Mellodrama: The Mellotron Movie
The Mellotron's creation was downright groundbreaking. By prerecording instruments and accessing them via keyboard, it essentially became the first system of using sampled sounds to create new sounds. Created in the 1940s by Harry Chamberlin, it was originally known as the Chamberlin before the idea was stolen and renamed Mellotron.
A Serious Man
The Coen Brothers have said that this is their true story, only it's fiction. Based loosely on their childhood and their father in late '60s Minneapolis, "A Serious Man" is another dark comedy from the siblings who have always done...
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
"Precious" is an uncommon gem. A movie about the worst problems a person can possibly have. This is one of those, "oh, you think your life is bad?" films. To be honest, I was a little put off by reading Tyler Perry's name on the cover-box. I am usually of the opinion that a...
Whip It
Drew Barrymore is Hollywood's feel-good story. A beloved child actor with a drug habit, a teenager lead into bad career decisions, a rebellious young adult flashing David Letterman, then - America's sweetheart - the comeback, ushered to the limelight by Adam Sandler and "Charlie's Angels." So now, in her early...
Couples Retreat
It has been 14 years since Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau first told us that they were "money, baby" in "Swingers." Since their memorable breakout, the two have moved in totally different directions. Favreau has become an established director who has made some...
"Law Abiding Citizen"
There are films that are bad from beginning to end. There are films that have elements that make it bad, poor acting, etc. Then there are the films that end so badly that the entire movie is only remembered for the dirty taste you have in your mouth as the credits roll.
"Gamer"
Since Gerald Butler's breakout role in "300," he has been rolling out the movies. Unfortunately, none of them have been able to live up to that breakout role or even test his skills as a leading man. He seems to bounce back and forth between...
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
I could save you reading an additional 249 words by simply describing this movie with one: Boring. But because I am a fan of the franchise, both the books and the films, I will give this film its due and trash it with a careful and expanded diatribe.
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
The gang's all back. Everyone from the original house of history returns to drop some knowledge in Washington D.C.'s Smithsonian. I watched the first film with my entire family, which includes three kids ranging in ages from teen to toddler - we all loved it.
"Pandorum"
Bonus for you - we have a space paranoia double feature for you this week. "Pandorum" is gritty and dark and plays with the idea of space psychosis as much as it does what-goes-bump-on-the-spaceship. Comparisons of 1997's thriller "Event Horizon" are not without merit.
"Moon"
It is fitting that for his first film, writer/director Duncan Jones does an exploration of desolation and outer space. Fitting because Jones is the son of David Bowie, who penned one of the greatest songs ever about being lost in space with Major Tom "sitting in a tin can" in the brilliant "Space Oddity." There's plenty of homage in...
The Invention of Lying
In the great tradition of movies that occur in alternate universes, this one happens in a world where the truth is the only mode of communication. That is until one guy comes along and discovers he can tell a lie, becoming the center of a...
The Hangover
"The Hangover"
"The Hurt Locker"
This movie is brave, to say the least. In a time when movies concerning war are obviously slanted politically, along comes a brilliant film that manages to come to the table without an overt agenda. More evidence of the film's bravado is the director, a female in what has...
"The Proposal"
I could come at this movie with an axe, ripping it apart for everything it is not. I could chop away at its roots for not having any chemistry between Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock. I could swing hard, bashing the...
(500) Days of Summer
I am a sucker for a really good voice-over narration. When a movie has one of those big voices talking over the action in pivotal points, in some witty or surprising way, I am sold. That is the reason why...