“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”) […]
In September, Chris Rock’s all-star, R-rated comedy “Top Five” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Following the screening, an all-out bidding war began. Nearly every major studio (except, very likely, Disney) wanted distribution rights. Paramount emerged victorious, buying “Top Five” for $12.5 million and adding another $20 million for marketing. Rock’s been everywhere recently […]
“A Most Violent Year” is Oscar-nominated writer/director J.C. Chandor’s follow-up to last year’s Robert Redford “I’m alone in the middle of the ocean and I’m barely going to talk” drama “All Is Lost”. With “A Most Violent Year”, Chandor has paired-up Oscar Isaac (“Inside Llewyn Davis”) and Jessica Chastain for an intriguing crime drama. The […]
The film that defined Clint Eastwood/Director in the 1990s was “Unforgiven”. In the 2000s, “Million Dollar Baby”, his excellent boxing drama co-starring Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman, likewise earned Eastwood Best Director and Best Picture Oscars. Now, for this current decade, “American Sniper” could very well be the film that takes Eastwood to the pinnacle […]
“Inherent Vice” is writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson’s follow-up to 2012’s overrated “The Master”. The only appreciation I had for that film were the performances of stars Joaquin Phoenix and particularly the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman. The rest was an unfocused and overly complicated mess. That same description can be used to describe “Inherent Vice”, which […]
Last year, director Jean-Marc Vallee earned “Dallas Buyers Club” stars Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto Lead and Supporting Actor honors from nearly every major awards organization. Now, Vallee’s follow-up, “Wild”, has placed Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern as Lead and Supporting Actress frontrunners for their raw and brave performances in one of 2014’s most engrossing […]
“The Homesman” is easily the most bizarre movie of 2014. Academy Award winner Tommy Lee Jones, one of the most respected actors of the past three decades, co-writes, directs, and stars in this adaptation of a 1988 novel. It’s a western, set in the mid-1800s. There are no trains in the film, so to be […]
“Foxcatcher” is director Bennett Miller’s follow-up to 2011’s “Moneyball”, making this his second “based on a true story” sports drama in a row. The first trailer was actually unveiled over a year ago (September 2013) because the film was originally scheduled for release last December. However, Sony Pictures Classics decided to take “Foxcatcher” out of […]
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” is one of the most thrilling films I’ve ever seen – which is pretty amazing, since it’s not a big-budget, action-packed, superhero blockbuster. “Birdman” is being categorized by most as a dark comedy, though it’s one of those incredible pieces of work that’s very tough to describe in […]
“Fury” is one of the bloodiest, saddest, and most authentic-looking war movies in recent years. Director David Ayer (“End of Watch”) holds nothing back in depicting the gritty ugliness of WWII through a five man tank platoon assisting the Allies in finishing-off the Nazis in 1945 Germany. Brad Pitt, who won his first Academy Award […]