In this his eighth feature film, Quentin Tarantino has made it very clear what he’s all about. The auteur’s hallmarks litter the frames of “Django Unchained,” the closest he’s come to making a film in the style of his favorite genre (arguably, but it’s not really a contest) — the Spaghetti Western.
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Les Misérables Review
There are few musicals like “Les Misérables,” an operetta lined with incredible music from start to finish, with a story so grand and tremendous that somehow manages to fit on a Broadway (or West End) stage.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Review
Twisting history can be amusing and in some cases even insightful. Seth Grahame-Smith aimed for both with his book, “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,” but his film version doesn’t exactly achieve the balancing act.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Review
By the time the fourth installment rolls around in any movie franchise (be it a continuation, prequel or even a spin-off in some cases), you have to know which side of the fence you’re on. Either you receive personal gratification experiencing the characters, lore and various other qualities of that cinematic world and identify as […]
Golden Globes 2013 Nominations
Although its esteem has wained in recent years as the Oscar precursor, the 70th Annual Golden Globes are happening on Jan. 13. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are co-hosting (both were nominated for their respective NBC comedies) and would you look at that, no abominable nomination choices. None of the movies or people nominated are […]
Oscar Watch: ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ Hunting Down Best Picture in a Crowded Race
It’s been a great year for movies, so it’s been predicted (ironically) that we’d have a rather unpredictable Oscar season. But one film is threatening to change all that. With Best Picture awards from the New York Film Critics Circle, National Board of Review, Boston Society of Film Critics, New York Film Critics Online and […]
Silver Linings Playbook Review
Look around Hollywood and you get the feeling that the art of the romance movie is either dying or has been dead for some time. Romance as a genre term has practically been replaced by the phrase “rom-com,” and the only alternatives are gooey teen-geared fare (“Twilight” or a Nicholas Sparks adaptation) or the occasional […]
Lincoln Review
Abraham Lincoln. Steven Spielberg. Daniel Day-Lewis. Any of these words alone commands a lot of attention and respect; put them together, and you have an almost inconceivable amount of reverence. “Lincoln” is reminiscent of the powerhouse Oscar biopics of the ‘90s and early 2000s, but unlike other recent biopics, it mostly measures up to the […]
The Sessions Review
Disabled people having sex isn’t a topic so much tiptoed around as completely ignored by — well, pretty much everyone. So at the very least, Ben Lewin’s “The Sessions” has to be applauded for shattering taboos. With an outstanding performance from John Hawkes and a script that takes a brazen (i.e. open) approach to sex, […]
Magic Mike Review
Steven Soderbergh and a movie about male dancers are two things most commonly found on opposite sides of a video store (or completely different categories on your Netflix recommendations, if we’re being modern), but behold “Magic Mike,” a film that is both, and a film that works surprisingly well.
The Raid: Redemption Review
The martial arts showcase movie, completely pure and unapologetic, has become a lost genre it seems. If nothing else, director Gareth Evans uses “The Raid: Redemption” to bring pencak silat to audiences all over the world in this manner, but he also manages to create an action movie that satisfyingly merges B-movie violence with a […]
Holiday Movie Preview 2012: Drama
Drama: the bread and butter of the holidays. The buzz builds to fever pitch for possible Oscar contenders as adults looking for an easy way to spend time around Thanksgiving and Christmas scout out what they’ve heard is supposed to be excellent. Well, here are the highlights and a breakdown of which are the good […]
Holiday Movie Preview 2012: Action & Thrillers
Action shines in the summer time, but there’s usually one ultra-reliable action offering during the Holidays. This year an old friend returns to transport us back to a very reliable place in movie history and a reliable filmmaker brings us a hell of an adult genre offering. Red Dawn (Nov. 21) Directed by Dan […]
Holiday Movie Preview 2012: Animation & Family
For younger families, it’s slightly slim pickings this holidays season. Only one kids’ movie comes out after Thanksgiving, so the chances you’ll see at least two of these if you live with or spend lots of time with children is very high.
Skyfall Review
James Bond has been going strong for 50 years on the big screen, but it has taken until this most recent incarnation starring Daniel Craig for anyone in control of this enduring franchise to realize that giving Bond a soul could be a good thing. Frankly, “Skyfall” gets personal — and it’s about time.