Category: 4 Stars
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CPE and Em: The Nativity Story offers a view of grace in dark times
The Nativity Story – 2006 Directed by Catherine Hardwicke Starring Keshia Castle-Hughes, Oscar Isaac, Ciarán Hinds, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Stanley Townshend, Shaun Toub, Alessandro Giuggioli, Hiam Abbass, Alexander Siddig, Eriq Ebouaney, Stefan Kalipha, Nadim Sawalha Much of the news surrounding The Nativity Story had to do with the personal drama of then 16-year-old Keshia Castle-Hughes announcing that she pregnant during the publicity tour of the…
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The Thing is a good compliment to the classic
The Thing – 2011 Directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Ulrich Thomsen, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Eric Christian Olsen, Jørgen Langhelle Written by Eric Heisserer So the word has it that this movie sucked. The box office receipts seemed to confirm this. Still, being a fan of Joel Edgerton (he of the wonderful move, Warrior) and so…
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50/50 has heart, humor and a healthy outlook on life
50/50 – 2011 Directed by Jonathan Levine Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Anjelica Houston, Bryce Dallas Howard, Serge Houde, Matt Frewer, Philip Baker Hall Written by Will Reiser 50/50 is a story of based upon writer Will Reiser’s bout with cancer, but it accomplishes more than that. As Adam Lerner (Levitt) journeys through his…
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Forgotten Gem: Exotica – Ballad of the sad strip joint
Exotica – 1994 Written and Directed by Atom Egoyan Starring Mia Kirshner, Bruce Greenwood, Elias Koteas, Sarah Polley, Victor Garber, Arsinée Khanjian, Don McKellar “Love The made love in the mountains, they made love in the streams, They made love in the valleys, they made love in their dreams. But when they were finished there was nothing to…
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Midnight in Paris: In which Owen Wilson plays a talkative Surfer Hebrew…
Midnight in Paris – 2011 Written and Directed by Woody Allen Starring Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Tom Hiddelston, Michael Sheen, Corey Stoll, Marian Cotillard, Kathy Bates, Adrian Brody, Léa Seydoux Ernest Hemingway: I think a woman is equal to a man in courage. Have you ever shot a charging lion? Adriana: Never. Ernest Hemingway: Would you…
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Forgotten Gem: The original Total Recall
Total Recall – 1990 Director Paul Verhoven Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone, Rachel Ticotin, Michael Ironside, Ronny Cox Written by Ronald Shusett, Dan O’Bannon & Gary Goldmanbased on the story We Can Remember It For You Wholesale by Philip K. Dick When I found out that they were remaking Total Recall, it occurred to me…
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Forgotten Gem: Skateland: Remember when people responded to tragedy?
Skateland – 2010 Directed by Anthony Burns Starring Shiloh Fernandez, Ashley Greene, Brett Cullen, James LeGros, Taylor Handley, Haley Ramm, Heath Freeman, Melinda McGraw Written by Anthony Burns, Brandon & Heath Freeman, Justin Gilley, Nicholas Jayanty, Victor Moyers There was a point, about 4 hours after I got my first driver’s license, when I got into…
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Cool Papa E Reviews The Mission: Impossible series
Mission: Impossible – 1996 Directed by Brian De Palma Starring Tom Cruise, Emmanuelle Béart, Jon Voight, Kristin Scott Thomas, Emilio Estavez, Jean Reno, Ving Rhames, Vanessa Redgrave, Henry Czerny, Ingeborga Dapkūnaitė Written by David Koepp, Robert Towne Considered at the time to be a blasphemous departure to the original series is now seen as a pretty solid thriller.…
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The Help is better than a pie full
The Help – 2011 Directed by Tate Taylor Starring Viola Davis, Emma Stone, Bryce Dallas Howard, Octavia Spencer, Jessica Chastain, Sissy Spacek, Mike Vogel, Allison Janney, Mary Steenburgen Written by Taylor based on The Help by Kathryn Stockett When thinking of how to view The Help, I think of it in terms of how to…
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Cool Papa E Reviews The Movies of Todd Phillips, backwards
The Hangover, Part II – 2011 Written by Scot Armstrong, Craig Mazin and Todd Phillips Starring Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong, Paul Giamatti Synopsis Second verse, same as the first, only this time it takes place in “Thighland,” Helms character is getting married and his future brother-in-law is the one getting married.…
Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews 