movie isn’t about that,…
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Mel Gibson is on the Edge of Darkness
Director: Martin Campbell Starring: Mel Gibson, Ray Winstone, Danny Huston Screenplay by: William Monahan, Andrew Bovell, Troy Kennedy Martin adapted from Martin’s BBC Series Mel Gibson has taken a lot of hits in the last five years. Not all of it unwarranted, but most of it has been. His big problem, he is a Christian,…
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The Men Who Stare At Goats – The Title Is Enough
Director: Grant Heslov Cast: George Clooney, Jeff Bridges, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey “It wasn’t the Dim Mak that was killing Lyn. And it wasn’t the cancer. He was dying of a broken heart. And maybe, the cancer as well.” This is, perhaps, George Clooney’s most serious role yet. Much like Syriana’s Bob Barnes, Lyn Cassady…
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Legion brings us to the end of humanity…in a diner
Director: Scott Stewart Cast: Paul Bettany, Lucas Black, Charles S. Dutton, Tyrese Gibson, Adrianne Palicki, Kate Walsh, Dennis Quaid, Kevin Durand Written by: Peter Schink and Stewart Rule #1527 – Lucas Black is a good actor that nobody knows. Rule #1616- Never trust a diner that thinks a rare steak means still completely raw. Rule…
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Sherlock Holmes: No S#!t, But Close
Director: Guy Ritchie Cast: Robert Downey, Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong Guy Ritchie’s specialty is slow motion fight scenes. Sherlock Holmes’ specialty is deductive reasoning. Downey’s specialty is acting. Put them all together, you have Sherlock Holmes as a professional boxer who solves mysteries while acting convincingly. I must admit to being less…
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Couples Retreat is only an apostrophe away from Paradise
Director: Peter Billingsley Starring: Vince Vaughn, Malin Akerman, Jason Bateman, Kristen Bell, Jon Favreau, Kristin Davis, Faizon Love, Tasha Smith About 10 years ago, I saw the movie Deep Blue Sea with the reasonable expectation that I was going to see one of my favorite actors and the film’s main stars, Samuel L. Jackson, kick…
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The Fourth Kind…of a waste of time
Director: Olatunde Osunsanmi Starring: Milla Jovovich, Elias Koteas, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Will Patton, Charlotte Milchard In a good English language movie, such as A Perfect Getaway, Milla Jovovich’s acting is transparent. She does not add to the movie, does not distract, and lets the professionals carry the movie. In this way, she is much like Penelope Cruz.…
Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews 