Review: ‘Post Tenebras Lux’ Lacks Heart, Underwhelms
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Drama, Foreign, Foreign Language, New Releases, Theatrical Reviews,
What I mistook as ambition and mythology for Carlos Reygadas' decision to title his film, Post Tenebras Lux, in Latin ("Light After Darkness") was simply pretentiousness. Though the movie - shot in a 1:33 ratio - was undoubtedly as stunning as a Terrence Malick film, the semi-autobiographic pic was as self-indulgent as a Tyler Perry flick.
The Mexican film - which won the Best Director award at last year's Cannes Film Festival - is comprised of a series of vignettes, mostly centering on the lives of a family who has made the transition from city to country life. Reygadas' meditation on both internal and external human conflicts is too ambitious, resulting in a film lacking cohesion and theme.
(Do not read past the jump if you wish to avoid spoilers.)
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‘Hangover III’: the Hangover That Just Won’t End
Posted by Michael Porter Categories: Warner Bros, Sequels, Comedy, New Releases, Theatrical Reviews,
Toy Story 3, Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade and Return of The Jedi are some of the most well reviewed films of the last 30 years. They are considered great films despite being the third film in a successful franchise. The Hangover III won't go down in history as the worst threequel of all-time, but it definitely forces itself into the discussion with characters that haven't changed one bit since the first film and a stale formula that expired about 5 minutes into Part III.
One of the things the things the film has going for it is its return to gags that center themselves around the repartee (if you can call it that) between the three major characters. Too bad this film forces Leslie Chow down our throats for the majority of the 100 minute running time, whom I have deemed the Jar Jar Binks of comedy films. Okay, maybe he's not that bad, but part of the charm of Mr. Chow in previous Hangover installments was the fact that he showed up when we least expected it.
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‘The Internship’: A Watered Down ‘Wedding Crashers,’ Mostly Bores
Posted by Michael Porter Categories: 20th Century Fox, Comedy, Upcoming Releases, Theatrical Reviews,
The Internship is one of those comedies you keep hoping will be better but deep down in your heart you knew all along that it was really just a quick cash grab.
At least that's what I felt while sitting through the latest Owen Wilson and Vince Vaugh vehicle where they try to revive their struggling careers by taking on internships at of all places, Google. The central characters are mid 40's and after being fired from a sales company that has gone belly up, they embark on a trip to California to take internships at Google, the internet search king. Running gags ensue and much of the slang the kids use is meant to be seen as over the heads of Wilson and Vaughn. Almost all of the slang used by the young co-stars is very popular and the look of bewilderment on their faces would lead one to believe that the two actors were portraying characters in their 70's rather than 40's. This running gag gets old pretty quickly.
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‘Somebody Up There Likes Me’ Produces Laughs, Provokes Reflection
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Independent, Comedy, New Releases, Theatrical Reviews,
If you're a fan of Parks and Recreation star Nick Offerman and the quirky and often dry humor the series offers, you will enjoy Offerman's latest film endeavor, Somebody Up There Likes Me.
Written and directed by Bob Byington (Harmony and Me) with Offerman producing, Somebody Up There Likes Me delivers in plenty of laughs while holding up a mirror to the perpetual disaffected teens of today. The film follows Max (Keith Poulson) - an indifferent waiter at a steakhouse whose only friend is the delightfully sardonic Sal (Offerman) - whose life is a kiddie rollercoaster of troubled relationships coupled with a general lack of interest in life.
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The Hangover 2: In Review
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Warner Bros, Sequels, Comedy, New Releases, Theatrical Reviews,
If you liked The Hangover, does that automatically mean you should like The Hangover, Part II? Well, yeah… unless you expect too much from it. If you want to watch a very funny movie with plenty of call backs to its parent flick (you know, the reason it exists), and you’re excited about seeing lovable characters a second time around, you’ll absolutely enjoy The Hangover, Part II. If you’re expecting breakthrough comedy, deep meaning, something brand-new and never-before-seen, you might be disappointed… but why would you be expecting that?
Die-hard fans of the original probably aren’t, but the critics have been rabid in their dislike for the lighthearted sequel. It’s an almost-summer, holiday weekend ensemble comedy, and most movie reviewers are screaming for blood in their respective columns. Why? Because the movie isn’t original enough.
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Scream 4 Trailer Debuts at Scream Awards
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Weinstein Company, Horror, Sequels, Trailers, Upcoming Releases, Theatrical Reviews,
UPDATE: We've included a better version of the trailer above.
The first Scream 4 trailer debuted at Spike TV’s Scream Awards on Saturday night (the event will air later this week), and we’ve your first look. Watch to see a mix of Scream alum and several new faces in this hair-raising video.
Two returning cast members to the franchise (Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox) have offered up several details about what their characters lives are like when the Screaming starts again. Keep reading to find out how their characters will figure into the plot.
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| Perez Hilton
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Revolutionary Road Another Hit for DiCaprio and Winslet?
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Paramount, Adaptation, Drama, Romance, New Releases, Theatrical Reviews,
Eleven years ago, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet made film history in Titanic - truly, an on-screen pairing even more epic than Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. With Revolutionary Road, the two are reunited.
But despite this star power, many critics aren’t raving about Revolutionary Road. MSNBC called the flick “another sinking ship,” to poke a little fun at the Titanic history of this on-screen couple. The same review goes on to call the movie a “dreary film adaptation” and says both main characters are “thoroughly mediocre, uninteresting people.”
The Associated Press calls the film “brutally tedious,” hardly high praise. Many reviewers are comparing the subject matter of the film to a watered-down version of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and the look of the piece to TV series Mad Men.
Somewhere in the middle of it all are DiCaprio and Winslet, whom - everyone seems to agree - both delivered great performances. If nothing else, the film is worthwhile for these two alone. And not all the reviews are negative - Variety calls the flick “constantly engrossing.”
That’s hopeful, right?
Read More | MSNBC
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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.
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Review: Young@Heart
Posted by Johnny Mercedes Categories: Fox Searchlight, Adaptation, Documentary, Drama, Music, New Releases, Upcoming Releases, Theatrical Reviews,
Since 1982, the Young@Heart chorus, with members averaging an age of eighty, has wowed audiences with unique and entertaining interpretations of classic punk and rock songs.
Director Stephen Walker follows the geriatric troupe as they prepare for one of their biggest and most challenging undertakings: the Alive and Well tour. The film delves into the personal lives of key chorus members, spotlights group leader Bob Cilman, and attempts to explain the appeal of watching elderly people singing your favorite songs. The appeal doesn’t need much explaining, however—Young@Heart touts some of the most fascinating people you’re likely to find, and, if you have any doubts as to whether you’ll enjoy the film (like I did), by the end you’ll be wondering why you’ve never heard of these idiosyncratic octogenarians.
Read the full review after the jump.
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FilmCrunch 067: Hairspray, Chuck & Larry, Premonition reviewed
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: MGM, New Line, Universal, Adaptation, Drama, Musicals, Period, Science Fiction, Comedy, Thrillers, DVD Reviews, Full Episodes, Theatrical Reviews, Videocasts,
In this episode of FilmCrunch, Veronica Santiago and Neil Estep review Hairspray, along with the DVD release of Premonition. Neil also hits us with a 60 second review of I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. All that, plus your typical dose of hilarity, in this episode.
Now we want to hear from you - hit the forums and let us know what you think, what you want us to watch next, and any other recommendations you have for the show.
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