Tinsel
Our local film critics association voted. Here's what we got wrong (not awarding THE TREE OF LIFE) and what we got right (kudos to THE HELP.) Read more
Our local film critics association voted. Here's what we got wrong (not awarding THE TREE OF LIFE) and what we got right (kudos to THE HELP.) Read more
The Washington Area Film Critics Association has nominated films in the following categories. The winners will be announced on Monday, December 5 at 8 AM. The 2011 WAFCA Awards NOMINEES are: Best Film: The Artist The Descendants Drive Hugo Win Win The full list past the jump. (more…) Read more
Today is the big day! The Washington Area Film Critics Association, of which I am a member, has its first round of voting for 2011 awards. It’s a hard job narrowing down the year’s contenders for Best Picture, but many of the much-ballyhooed films recently released left me unimpressed, at least as far as Best Picture goes. The official WAFCA winners will be announced at 8 EST on Monday, December 5. Here are my nominations for Best Picture of 2011:... Read more
After the big Thanksgiving releases, this weekend has only one major release. “Shame,” a fearless foray into the world of sexual addiction, is rated NC-17. With extremely explicit depictions of sex, albeit depressing ones, it is not for children or the faint of heart. However, the fantastic “The Muppets” is still in theaters. If you haven’t seen it with your kids, what are you waiting for? Martin Scorsese’s love song to movie history, “Hugo,” is a beautiful and moving film... Read more
Many evangelical girls grew up reading the “Love Comes Softly” series by Janette Oke. The cross of “Little House on the Prairie” homesteader setting, overt faith, and romance proved irresistible to young churchgoers. The latest in the series to be adapted into a DVD release movie, “Love Begins,” continues the story by going back to tell how the matriarch Ellen met and fell in love with her first husband Clark. Ellen (Julie Mond) and her sister Cassie (Abigail Mativy) maintain... Read more
The Gist: Two good ole boys, rednecks to the core, head for their new mountain cabin on vacation. Unluckily for them, some college kids are camping nearby. Through a series of misunderstandings, Tucker and Dale seem more and more like your classic backwoods serial killers. Bottom Line: This spoof on slasher flicks is very funny and makes some good points as well. By turning the convention of Red State redneck killers on its head, they mock the last accepted prejudice in America:... Read more
The Gist: A young woman ruins several lives, including her own, in a drunk driving accident. Released from prison, she seeks the man she wronged and tries to atone. Meanwhile, a duplicate Earth is discovered. Could the answer to their problems be there? Read our original review and interview with the star and co-writers. Bottom Line: This excellently acted and philosophy rich movie explores science and human nature in equal parts. It’s undeniably sad, however, and has a slow independent... Read more
The Gist: This documentary goes inside a cave in France. Deep in the shadows, the world’s oldest cave paintings burst with skill and beauty. Bottom Line: It’s not often we feel a sense of awe in our modern lives, but seeing these paintings of horses with flowing manes, lions, and other beasts created by some artist before history was recorded – absolutely amazing. Fantastic, as well, that they could grace the walls of any modern museum. To be human, apparently,... Read more
Mitch Albom wrote the best sellers “Tuesday’s With Morrie,” “The Five People You Meet in Heaven,” and “For One More Day.” His book about opening the door to faith has been adapted into a made-for-TV Hallmark movie. It stars fantastic actors Laurence Fishburen, Bradley Whitford, and the legendary Martin Landau. “Have a Little Faith” airs this Sunday, Nov. 27 on ABC at 9/8 central. Technical issues kept me from screening this movie, but they have a review up at Beliefnet.com.... Read more
The film throws down the gauntlet at cynical programming that appeals to our worst nature. Kermit thinks we sell kids short. "I believe kids are better and smarter," he begins as music swells. He then gets clocked by a swinging door, but his point stands. Read more
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In