In 2009, Warner Bros. scored a touchdown with Sandra Bullock, the actress earning an Oscar for “The Blind Side”. Four years later, they soared together again, Bullock snagging a nomination for her work in “Gravity”. Can this team go three for three with the political dramedy “Our Brand Is Crisis”? Well, early results are not […]
“A Walk in the Woods” is about two older gentlemen who decide to hike the Appalachian Trail. It certainly couldn’t have been a walk in the park for 79-year-old Robert Redford and 75-year-old Nick Nolte to make this film. And, unfortunately, it’s a bit of a struggle to watch as well. This is a true […]
“No Escape” sounds like the title of a direct-to-DVD (or, these days, direct-to-VOD) movie. But The Weinstein Company thought they could make a little bit of money at the end of an action-packed Summer by releasing it in theaters. But there’s “no escaping” the fact that this thriller belongs in a discount bin at Walmart […]
“Ant-Man” is the 12th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise that began with 2008’s “Iron Man”. And out of those dozen films, grossing billions of dollars at the box office, “Ant-Man” is, in my mind, without question, the weakest. Paul Rudd (from “Anchorman”) and director Peyton Reed (whose previous film was “Yes Man”) are […]
“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” is the film adaptation of the popular YA novel. The movie won both the Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Clearly, those voting groups were made up of die-hard indie lovers who easily embrace quirky. However, when you look at “Me and […]
“Divergent”, released exactly a year ago, was based on the first installment of a popular tween/teen book series about a female heroine in a post-apocalyptic world. Similarities were immediately made to “The Hunger Games”, with “Divergent” having copycat concepts and lackluster big screen results in comparison. Interestingly, Lionsgate, which recently bought Summit Entertainment, is now […]
I did not see the original “Hot Tub Time Machine”, which was released in 2010, but a lot people did and many consider it a modern cult classic comedy. Now, a whopping five years later, we get the just plainly ridiculous “Hot Tub Time Machine 2”, which joins the list of “Taken 3” and (while […]
“The Gambler” is a remake of the 1974 James Caan film. 40 years later, Mark Wahlberg, who holds similar A-list status as Caan did back then, takes on the title role of literature professor by day; high-stakes gambler (and loser) by night. Whether he’s starring in a quality movie (such as last year’s “Lone Survivor”) […]
“Night at the Museum” was released during the crowded holiday season of 2006. I avoided seeing it right away because I just wasn’t excited about the premise from the trailers and commercials. But once I did check it out, about halfway through I realized I was watching something special. 2009’s copycat sequel, “Battle of the […]
Walt Disney Animation Studios hit a grand slam last year with the cultural phenomenon “Frozen”, which grossed nearly $1.3 billion worldwide, won two Oscars, and was one of the best films of 2013. The studio’s follow-up, the superhero adventure “Big Hero 6”, will likely make a lot of money, especially overseas, but it’s one of […]