Herzog, Cage go off the deep end in ‘Lieutenant’
Take an eccentric director, add an eccentric star, and what’s the outcome?
A truly bizarre film.
In Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, the combination of Werner Herzog’s zany, metaphor-rich directing and Nicolas Cage’s over-exaggerated characterization produces a ludicrous yet somewhat fascinating film that both entices and befuddles the audience.
Love or hate him, Cage is a [...]
Read the rest of this article »Comedy highlights quirky ensemble cast
Writer, director and producer Sebastian Gutierrez adds indie comedy to his long résumé of thriller and horror films with Women in Trouble.
Premiered at the 2009 South by Southwest Film Festival, Women in Trouble, which was shot in only 12 days, captures the modern dilemmas of women in an almost satirical manner. Gutierrez uses the unrealistic [...]
Read the rest of this article »Political thriller builds to a suspenseful ‘Endgame’
In South Africa, a race is under oppression, lashing out violently against the harsh constraints placed upon it. In the midst of these clashing sides, one man is drawn into the events. These are the ingredients for one of the year’s most compelling films.
No, not District 9. I’m talking about Endgame.
The latest film from Pete [...]
Read the rest of this article »Filmmakers focus on high school truths in ‘Dare’
Although stereotypes and reputations can predetermine that often undesirable place, Dare shows us that, by doing something you’re afraid of, you can find your way out.
Read the rest of this article »Generic rom-com ‘Hurts’ from title to characters
Considered an indie romantic comedy, director Barra Grant’s Love Hurts is painful viewing for audience members seeking a sappy indulgence. The only tears a movie watcher might shed are from laughter.
The movie stars British actor Richard E. Grant as Ben Bingham, an ear, nose and throat doctor who is oblivious to how his beautiful, nature-loving [...]
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Oh my God, where did this film go wrong?
British native Peter Rodger’s documentary was advertised as a valiant attempt to define God in such a way that would pervade religious barriers and promote peace. The actual product, however, is a sloppy, cliché film by a novice director.
Rodger and his two-man crew traveled to the United [...]
Read the rest of this article »Filmmakers didn’t ‘Dare’ sacrifice realism
Director Adam Salky and screenwriter David Brind focused on character and emotion to maintain the film’s naturalistic quality.
Read the rest of this article »Believe the hype: Sundance winner is a ‘Precious’ gem
When a small independent film achieves mainstream success through several festival wins and early critical praise, a tidal wave of backlash is almost inevitable.
Usually, the innocent underdog is tossed on a pedestal so fast that Oscar purists are quick to call sabotage before the hype can smother anybody else. Slap the names Oprah Winfrey and [...]
Read the rest of this article »New releases: This week’s DVDs in review
Up Rating: PG Length: 96 min. Now available
When film critics and audiences alike believed no animated film could top the incredibly innovative and heartfelt WALL-E, Pixar Animation Studios upped the stakes — again — with Up, the colorful, slightly more mature tale of misanthropic 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen (voiced by Edward Asner).
A former balloon salesman left alone an [...]
Read the rest of this article »‘Goats’ driven by bleating hearts, not substance
An army general is sitting at his desk, staring intensely at the wall. He gets up, runs toward the wall and, believing he will easily go through it, hits the wall and falls onto the ground, disappointed.
He has the skills — or at least he thinks he does — of The Men Who Stare at [...]
Read the rest of this article »Do you think it is reasonable to ban potential protestors at the Horowitz event? Story >
Total Voters: 66
Loading ...As the semester winds down, members of the Panhellenic and Intrafraternity councils have begun preparing ...
Before they start filling in scantron sheets for their final exams, students in departments across ...
In an effort to educate students about the various facets of health care reform, a ...
When President Steven B. Sample steps down in August, he’ll undoubtedly be remembered for his ...
The Daily Trojan features Classified advertising in each day's edition. Here you can read, search, ...
The No. 15 USC women’s volleyball team faces a familiar foe this weekend: the road. Having ...
Do you think it is reasonable to ban potential protestors at the Horowitz event? Story >
Total Voters: 66
Loading ...Everyone looking forward to blowing off some pre-finals steam by sprinting through campus wearing very little clothing will have to wait another semester. This semester, three ...
The Los Angeles Police Department took a slightly different approach to Wednesday’s traffic enforcement operation near USC’s campus than it took during its September effort. At ...
Student leaders from across campus met under the Undergraduate Student Government banner Wednesday night at USG’s first Council of Presidents, an event bringing together executive ...
For America’s largest universities, achieving a nutritiously balanced campus is a lot harder than it looks. With each student comes a different set of eating ...
Situated two miles away from the heart of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County and USC County Hospital serves a population of about 1.2 million ...
At high noon on Trousdale Parkway, the walkway is choked by the ritual lunch rush. Among the maze of legs slides a pair of wheels ...
Here is an important message most women in America have heard for the majority of their lives: Get mammograms every one to two years in ...
With Gov. Schwarzenegger’s second term about to wrap up, several names have begun to surface as his possible replacement, with California Attorney General Jerry Brown ...
Can you believe it’s been one year? A full 365 days! Fifty-two weeks! Two seasons of G’s to Gents! Yes, believe it or not, an entire year has passed ...
Last month, “Responsible Travel” aborted its nine-year initiative allowing airplane passengers to purchase carbon offsets to compensate for jet fuel emissions — a program that ...
Right of way I was excited to see the issue of pedestrian safety and traffic code infringement make front-page news on Wednesday, Nov. 18. The article ...
Today, many student cyclists will dismount and walk their bikes through the two major intersections along Jefferson Boulevard, under the threat of a ticket. But tomorrow, ...
More than three years ago, the newest USC men’s water polo team members began their careers with a 10-4 victory over UC Irvine at McDonald’s ...
The senior had been waiting his whole life for this moment. Ever since his high school football team lost in the state championship last year, the ...
Kevin O’Neill was content with his debut but wouldn’t stand for his team’s imperfections. The new head coach of USC men’s basketball made that message loud ...
Coming into the third game of the season, sophomore Ashley Corral was charged with the difficult task of leading the USC women’s basketball team to ...
Bye weeks present USC with an opportunity to get healthy, and this one is coming at just the right time. Four key USC players sat out ...
Nothing compares to the challenge facing coach Pete Carroll right now. Not preparing for an undefeated Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. Not getting ready to face ...
This story might not be true, but it’s alleged that during the filming of Fitzcarraldo in 1982, the great yet insane Polish actor Klaus Kinski, ...
Few bands have the extensive résumé and indie credibility of Swedish pop-rock group Peter Bjorn and John. Even fewer bands in the current music industry ...
Take an eccentric director, add an eccentric star, and what’s the outcome? A truly bizarre film. In Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, the combination of ...
“Have you eaten yet?” is the way the Chinese greet each other, and that is the way Gloria B (Esther Scott) is greeted by Richie ...
Writer, director and producer Sebastian Gutierrez adds indie comedy to his long résumé of thriller and horror films with Women in Trouble. Premiered at the 2009 ...
Hidden in the grid of Downtown Los Angeles, the LA Flower District boasts the title of largest flower wholesale district in the country. Comprised of ...
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