Spiritualism in movies can be pretentious and overblown -- think of the trailer for CLOUD ATLAS (and presumably the picture itself -- I just couldn't get it up to go) -- keeping audiences away. Or spiritualism can stem from a tale told thrillingly and beautifully, its spiritual concerns clear and comprehensible -- as is the … Continue reading LIFE OF PI

LINCOLN might be better titled The Politics of Ending Slavery. Because it is just as much about how the 13th Amendment was passed by a severely divided House of Representatives, as it is about the President who pushed so hard to make it happen. We get a look at Lincoln the politician, the back room … Continue reading LINCOLN

Some of the best thrillers are the ones where less is more. Session 9, The Hitcher, just a couple that come to mind. Those movies show you just enough to creep you out...then let your imagination fill in the blanks. That's why SINISTER works on a creepy good level. To discuss why this movie works … Continue reading SINISTER

LOOPER starts off SUPER but ends up in the POOPER! After a fantastic setup and story, the movie loses its intelligence and originality and falls into a mishmash of predictability and simple explanations. Bruce Willis has a few moments to shine but JGL (who I think is great) gives a one note performance. I think … Continue reading LOOPER

The latest version of James Bond is not the suave, sophisticated and worldly assassin with a gleam in his eye as portrayed by Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan. As "M" tells him in Casino Royale, Daniel Craig's Bond is a blunt instrument with a dark and troubled past. And as SKYFALL plays out, … Continue reading SKYFALL

The moment that gets this movie going is the plane crash, but FLIGHT isn't about a plane crash. it's about a man's crash. The plot is familiar. An alcoholic ruins his life and the lives of those around him. He lies and does horrible things all because of the booze. We're only waiting for his … Continue reading FLIGHT

Spectacularly good. Funny as can be, well-acted, deeply emotional (maybe even a bit intense for the littler ones), and the literal definition of eye candy -- this sweet melt-in-your-heart confection frames the familiar find-yourself-and-embrace-who-you-are theme inside several video games and their characters. Much credit to director Rich Moore and his three writers (and perhaps the … Continue reading WRECK-IT RALPH