THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1 2 3

Looking for glossy-but-formula Hollywood product that evaporates even before you leave the theatre? It's yours for THE TAKING...OF PELHAM 1 2 3. This new version of the middling 70's thriller gets a jolt of Tony Scott's adrenaline, a fine performance by Denzel, and psycho Travolta in Broken Arrow mode -- but the screeching-for-the-sake-of-noise car race, … Continue reading THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1 2 3

DISTRICT 9

I expected the dark flip side of Close Encounters -- and got Rambo instead. The noisy, leaden DISTRICT 9 owes more to Michael Bay than to its real producer Peter Jackson, right down to the Transformers-style finale, by which time I'd lost interest. Screaming action and frenetic editing don't energize the sluggish pace. And there's … Continue reading DISTRICT 9

MAD MEN SEASON 3: OUT OF TOWN

At one point in the opener to MAD MEN: SEASON 3, Don Draper uses an advertising campaign as a metaphor to warn Salvatore about his personal life. The writing is as brilliant and effective as that earlier Mad Men high point, the Kodak Carousel pitch -- proof that this show is still firing (and the … Continue reading MAD MEN SEASON 3: OUT OF TOWN

NOBLE SON

Sometimes you find yourself enjoying a movie even though you KNOW you shouldn't! That's what happened with Nobel Son, a twisty thriller-mystery-comedy that Hits "ludicrous speed" about halfway through...but is really fun! Alan Rickman sets the tone playing a total ass and the rest of the cast follow. If you accept The twists as being … Continue reading NOBLE SON