Director Martin Scorsese is so well known for his tough gritty crime sagas (“Casino,” “Goodfellas,” “Taxi Driver”) that people seem surprised when he attempts something different. “The Last Temptation of Christ” and “The Age of Innocence” caught a lot of his fans and critics off guard, yet proved he was capable of telling a story without guns and gangsters. Read the rest of this entry »

I’m not sure which is worse: surviving a plane crash in the middle of the Gobi Desert with Giovanni Ribisi; experiencing a renegade propeller enema; or sitting through the remake of Flight of the Phoenix. All equate into a pain in the ass. Read the rest of this entry »

A war is being waged on Earth between heaven and hell, and the unlikely protagonists are a pair of fallen angels played by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Read the rest of this entry »

Like a rabid pit bull in heat, “The Big Lebowski” goes right for the jugular. It’s a ferociously funny comedy that dares to be different. It’s no surprise that this collage of calamity comes from Joel and Ethan Coen, the dynamic duo whose last film was “Fargo.” “The Big Lebowski” harkens back to the brother’s “Raising Arizona,” a wild, free-for-all comedy with a gallery of bizarre characters and dizzying cinematography. Read the rest of this entry »

2000 was a very good year for movies. There was something for everyone, and I’m not talking about the endless, mindless stream of wide releases that infested local cineplex’s over the last twelve months. How refreshing to arrive at the end of the year with enough choices to fill out a top-ten list.

1. ALMOST FAMOUS (DreamWorks)

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One has to be careful when reviewing writer-director Paul Auster’s “Lulu on the Bridge.” The writer of “Smoke” and writer-director of “Blue in the Face” has proven himself a master of intelligent and thoughtful dialogue. Read the rest of this entry »

BROKEN HEARTS CLUB, THE (R)

Engaging comedy-drama about a group of gay friends who find acceptance and tolerance in a West Hollywood bar called “Jack of Broken Hearts.” Timothy Olyphant heads up a terrific cast as Dennis, a 28-year-old photographer who is tiring of the one night stands and bar scene. Read the rest of this entry »

“Amores Perros” begins with a warning, for it’s important to know that no animals were hurt during the making of the film. Usually such a warning comes at the end of the film. The warning is appropriate and necessary. Without it, it would be impossible to enjoy what is definitely one of the most dynamic debuts of a new director in years. Read the rest of this entry »

What started off as a dare by Director Alfred Hitchcock became a cottage industry for Universal Pictures, spawning two theatrical sequels and two made-for-television (cable) efforts. No one did it like Hitchcock, and this 1960 classic proves that he was indeed the “master of suspense.” Audiences flocked to theaters to watch young and innocent Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) battle against inner demons as he ran the now infamous Bates Motel. Read the rest of this entry »

The summer movie season is in full gear, and despite giant lizards and wayward comets, it’s nice to see romance flourish. However, during this period, there is no such thing as a small romantic movie. They have to be bigger than life and feature expensive box office stars if they are to compete with the testosterone temples. Read the rest of this entry »