If you thought I had no clue in the race for animated and live-action short films, let us move on to the documentary films, where my uncertainty trumps all. Many of these films are available on Netflix Instant Play, but I have yet to dive in — for shame. That certainly does not do how […]

Give Rodrigo Cortés credit: movie aside, few people could stand the thought of 90 minutes in a box with Ryan Reynolds. Not to jab at Reynolds’ talent, but most of his roles wear thin during the course of a movie and you can actually empathize with Paul Conroy. A Michigan- based truck driver, he’s on […]

In order to complete my predictions, I have to dive into these categories of live and animated shorts, and more often than not I cannot access them online. So, these are all researched guesses at best. If the 2011 Oscar Shorts are playing near you, I suggest you check it out if you’re more curious. […]

The box office should have another solid weekend with three new releases that cater to different audiences than last week’s releases, plus the four-day President’s Day weekend. Opening today is teen-centered alien flick “I Am Number Four,” action comedy three-quel “Big Mommas” and Liam Neeson’s latest ass-kicking venture, “Unknown.”

At last — the return of Trailer Wednesday. We’ve had a really slow beginning to 2011 as far as major movie trailers go. There have been some great ones or some interesting second trailers or TV spots, but nothing totally new. Until now, thanks to the sought-after talents of comedian Russell Brand.

Marc Webb’s now-filming reboot of Marvel’s beloved web-slinger has an official title. A throwback to the original comic, the movie will formally be called “The Amazing Spider-Man.” With the announcement Columbia Pictures has provided a new image of the full costume in action, though with Photoshop work.

This weekend’s expected box-office surge was led by Adam Sandler. The “romantic” comedy “Just Go With It,” despite a lashing from critics, made a respectable $30 million for Happy Madison and just enough to edge Justin Bieber for No. 1.

It all starts with the word on the page, and this year’s screenplays in both the original and adapted categories are more impressive than usual. We have an other-worldly imaginative script in “Inception” and a gritty real-life portrayal of rural Missouri in “Winter’s Bone.” The coolest part is that without the original/adapted distinction, you might […]

Few films can brag that they were adapted from a fake grindhouse movie trailer, which is exactly what makes “Machete” special. Few filmmakers can pull off an exploitation flick quite like Robert Rodriguez and although “Machete” will never be a cult classic, Rodriguez is to thank for helping popularize this often laughed-at sub-genre. There are […]

The latest modern film to play swords-and-sandals dress-up is “The Eagle,” starring Channing “Pretty Boy” Tatum, a name I bestowed upon him having played “Pretty Boy” Floyd in Michael Mann’s “Public Enemies” back in 2008, albeit a part of no significance. I suppose when they coined the term “hunk,” no one expected it to apply […]

Finally, a weekend with a lot to talk about. Four very different offerings are vying for Valentine’s Day attention even though the holiday falls on a Monday this year. Adam Sandler’s “Just Go With It” will look to capture adults and couples, the Justin Bieber concert documentary will take aim at the tweens, “Gnomeo and […]

Who says your trailer has to debut during the Super Bowl? 20th Century Fox has finally released the trailer for this summer’s “X-Men: First Class” starring James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender as a young Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr (Magneto). The film was directed by Matthew Vaughn and produced in part by original “X-Men” director […]

On to the musical categories of the 2011 Oscars. 2010 turned out to be a great year for music in film. The Best Score categories has names both familiar and new and even new/familiar in the fact that Trent Reznor represents the growing trend to bring in musicians known best outside of the film community […]

One-time Woody Allen muse Mia Farrow turned 66 today. As far as my Allen movie-watching goes, my latest ventures have been in the ’80s. I’m finding more and more that I like this era of Woody. “Broadway Danny Rose,” other than featuring Woody Allen as a neurotic character attached to the entertainment industry in some […]

I conclude the “technical portion” of my Oscar predictions with these two categories, perhaps the most important of all the behind-the-scenes work done on a film. Both the editor and cinematographer have a direct impact on the final product, no matter what the director says or does. As you might expect, directors don’t like trusting […]