Reitman finds himself on the ascent
The Oscar-nominated director further hones his comedic ability with Up in the Air.
‘Red Cliff’ presents a return to form for acclaimed director
When word got out that John Woo was making a historical war film, few knew what to expect. An army of white doves? Close-quarter crossbow shootouts? Instead, the director of Hong Kong gangster classics such as Hard Boiled delivers an intense retelling of The Battle of Red Cliffs in ancient China. Though not a perfect […]
Instead of new tricks, ‘Dogs’ plays dead
In comedy, the rule of three proposes that things become funnier if they occur three times. After two successive gags involving golf balls to the groin, one can only wonder if a third would have made any difference. Old Dogs, which opened Nov. 25, fails to learn any new tricks. The film centers upon Dan […]
Filmmaker relives his ‘Hell’-ish experiences in latest book
Matthew Howe uses his painful past for comedic effect in the nonfiction novel Film Is Hell.
Unlike Keitel, Cage makes being ‘Bad’ look good
Nicolas Cage’s character in 'Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call' New Orleans sheds any sympathy once evoked by 'Harvey Keitel' in 1992.
Adaptation takes viewer down a harrowing ‘Road’
Often quoted and always relevant whenever the apocalypse enters a discussion, T.S. Eliot wrote in The Hollow Men: “This is the way the world ends/not with a bang, but a whimper.” As seen in the success of Roland Emmerich’s eardrum-shattering 2012, people love a good world-destroying bang. The Road, John Hillcoat’s thrilling, faithful adaptation of […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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.