Early Review for The Dark Knight
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Sequels, Upcoming Releases,
UPDATE: You can find additional reviews from Rolling Stone and The Associated Press here.
Although we still have 3 weeks to go until the premiere of The Dark Knight, Ain’t It Cool News already has an early review of the highly-anticipated sequel.
Here are a few of the highlights from the (spoiler-free) critique:
“The film feels more like a crime drama in a grand city scape than a typical comic book movie.”
“Christian Bale owns this role. He is Bruce Wayne and he is Batman.”
“Heath Ledger’s performance of the Joker is truly one for the books. A man of no remorse or morals who simply wants to see things burn.”
Dying to know more? Read the entire review for yourself here.
The Dark Knight rolls into theaters on July 18.
Ain’t It Cool News
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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
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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
Don’t Rush to Theaters for ‘August Rush’
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Warner Bros, Drama, Family, Music, New Releases,
From the first time I saw the trailer, I had a bad feeling about the dramatic, music-themed August Rush, which doesn’t seem to have a strong cast or even a believable storyline. Early reviews are in, and so far the criticism isn’t good.
Freddie Highmore plays a young boy with innate musical talent, who embarks upon a quest to find his parents. That, in a nutshell, is the plot. There is one scene were the young boy stands in a field and hears music on the breeze, which inspires him to head to the big city of New York to find his mom and dad (because that’s a highly likely thing for a boy under fifteen to do). His parents are played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers (you know, Henry VIII), and Keri Russell (I know, who?), both musicians themselves, who meet and conceive a baby. The mother’s father has the resulting baby (Highmore) given up for adoption, telling his daughter the baby died. But don’t let this soap operatic plot be the thing that deters you – be deterred by over-the-top acting instead.
Click to continue reading Don’t Rush to Theaters for ‘August Rush’
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Review: ‘American Gangster’
Posted by David Onda Categories: Universal, Action, Drama, Period, Political, Thrillers, New Releases, Theatrical Reviews,
American Gangster is based on the true story of Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), an African American drug kingpin in 1970s Harlem who smuggles heroin in the caskets of dead soldiers returning from Vietnam. Lucas buys the drug wholesale from the source and sells a more purer form at half the price, effectively putting his competition out of business and making him one of the most powerful men in New York. Russell Crowe plays Detective Richie Roberts, a straight-laced cop who is assigned to solve the city's drug problem.
Bottom line: Ridley Scott turns a spellbinding American story into a riveting three hours of cinema. I foresee Oscar nominations abound for this flick.
Check out my detailed review after the jump and find out which Goonie put out one hell of a performance.
Click to continue reading Review: ‘American Gangster’
In Theaters this Weekend (10/19)
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Columbia Pictures, DreamWorks, FOCUS, Miramax, New Line, Sony, Drama, Horror, Independent, Political, Science Fiction, Comedy, Thrillers, Lists, New Releases,
Here are some possible suggestions for your upcoming weekend:
- 30 Days of Night (R): starring Josh Hartnett, Melissa George (directed by David Slade)
- The Comebacks (PG-13): starring David Koechner, Carl Weathers (directed by Tom Brady)
- Gone Baby Gone (R): starring Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Freeman (directed by Ben Affleck)
- Lars and the Real Girl (PG-13): starring Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer (directed by Craig Gillespie). Read the FilmCrunch review here.
- Rendition (R): starring Reese Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhaal, Meryl Streep (directed by Gavin Hood)
- Sarah Landon and the Paranormal Hour (PG): starring Rissa Walters, Brian Comrie (directed by Lisa Comrie)
Click to continue reading In Theaters this Weekend (10/19)
Review: Lars and the Real Girl
Posted by Johnny Mercedes Categories: MGM, Drama, Independent, Romance, New Releases, Upcoming Releases, Theatrical Reviews,
Lars Lindstrom (Ryan Gosling) is a shy but amiable man yearning for love in a world he has trouble confronting. When he finds the woman of his dreams on the Internet, Lars emerges from his funk and proceeds to introduce his new girlfriend to friends and family. There’s only one problem: His new sweetheart is a life-size, anatomically accurate sex doll, and Lars has convinced himself she’s real. With love and concern, family, friends and other locals resolve to play along while Lars undergoes surreptitious mental evaluations.
In August, I made a prediction about an upcoming film called Lars and the Real Girl. The educated guess was part of a sporadically written column I write called The Preview Review, where I watch new trailers, look at who’s involved and try to speculate as to the film’s commercial and critical success. Here’s what I had to say about Lars:
Well, I was largely correct in my assertion—not too impressive, admittedly—but I did walk out of the theater with some caveats. Read the full review after the jump.Prediction: Lars and the Real Girl will be a simple story with deep, complex characters, awkward comedy, and unconditional familial support. It will be on par with the fantastic Little Miss Sunshine, but with one great bonus—Ryan Gosling.
Click to continue reading Review: Lars and the Real Girl
DVD REVIEW: ‘Away From Her’
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Lionsgate, Drama, Romance, DVD Reviews,
As I was putting the DVD of Away from Her back in its case, I noticed this line on the cover: Sometimes you have to let go of something you can’t live without. Of all the vague, cheesy and misleading taglines on most movie posters today…I couldn’t have chosen something more apt for this film. The next best thing would have been: If you loved that weeper ‘The Notebook’, this movie will rip your heart out.
Away is the feature-length directorial debut from actress Sarah Polley, who’s probably best known by younger audiences as Ronna from Go. She is also credited with adapting the screenplay from a short story by Alice Munro (‘The Bear Came Over the Mountain’). Atom Egoyan, Polley’s director in her breakthrough film The Sweet Hereafter, served as the movie’s executive producer.
The film stars the beautiful Julie Christie (Fiona) and Gordon Pinsent (Grant) as a couple still madly in love after 45 years of marriage. Their peaceful existence in their cozy cabin is eventually interrupted by a series of signs. Signs they tried to do their best to ignore. Unfortunately, it comes to a point where Fiona’s memory lapses prove too worrisome to simply brush off.
Click to continue reading DVD REVIEW: ‘Away From Her’
DVD REVIEW: God Grew Tired Of Us
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Documentary, DVD Reviews,
Every once in a while you are fortunate enough to watch a movie that really shakes you to your core. Afterwards, you feel compelled to grab any and everyone you see to tell them about it. I had that experience just last week—and since then, my friends have had to bear the brunt of my enthusiasm.
Earlier this year, I caught a Nightline piece about the film, God Grew Tired of Us. This documentary about the ‘Lost Boys of Sudan’ was having it’s Los Angeles premiere. But the road to completion required a lot of celebrity assistance along the way. Actor Dermot Mulroney sought Brad Pitt‘s help when his director friend (Christopher Quinn) was running low on funds. Pitt provided financial assistance and took on an executive producer role. Nicole Kidman also contributed as narrator after being asked by actress Catherine Keener.
Click to continue reading DVD REVIEW: God Grew Tired Of Us
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This Week on DVD: August 28, 2007
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Romance, Comedy, Sports, Home Entertainment, Upcoming Releases, DVD Reviews,
Hopefully you have some good plans for yourself this Labor Day Weekend because the DVD offerings this week are slim. But if you need a backup in case your BBQ is rained out, here are a few of the choices coming out this Tuesday:
- Blades of Glory (click to see previous FilmCrunch review)—starring Will Ferrell and Jon Heder
- Year of the Dog—starring Molly Shannon, Peter Sarsgaard
- A Night at the Roxbury (Special Collector’s Edition)—starring Will Ferrell, Chris Kattan
- Kickin’ It Old Skool—starring Jamie Kennedy
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