ReviewsFeb 08, 2010
GOODFELLAS - Blu-ray review
There is no honor among thieves. These crooks would as soon rat out or whack their best friends as not. The 1930s were the Golden Age of gangster films. Following the Roaring Twenties, Prohibition, a
ReviewsJan 29, 2010
PONTYPOOL - DVD review
"Uh. Words. Uh. Words. Uh huh huh huh. " -Butthead, from Beavis and Butthead in "Beard Boys" I'm all but certain that "Pontypool" is the only zombie movie that references both Norman Mailer and Rolan
ReviewsJan 18, 2010
BOOGIE NIGHTS - Blu-ray review
Is there another filmmaker working today who has risen to such heights of critical acclaim on the basis of so few films as Paul Thomas Anderson? His four most-important films to date are "Magnolia" (1
ReviewsJan 15, 2010
ROBERTO ROSSELLINI'S WAR TRILOGY (THE CRITERION COLLECTION) - DVD review
In the spirit of Wittgenstein, it's important to note that the category of "neo-realism" has no single defining quality but rather a series of shared family resemblances which are present in varying c
ReviewsJan 08, 2010
DISTRICT 9 - Blu-ray review
30 minutes after exposure. I'm sitting there watching "District 9" thinking that the initial "documentary" part of the movie feels even more amateurish and disjointed the second time around--especi
ReviewsDec 30, 2009
IT MIGHT GET LOUD - Blu-ray review
Three legendary guitarists: Jimmy Page (The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin), The Edge (U2), and Jack White (The White Stripes, The Raconteurs). It Might Get Loud. But it doesn't, really. Sure, when the th
ReviewsDec 29, 2009
PAWN STARS (TV SERIES) - DVD review
In trying to figure out what I like so much about "Pawn Stars," I realized that the pawn business has a lot in common with film reviewing. One of the pleasures of writing about film is encountering n
ReviewsDec 24, 2009
CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS - Blu-ray review
There's probably someone in Hollywood whose only job is to determine whether a film can say it's "based" on a book, "loosely based," or "inspired by" it. And I wonder what this person was thinking whe
ReviewsDec 13, 2009
SITA SINGS THE BLUES - DVD review
So I wondered, how good could a film be that was written, directed, and produced by a woman whose only previous experience was turning out a couple of five-minute animated shorts--especially when this
ReviewsDec 12, 2009
WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE: THE MOVIE - DVD review
"Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie" drew 13.6 million viewers for its premiere, making it the second most watched Disney Original Movie to "High School Musical 2. " Fans will want to know one thing,
ReviewsDec 10, 2009
G-FORCE - Blu-ray review
Talking animals and I don't get along, usually. That's because, other than the occasional winner like "Babe," they tend to disappoint in so many predictable ways. Often it's the annoying way that thei
ReviewsDec 05, 2009
GREEN MILE, THE - Blu-ray review
Is there any filmmaker who's made more money and built a bigger reputation on fewer films than Frank Darabont? Quick, name any two films he made. OK, you forgot "The Majestic" and "The Mist," right?