It was a toss-up: I, Robot or Catwoman? I, Robot won. Be warned: this may be a bit of a spoiler. I am always prepared to like a Will Smith film, and this one started off okay. I, Robot is a sci-fi action film based on the collection of short stories of the same title written by Isaac Asimov and published in 1950. Science fiction is an okay genre for me; I don't seek it out because it seems to always be a variation of the same theme (I am willing to be enlightened on this, however): what is … [Read more...]

I went to see Anchorman this morning. The story of Ron Burgundy played by Will Ferrell, meets the emerging feminism of the 1970's in the person of Veronica Corningstone, played well enough by Christina Applegate. Hold that syllable there: Corn-ie. I think they had more fun making it than what actually made it through the editing suite. Adolescent body-part sexual-inuendo pseudo-machismo ... humor? Poor San Diego. Why? I liked Ferrell better as Buddy the Elf.   … [Read more...]

"Ecastatic" may be overstating my mood somewhat after seeing Spider-Man 2, but I liked it ever so much - and it's the closest adjective on the list the Journal provides to express my response. Better than Spider-Man (2002)? You bet! Spider-Man 2, for its comic book, action-super hero premise, is actually a morality tale about character and virtue. The bottom line: "Don't listen to them; we have to be steady, give up what we want the most, even our dreams, to do the right thing." Lots to talk … [Read more...]

I'll Sleep When I Am Dead is a bleak, overcast, British film noir tale that leads the audience through the dark streets and underbelly of London's criminal world on a quest for a reason that morphs into revenge. It is about the deception of memories - and the myths they create. Davey is the younger brother of former crime lord, Will (excellent performance by Clive Owen of King Arthur and Greenfingers - one of my favorite films.) Will had left London three years before and has been drifting … [Read more...]

In the midst of movies that entertain, others that are disturbing for various reasons, and others that are mostly about nothing in particular, The Clearing is an exceptional small thriller about the transparency and ultimately the transcendence of married love. Robert Redford plays Wayne, a self-made multi-millionaire who started is own car rental and then consulting business. Eileen, his wife, is played by Helen Mirren. Wayne gets kidnapped one day by the mentally ill, out-of-work, … [Read more...]