recent product reviews
Single White Female (1992)
Good story, classically spooky. I could see this as a remake of a Hitchcockian 50’s horror. Leigh is good at playing evil.
Full ReviewStir Crazy (1980)
Perhaps funny for its time, but it doesn’t hold up. Slow and silly. Wilder always has a nice delivery. Was Pryor comfortable in front of the camera? He’s always got that deer-in-the-headlights look. Neither of them are terribly funny. Minor characters and extras were all so horrible in the 70’s…
Full ReviewThe Hangover Part II (2011)
With the characters already established, the adventure continues. Only this time, the comedy is better. Galifianakis is especially funny.
Full ReviewSuperman III (1983)
The whole thing’s a bit silly. Lame story, uninspired performances, and really bad slapstick. The scrapyard fight and supercomputer finale were the only good sequences. I bet Reeve had a good time playing bad Superman. That was by far the most interesting character. But without Lex and almost no Lois,…
Full ReviewSafe House (2012)
Exciting to see Washington play a bad guy, and just as exciting to see Reynolds, typically the pretty-boy smart-ass, constantly beaten and humbled and victimized by situations way over his head. He doesn’t crack a joke once. Both do an amazing job. Espinosa, a relative newcomer, has skills. Story and…
Full ReviewContagion (2011)
Through understated, natural performances from an exceptional cast, really good make-up, unobtrusive photography and editing, and a Cliff Martinez score that beats with urgency and gloom, Soderbergh creates a realistic sense of apocalyptic desperation. It’s very real and very scary. Soderbergh continues his love affair with Matt Damon. They work…
Full ReviewMidnight in Paris (2011)
Whimsical and fun. The exploration of nostalgia and the Golden Age Fallacy is fascinating. Wilson is great. He’s obviously playing the Woody Allen role: talkative and pensive and confused about his place in the universe. McAdams is cute but flubs a few lines. Nice performances by all the historical characters.…
Full ReviewThe Atomic Cafe (1982)
An interesting look at an important and often overlooked part of American history. Loader’s description of the film as “compilation verite” seems quite accurate.
Full ReviewRed Planet (2000)
A pretty good implementation of sci-fi, I think. A pleasant, leisurely pace, nice effects, and few cheap scares. I’m surprised that NASA turned down consultation on the film due to what they considered to be rampant scientific inaccuracies. This one seemed more true-to-life than a lot of other sci-fi movies.…
Full ReviewThe January Man (1989)
Horrible dialogue, a idiotic story, misplaced comedy, and uninspired direction. The plot is singular and weak. Any killer with a predictable pattern would WANT to be caught, reducing whatever drama there may have been to nothing. Great cast, but the characters are just caricatures, leaving performances flat and lifeless. Keitel…
Full Review
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