As we enter our story set during the fall of 2008 in New Orleans, the window dressing of a mob movie is still here in Killing Them Softly. The late model cars, slicked back hair, ugly suits without ties, derogatory Italian terminology, leather jackets, hued sunglasses, and a constant cloud of exhaled cigarette smoke are everywhere to be seen, just as you might expect. However, the pulse of this setting is driven by the history of that year and season.
Read MoreDespite the dark and messy problems and places these characters are in and come from, Silver Linings Playbook is an unashamed and unabashed comedy. With that mentality and development, the film truly flourishes into one of the most crowd-pleasing movies of the year.
Read MoreThe use of 3D in Life of Pi is as artistically cued and creatively appropriate as Martin Scorsese's elegant and adept use of it in Hugo from last Thanksgiving. Combined with an enthralling and exciting story, Life of Pi is one of the best and most intimate movie experiences you'll see this year.
Read MoreAs a movie writer and fan of facial hair, here's my second homage to Movember. This time, I'm ranking the best movie beards.
Read MoreThe Sessions shows a heartfelt and honest portrayal what the idea of sexual satisfaction and conquest mean to a person, especially one that can't just go out and perform the way everyone else can. It's certainly an unorthodox path for a true story or a feel-good movie, but The Sessions succeeds in being extremely pleasing and thought-provoking.
Read MoreAs a movie fan and jealous appreciator of facial hair with an overdue itch for a fun editorial idea, I wanted to pay homage to Movember by ranking the best movie mustaches.
Read MoreWhen I reflect on Lincoln, the top word that comes to mind is "earnest." Spielberg, his cast, and his crew set out to tell a piece of history with wholehearted purpose and never wavered. They weren't swinging for the box office fences to hit some grandiose action home run relying on gross dramatization, theatricality, or wild war battles set to a trumpeting score.
Read MoreThat combination of catalyst and resonance is why I may begin to agree with many other critics that have anointed Skyfall the best James Bond film ever made. I'll say right now. It's hard to find a flaw.
Read MoreWith deep creativity and homages to video games new and old, Wreck-It Ralph is a great deal of fun for all ages.
Read MoreFlight is director Robert Zemeckis's first live-action film since the brilliant Castaway twelve years ago. To see him return to this extremely high level of traditional filmmaking lets me know that he's still got it.
Read MoreNominated for five Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor), David Mamet wrote and Sidney Lumet directed in 1982 one of the finest courtroom dramas you will ever see.
Read MoreAlex Cross is a lazy and uninspired attempt. The readers of the Patterson's crime novels will tell you, the character of Alex Cross is a ripe and rich literary character with many incredible stories and thrilling stories to tell. He deserves better than this uneven effort.
Read More
