Was Shakespeare a fraud? That is the tagline for Roland Emmerich’s new drama Anonymous, which supports the theory that Edward De Vere was really the genius known as “William Shakespeare.” The truth will probably never be known, as it has […]
Continue reading »Category: Recent Releases
In Time (2011) ✰ ✰ ½
From Andrew Niccol (writer of The Truman Show, writer-director of Gattaca, S1mOne and Lord of War) comes another high-concept film, this one involving time and the aging process. In Time presents a future where people stop aging at 25, but can only […]
Continue reading »Footloose (2011) ✰ ✰ ½
While this is yet another unnecessary remake, it is fairly engrossing and effective, partly because it recycles many of the songs from the original. This time around, Kenny Wormald plays the youngster who can’t believe that a town would outlaw […]
Continue reading »The Mighty Macs (2011) ✰ ✰ ½
As sports films go, The Mighty Macs is pretty routine in all but its subject: women’s college basketball. In fact, I had no idea what the title meant (I thought it was some sort of kiddie movie, especially with its G […]
Continue reading »Take Shelter (2011) ✰ ✰ ½
The preview for this arthouse film drew me in at once; Ohio well-driller and family man Michael Shannon begins to see (and dream about) signs which may well point to a coming apocalypse. It all ties in with weather, so […]
Continue reading »Johnny English Reborn (2011) ✰ ✰ ½
Eight years after his bland and desultory original spy spoof Johnny English, Rowan Atkinson returns in a totally unnecessary sequel. Surprisingly, perhaps amazingly, it’s pretty good. The producers have spent a good deal of money and effort to create a […]
Continue reading »50 / 50 (2011) ✰ ✰ ✰
Some subjects seem to demand reverential treatment in movies or real life, and cancer is one of them. So a movie that dares to dilute the horror of the disease with humor seems refreshing. Even though there is nothing funny […]
Continue reading »The Big Year (2011) ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
So far my favorite film of 2011 is The Big Year. I loved it. Truthfully, I cannot say that it is a great movie — it is a rather formulaic comedy-drama that breaks no new ground cinematically — but I […]
Continue reading »The Guard (2011) ✰ ✰ ✰
American movies are notoriously short on surprises, but that isn’t always the case with global fare. The Irish film The Guard has several surprises, mostly character-driven, that make it seem fresh and original. It has the same casually profane tone punctuated […]
Continue reading »Real Steel (2011) ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Richard Matheson’s story “Steel” was first adapted as a memorable “Twilight Zone” episode starring Lee Marvin. Now it has found new life as a futuristic robot boxing feature film — and it’s very good. Director Shawn Levy has created a […]
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