Daily Archives: January 11, 2013

“It’s a win-win situation,” we hear people say, often to assure us that something they’re doing that’s counter to your interests is actually just as much to your advantage as theirs. That’s what Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti) tells himself when … Continue reading →

Chanda doesn’t have an easy life. At 12, she has siblings to take care of. Her alcoholic dad has a habit of stealing the family cash and spending it on booze and hookers. Her best friend, Esther, is something of … Continue reading →

The unlikely combination of funnyman Will Ferrell and the boozy “dirty realism” of the great short story writer Raymond Carver pays offs in “Everything Must Go,” a sardonic look at hitting bottom before you can start the climb back up. … Continue reading →

The doctor comes to the remote clinic and tosses the chanting African children the gift of a soccer ball. Then he sets to work. Anton (Mikael Persbrandt)  is a surgeon, a member of Doctors Without Borders bringing medicine and healing … Continue reading →

“Jumping the Broom” is like a Tyler Perry movie with polish. An ensemble comedy about a wedding that joins a wealthy, Martha’s Vineyard family of African American professionals with the groom’s more down to Earth working-class Brooklynites, it is well-cast, … Continue reading →

This cinematic sociological experiment has been going on so long that director Michael Apted, who has Bond and Narnia credits under his belt, in addition to “Coal Miner’s Daughter” and “Enigma” and “Nell” and “Thunderheart,” might be thinking of handing … Continue reading →

The New BET comedy series “Second Generation Wayans” begs the question – have their really only been TWO generations of the professionally funny family that gave us “In Living Color,” the “Scary Movie” franchise, and “White Chicks”? “I’m pretty sure … Continue reading →

The BFCA Awards used to be the most reliable Oscar indicator of awards season. But that’s not likely to be the case this year. The Oscars seemed to limit the field to those already touted other places this year, more … Continue reading →

Editing, knowing what to winnow out, is every bit as important in documentary films as it is in novels, where Hemingway advised us to be ruthless thinning the ranks of our “little darlings.” “Brooklyn Castle” is an overlong but engaging … Continue reading →

“He had time” is the finest compliment the drummer Ginger Baker can give. This fellow or that one has a sense of rhythm that meets with the cranky Cream drummer’s approval. Jay Bulger, an opportunistic journalist, may not have that, … Continue reading →