Clik here to view.
“Hall Pass” Doesn’t Pass Muster
This raunchy comedy opens today in in the Triangle area at a multiplex near you: “Hall Pass” (Dirs. Bobby Farrelly & Peter Farrelly, 2011) At a preview screening of this film the audience in the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
“I Am Number Four” At The IMAX
“I Am Number Four” (Dir. D.J. Caruso, 2011) Since its release on February 18th this big budget adaptation of a best selling young adult sci-fi novel has been largely panned by critics (it’s at 30% on...
View ArticleClik here to view.
“Beastly” Is A Burden
“Beastly” (Dir. Daniel Barnz, 2011) Alex Pettyfer all uglied up and nowhere to go in "Beastly" A week ago I had no idea who Alex Pettyfer is. Now I’ve seen 2 movies starring the bed headed pretty boy –...
View ArticleClik here to view.
“Cedar Rapids” Gets Ed Helms Out Of The Office
The cast of "Cedar Rapids" “Cedar Rapids” (Dir. Miguel Arteta, 2011) This new comedy is only playing in Raleigh at the Regal North Hills Stadium 14, and it’s in one of their smallest theaters. That’s a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
“Paul”– For Sci-Fi Geeks By Sci-Fi Geeks
The principle cast of "Paul" (2011) “Paul” (Dir. Greg Mottola, 2011) “Starman” meets “Superbad” in this sci fi comedy that has Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, the comic duo from “Shaun Of The Dead” and “Hot...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Aasif Mandvi Serves Up “Today’s Special”
Aasif Mandvi in "Today's Special" opening today, March 18th, exclusively in the Triangle at the Colony Theater in Raleigh. “Today’s Special” (Dir. David Kaplan, 2009) The Daily Show’s Aasif Mandvi gets...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Sally Hawkins Makes “Made In Dagenham” Almost Worthwhile
Sally Hawkins in "Made In Dagenham" (2010) “Made In Dagenham” (Dir. Nigel Cole, 2010) With her awkward body language and floppy brunette bangs framing a face dominated by an overbite, Sally Hawkins is...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Bradley Cooper Uses 100% Of His Brain in “Limitless”
Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper in "Limitless" - now playing at many Triangle area multiplexes. “Limitless” (Dir. Neil Burger, 2011) “Obviously, I’ve miscalculated a few things” says Bradley Cooper...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Live Review: Goldenboy @ the Casbah in Durham 3/26/11
Goldenboy @ the Casbah, Durham 3/26/11 The best bands play with the same energy and love for song whether they are in front of a sold-out crowd in a coliseum, or a sparsely attended small club. In the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Delightful “Certified Copy” Now Playing At The Colony
William Shimmel and Juliette Binoche in “Certified Copy” “Certified Copy” (Dir. Abbas Kiarostami, 2010) This dialogue driven French drama has been validly compared to “My Dinner With Andre”, and the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
“Source Code” Is Fun But It Has A Major Glitch In It
Jake Gyllenhaal and Vera Farmiga in "Source Code" “Source Code” (Dir. Duncan Jones, 2011) So Jake Gyllenhaall is jarred into consciousness on a Chicago commuter train sitting across from Michelle...
View ArticleClik here to view.
“Even The Rain”: Surviving the Water Wars Cinematically
Luis Tosar and Gael García Bernal in "Even The Rain" (2010). “Even The Rain” (Dir. Icíar Bollaín, 2010) In François Truffaut’s “Day For Night” (1973), the famous French director (playing a fictional...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Paul Giamatti Scores In Another Winner
Paul Giamatti and Alex Shaffer in "Win Win" (2011). “Win Win” (Dir. Thomas McCarthy, 2011) I was a little worried during the first 5 minutes of this comedy drama. Mainly since it starts with a certain...
View ArticleClik here to view.
“Born To Be Wild 3D” At The IMAX
"Born To Be Wild 3D" now playing at the IMAX Theatre At Marbles Kids Museum. “Born To Be Wild 3D” (Dir. David Lickley, 2011) Upfront I have to say that I’m not a fan of the current 3D trend. It gives...
View ArticleClik here to view.
“Arthur” Isn’t Completely Artless, But It Is Annoying
“Arthur” (Dir. Jason Winer, 2011) Russell Brand and Helen Mirren in "Arthur" (2011). The one and only improvement that this remake of the fine but slight 1981 Dudley Moore comedy contains is that rich...
View ArticleClik here to view.
“Your Highness”– A Medieval Misfire With Nary A Laugh In Sight
Natalie Portman, Danny McBride, James Franco, and Zooey Deschanel in "Your Highness" (2011). “Your Highness” (Dir. David Gordon Green, 2011) Sometimes really funny people make really unfunny films....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Run Hanna Run
“Hanna” (Dir. Joe Wright, 2011) Saoirse Ronan in "Hanna" (2011) Little girls kicking ass – we need more of that, right? This movie seems to think so. It introduces Saoirse Ronan as the title...
View ArticleClik here to view.
10 Things I learned at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival 2011
Last weekend I was immersed in non-fiction film at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in and around the Carolina Theater in downtown Durham. You can read my full coverage here. I saw 20 docs...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Of Monks and Terrorists
The cast of "Of Gods and Men" “Of Gods and Men” (Dir. Xavier Beauvois, 2010) The most stirring scene of this immaculately affecting French film involves a group of Trappist monks singing towards a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
As a loser Maid of Honor, Kristen Wiig wins out in “Bridesmaids”
"Bridesmaids" opens today in the Triangle. “Bridesmaids” (Dir. Paul Feig, 2011) On his highly addictive popcast “WTF,” comedian Marc Maron often talks about comic actors that have a grasp on exactly...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Live Review: Acting Legend Al Pacino at DPAC 5/20/11
Al Pacino: A Once in a Lifetime Event I was intrigued, and maybe a little baffled, about the prospect of “An Evening With Al Pacino.” I’ve been a fan for decades, and I love the venue (my wife and I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Live Review: Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers @ DPAC 5/21/11
“Tonight I get to do 2 of my favorite things, comedy and charging people money for music.” – Steve Martin on stage at the Durham Performing Arts Center last Saturday night. One of the warmest audience...
View ArticleClik here to view.
“Bad Teacher” rarely works
Opening today at nearly every multiplex in the Triangle Area: Cameron Diaz in "Bad Teacher" opening today in the Triangle. “Bad Teacher” (Dir. Jake Kasdan, 2011) If you’ve seen the trailer for this...
View ArticleClik here to view.
“Cars 2″: Rotten Tow Mater
"Cars 2" featuring the voices of Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy opens today in the Triangle. “Cars 2″ (Dirs. John Lasseter and Brad Lewis, 2011) “Cars” and it’s new sequel opening today, “Cars 2″,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
“30 Minutes or Less” is funnier for way longer than 30 minutes
Opening today at just about every muliplex in Raleigh and the Triangle area: “30 Minutes or Less” (Dir. Ruben Fleischer, 2011) Jesse Eisenberg and Aziz Ansari in "30 Miuntes or Less" now playing in the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The new “Fright Night” flopped, but it still has teeth
This last weekend, Craig Gillespie’s stylized “Fright Night” remake (in 3D no less) came in at #5 at the box office, meaning that, yeah, it flopped. It’s too bad because it’s a fun film with plenty of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Live Review: Steve Earle and the Dukes and Duchesses @ DPAC 9/17/11
Promo picture for Steve Earle and the Dukes (and Duchesses) 2011 tour. Towards the end of the second set of his extremely entertaining concert at the Durham Performing Arts Center last Saturday night,...
View Article
