Actors are always complaining that there just are not enough good scripts floating around. Instead of complaining, actors Matt Damon (The Rainmaker) and Ben Affleck (Chasing Amy) wrote a screenplay for themselves. Read the rest of this entry »

Steeped in centuries of tradition and an honest family dynamic rarely seen within the conventional movie system, “Whale Rider” is an emotionally satisfying coming-of-age tale that skillfully peels away the layers of Hollywood artifice to expose a reality that touches the heart, brings a smile to your lips and a tear to your eyes. There, I’ve said it. Real men do cry, especially when their soul has been affected by this story concerning the unspoken bond between a young girl and her distant grandfather. Read the rest of this entry »

When the city of Chicago faces a tough hostage situation, they call in Danny Roman. Roman is the best at what he does, and proves it during an intense opening standoff involving a deranged, disgruntled husband holding his daughter hostage. Read the rest of this entry »

Cenobites. No, they’re not a Millennium snack treat, but denizens of Hell. And they’re really ticked off in this sequel to the popular Clive Barker horror thriller “Hellraiser.” I can’t blame them. I mean, first they’re summoned from their slimy slumber by Frank, who figures out the key to a Chinese puzzle box that opens another dimension. Read the rest of this entry »

As the residents of the small British village sleep, they rest comfortably knowing their prized vegetables will be safe until the annual Giant Vegetable Competition. The villagers trust Anti-Pesto, the humane pest removal service offered by congenial inventor Wallace (voice of Peter Sallis) and his silent, trusty dog friend Gromit. Read the rest of this entry »

There are seven levels of movie hell, seven being the worst. Level one is home to grand failures, big movies that delivered very little. Level seven is home to movies starring pop divas and American Idol finalist, like Mariah Carey’s “Glitter” and “From Justin to Kelly.” Read the rest of this entry »

Somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, lying one-thousand feet at the bottom of the surface, lies an alien spacecraft. Covered in centuries of coral, the half-mile long ship has laid quiet, undisturbed. All that changes in director Barry Levinson’s big-screen pass on yet another of Michael Crichton’s page-turners. Read the rest of this entry »

Sweet-natured and unassuming, “Smiling Fish & Goat on Fire” is ultimately self-serving. What begins as an engaging story about two brothers on the cusp of life changing decisions ends up being nothing more than another low-budget calling card to the movie industry. Read the rest of this entry »

I was thinking about undergoing a frontal lobotomy this weekend. Instead, I went to a matinee showing of “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle.” Same thing. Not only did I save a butt-load of money, the operation only took an hour-and-a-half and didn’t leave a visible scar. Anyone thinking about undergoing a similar experience this weekend might want to take along their own anesthesiologist, because even though the film will leave you feeling numb, it won’t stop the lingering pain. Read the rest of this entry »

Occasionally the marriage between actor and role can make an okay film good, and a good film great. This cinematic symbiosis is on display in “Willard,” the creepy remake of the 1971 horror thriller about a human doormat and his relationship with a rodent. Originally played by Bruce Davison, who makes a blink-or-you’ll-miss-him cameo in the remake, “Willard” was a character you could root for, a misunderstood young man who finds companionship with a horde of rats. Read the rest of this entry »