I've already suggested to one friend, whose wife was reluctant to see "The Tree of Life," that he should take her to see "Buck." Not that this documentary about the guy who inspired the whole "Horse Whisperer" movement has anything to do with Terrence Malick's…
I've been reading a number of negative reviews of Terrence Malick's film "The Tree of Life," and I've been surprised by some of the enmity. Following is something I intend to say, in one form or another, on this week's "Movies 101": What I find…
Returning to Earth (see post immediately below), we have "Bad Teacher." OK, couple of giggles. But ... this is a comic film that had some potential. Maybe even "There's Something About Mary" potential. It does star Cameron Diaz, after all, and she has proven comic…
I've wanted a few days to write about Terrence Malick's new movie "The Tree of Life." That's because I'm still ... stunned. And, honestly, I'm a bit taken aback by that. Look, Malick is not for everyone. My own wife, whose opinion I generally respect,…
Now, THIS is a movie that I want to see.
I'm not sure how Ryan Reynolds scored the lead role in "Green Lantern." But other than his physical qualities - the guy must have 0 percent body fat - he doesn't fit the role. He's a one-note actor who, despite having starred in a couple…
It's fun, sometimes, to walk into a movie knowing nothing about what you're going to see. That's one reason why, I think, Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" charmed me so much. I had few, if any, expectations. Aside from its intriguing title, "The Elephant in…
Sharp-eyed and knowledgeable moviegoers are likely to pick up on something in J.J. Abrams' film "Super 8" that most of the rest of us will miss: the "Twilight Zone" reference. In one scene, characters talk about "Operation Walking Distance." That's a reference to one of…
Some people will never forgive Woody Allen for ... well, for a number of reasons. For being a New Yorker. For being a Jewish New Yorker. For putting himself in his own movies far longer than he should have. For being so self-consciously psychoanalytic. For…
The Wall Street Journal, it seems, is reporting that J.J. Abrams' new sci-fi thriller, "Super 8," isn't creating much of a social-media buzz. Really? If that truly is the case, I give up trying to figure out what movie today's movie audiences want. More dismemberment…
The 37th Seattle International Film Festival ended its run today by announcing its awards, both juried and audience, which years ago it dubbed the Golden Space Needle Audience Awards. Click here for the results.
A theater-manager friend of mine just sent me a YouTube link that is one of the nerviest bits of movie-theater advertising I've ever seen. Not sure I'd want this method applied to me, but I have been disturbed more than once by seemingly unconcious or…
Months ago, I saw the trailer for "Bridesmaids." I thought at the time that the movie looked hilarious. A bit gross, maybe a female variation on "The Hangover" movies. But still funny. It is all of that. But that's not everything "Bridesmaids" is. It's also…
Marvel's "X-Men" comics have been around since the 1960s. Never a big comic freak, I wasn't really aware of them until three decades later when I dated a woman whose 5-year-old son tried to, on occasion, go all Wolverine on me. I quickly began reading,…
Spent another weekend in Seattle, which is another sign of just how long this festival is. Films will be showing through next Sunday. My favorite film so far: "Amador," a Spanish film about a Central American woman who is caught in a suffocating relationship. When…
just when I thought it was safe to turn the television back on, I see an ad for something called "Toddlers & Tiaras," which apparently is yet another reality show, this one about junior beauty pageants. As if we don't remember the dismal JonBenet Ramsey…
Just so you know, "Hobo With a Shotgun" is supposed to play at the Magic Lantern on June 17th. Prepare yourself for ... well, just exactly what I can't say. But my friend Dan Fratini might say that it's "two barrels of explosive entertainment!" Other…
Ever wonder why you're not more happy? Turns out it's not all your fault. Or your parents'. According to brain researchers, a good 50 percent of our ability to feel happiness is hard-wired. Some of you naturally are. Some of the rest of us naturally…
So, after seeing five movies in two days, and following the five-hour drive home from the Seattle International Film Festival, what does a good movie fan do? Goes to see another movie, of course. Which is what we did late Sunday, catching the 9:30 screening…
OK, first of all let me say how much I appreciate the management of the Seattle International Film Festival, certain members of which are helpful, friendly and kind to media types who tend to misread online directions. We got signed in at press headquarters on…
In Seattle, hoping to take in some films at the 37th Seattle International Film Festival. We'll see. This thing seems to have gotten a bit too big, something that I've heard people complain about for years. But, to quote Malcolm Gladwell, we might have reached…
In the post immediately below, I wrote of how I enjoyed "Thor," even given its simplistic story line and bizarre take on Norse legends ("legends" and "myths" being what more enduring religions call old-school religious stories that have fallen from popular acceptance). I'd love to…
One of the surprising things about "Thor" - maybe the only surprising thing - is that it was directed by Kenneth Branagh. Yeah, that Kenneth Branagh, the one with impeccable Shakespeare credentials. Not that anyone is likely to confuse "Thor" with anything remotely Shakespearean. The…
Between my fourth- and 10th-grade years, I attended eight different schools in five different states. Ah, the joys of a Navy-brat childhood. Wait. Did I say "joys"? This was during the late '50s, early '60s, and the "joys" of moving around so much would come…
I wrote a post below about the film "My Perestroika," which I said was going to open Fridayt (which, as I look at my watch, is now today). Wrong. The movie will open next Friday. When it does, I'd suggest going to see it. For…
