Revolutionary Road Another Hit for DiCaprio and Winslet?

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Paramount, Adaptation, Drama, Romance, New Releases, Theatrical Reviews

Eleven years ago, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet made film history in Titanic - truly, an on-screen pairing even more epic than Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. With Revolutionary Road, the two are reunited.

But despite this star power, many critics aren’t raving about Revolutionary Road. MSNBC called the flick “another sinking ship,” to poke a little fun at the Titanic history of this on-screen couple. The same review goes on to call the movie a “dreary film adaptation” and says both main characters are “thoroughly mediocre, uninteresting people.”

The Associated Press calls the film “brutally tedious,” hardly high praise. Many reviewers are comparing the subject matter of the film to a watered-down version of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and the look of the piece to TV series Mad Men.

Somewhere in the middle of it all are DiCaprio and Winslet, whom - everyone seems to agree - both delivered great performances. If nothing else, the film is worthwhile for these two alone. And not all the reviews are negative - Variety calls the flick “constantly engrossing.”

That’s hopeful, right?

Read More | MSNBC

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Friends, Fun and Fashion: Sex and the City Movie Review

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: New Line, Romance, Comedy, Box Office, New Releases, Theatrical Reviews

I awoke on Friday feeling energized, excited and expectant, one thought drumming through my head: today is the day. A special outfit, picked out two days in advance, hung at the front of my closet. The tickets to the show were sitting securely in my purse. I could almost feel an electric buzz in the air as I thought to myself, in just a few hours I’ll be seeing the Sex and the City movie. If I could stand the suspense long enough.

I set my hair early, wrapping my head in a green bandana so no one could see my curlers. I started making confirmation calls at four in the afternoon (I was going to leave my apartment at eight), and by the time the clock struck five I was sitting on the couch with three bags of make-up spread around me. For this special opening night, I was leaving absolutely nothing to chance.

Click to continue reading Friends, Fun and Fashion: Sex and the City Movie Review

Read More | HBO

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Review: Young@Heart

Posted by Johnny Mercedes Categories: Fox Searchlight, Adaptation, Documentary, Drama, Music, New Releases, Upcoming Releases, Theatrical Reviews

Since 1982, the Young@Heart chorus, with members averaging an age of eighty, has wowed audiences with unique and entertaining interpretations of classic punk and rock songs.

Director Stephen Walker follows the geriatric troupe as they prepare for one of their biggest and most challenging undertakings: the Alive and Well tour. The film delves into the personal lives of key chorus members, spotlights group leader Bob Cilman, and attempts to explain the appeal of watching elderly people singing your favorite songs. The appeal doesn’t need much explaining, however—Young@Heart touts some of the most fascinating people you’re likely to find, and, if you have any doubts as to whether you’ll enjoy the film (like I did), by the end you’ll be wondering why you’ve never heard of these idiosyncratic octogenarians.

Read the full review after the jump.

Click to continue reading Review: Young@Heart

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FilmCrunch 067: Hairspray, Chuck & Larry, Premonition reviewed

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: MGM, New Line, Universal, Adaptation, Drama, Musicals, Period, Science Fiction, Comedy, Thrillers, DVD Reviews, Full Episodes, Theatrical Reviews, Videocasts

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In this episode of FilmCrunch, Veronica Santiago and Neil Estep review Hairspray, along with the DVD release of Premonition. Neil also hits us with a 60 second review of I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. All that, plus your typical dose of hilarity, in this episode.

Now we want to hear from you - hit the forums and let us know what you think, what you want us to watch next, and any other recommendations you have for the show.

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Interview With Martin McDonagh and Colin Farrell of ‘In Bruges’

Posted by Johnny Mercedes Categories: FOCUS, Action, Adventure, Drama, Foreign, Independent, Comedy, Filmmaking, New Releases, Upcoming Releases, Theatrical Reviews

Last week, FilmCrunch had the opportunity to interview Martin McDonagh and Colin Farrell, director and star of the upcoming film In Bruges.

Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) are two hitmen sent to the Belgian city of Bruges after a botched job in London. They’ve been told by their boss, Harry (Ralph Fiennes), to do some sight-seeing, lie low and await further instruction. But the city, full of ancient architecture and historical landmarks, can’t satiate Ray and his need for distraction. The men venture out and soon discover that beneath the city’s quaint exterior lies a strange and disturbing underbelly, a surreal setting that causes them to begin to question life and death, right and wrong, and the purpose behind their little “vacation.”

For more about the film, visit the official site or read the FilmCrunch review.

Click to continue reading Interview With Martin McDonagh and Colin Farrell of ‘In Bruges’

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Review: In Bruges

Posted by Johnny Mercedes Categories: FOCUS, Action, Adventure, Drama, Foreign, Independent, Comedy, New Releases, Upcoming Releases, Theatrical Reviews

I love when I come into a film having preconceptions, and they are totally obliterated and replaced with the feeling that I’ve found something unique, something I was unable to foresee. That may seem a bit dramatic—In Bruges is, after all, a fairly linear story. But writer/director Martin McDonagh injects a dark, reflective tone into what could’ve easily been a talk-‘em-up, shoot-‘em-up Guy Ritchie film; those who’ve seen the trailer know what I mean. And while Ritchie films are appealing in their own right, In Bruges deviates significantly, exhibiting characters who somehow transcend their quick wit and hardened exteriors to reveal—much like the city itself—great history and depth.

Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) are two hitmen sent to the Belgian city of Bruges after a botched job in London. They’ve been told by their boss, Harry (Ralph Fiennes), to do some sight-seeing, lie low and await further instruction. But the city, full of ancient architecture and historical landmarks, can’t satiate Ray and his need for distraction. The job-gone-wrong had been Ray’s first assignment as hitman, but the unspeakable mess left in London is but a slight snag for long-timer Ken, numb to the violence of his profession.

Check out the FilmCrunch interview with Martin McDonagh and Colin Farrell.

Click to continue reading Review: In Bruges

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Review: ‘Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street’

Posted by David Onda Categories: DreamWorks, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Classics, Drama, Horror, Musicals, Period, Thrillers, New Releases, Theatrical Reviews

I just got back from the midnight showing of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Previously, I had seen the original Broadway cast perform this show via video cassette tape in my “History of Theater” class. I also saw a very stripped down version of the show performed by a national touring cast without sets or costumes. This film was every bit as good visually, musically and narratively as either one of those shows. For those of you who are unaware of the plot, let me catch you up.

Benjamin Barker (Johnny Depp) is a happily married man with a beautiful yellow-haired wife and a bouncing bay girl living in ye olde London. A man by the name of Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman) takes a liking to Barker’s wife and frames him for a crime which he is convicted and exiled for. Upon Barker’s return to London years later, he finds that his wife is dead and his little girl is being held hostage by the evil Turpin. Hell bent on revenge, and now going by the name Sweeney Todd, Barker takes up residence above Mrs. Lovett’s (Helena Bonham Carter) Meat Pie shop. There, the trained barber kills his customers in hopes that one day it will be the Judge’s turn for a shave.

Oh yeah, and the bodies get baked into the pies.

Click to continue reading Review: ‘Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street’

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‘The Golden Compass’ vs. Religion: An Opinion

Posted by David Onda Categories: New Line, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Religious, Science Fiction, Thrillers, Books, New Releases, Theatrical Reviews

We saw The Golden Compass this weekend. I’m a guy who loves movies. And as such, I set out Friday night to go see what was supposed to be one of the biggest blockbusters of the holiday season. I saw The Golden Compass despite negative critical response and Catholic protests and without reading any of the three Philip Pullman books off which the film is based. The film was dazzling, imaginative and certainly innovative. After having seen the movie I checked out the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly (as well as a few anti-Compass sentiments online) and simply could not believe the garbage I was hearing.

I saw the movie. I watched the fuzzy talking animals. And I tried, with little success, to connect the dots and see how this film was so evil. I tried to pick out the atheistic sentiments. And I tried - really, really tried - to put myself in the Catholic League’s shoes. And honestly - what is the big freakin’ deal?

Ok, I get it - Philip Pullman isn’t exactly going to win “Christian Of The Year.” The allegory within his His Dark Materials trilogy is not exactly what one might call “God friendly.” But why, in a country based on the principals of religious freedom, is this man, this movie, and everyone behind it, being vilified? I’ve read the arguments and I understand what they are saying, but for the life of me (and with all personal religious beliefs set aside),  I can’t understand how this one film is going to be detrimental to society?

Click to continue reading ‘The Golden Compass’ vs. Religion: An Opinion

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FilmCrunch 066: Rescue Dawn, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, The Astronaut Farmer

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: MGM, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Period, Sequels, Comedy, DVD Reviews, Full Episodes, Theatrical Reviews, Videocasts

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Veronica Santiago and Neil Estep are back with more FilmCrunch video goodness, this time focusing on the theatrical releases of Rescue Dawn and the DVD release of The Astronaut Farmer. Veronica also checks in with her review of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. This episode kicks off with Veronica and Neil naming what they chose as their most inspirational movies.

Now we want to hear from you - hit the forums and let us know what you think, what you want us to watch next, and any other recommendations you have for the show.

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‘Magorium’ Reviews Take the Wonder out of Hoffman Flick

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: 20th Century Fox, Family, Casting, Celeb News, New Releases, Theatrical Reviews

The early reviews are in, and the results for Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium aren’t good. A single flick in a long line of holiday movies, Magorium’s has a promising cast and offers enchanting special effects, but the reviewers don’t like Dustin Hoffman’s hair, on-screen persona, or choice in movie roles.

Hoffman plays the 243-year-old Mr. Magorium, the owner/operator of an enchanted toy shop. Okay, sounds all right so far. Enter Natalie Portman, who plays a self-effacing young woman without a lot of confidence. Sure, that’s believable. The magical toys dance around the shop, the children delight in the sights and sounds of the Emporium, and the plot of the movie reveals itself pretty early on. Magorium is retiring and wants to turn the shop over to his assistant, lovely Portman. That’s it. That’s the plot. The whole movie is about whether or not Portman’s character will be able to fill Magorium’s wacky, wild shoes. Then, of course, there are the effects of the dancing toys. Take all that, and you have Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, which comes to theaters this weekend.

Entertainment Weekly called the movie “really, really bad.” I think that about sums it up. 

Read More | CNN

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