Monthly Archives: January 2013

Mark Zuckerberg, the creator of Facebook, is the smartest guy in the room.  He used to be the smartest “kid” in the room, though he aged out of that. Kind of. But the questions posited by David Fincher’s  brilliant film, … Continue reading →

One savvy fan of both “Star Wars” and (maybe) J.J. Abrams has concocted this send-up of what Abrams will make “Star Wars” look like, a fan video with “flare.” Lens flare. Funny.  

Back when “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” came out, it was hard to focus on anything but the film’s shortcomings. Director Chris Columbus, as he has proven in films before and since, has little sense of urgency — no … Continue reading →

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is going to rue the day they didn’t recognize Ben Affleck with a best director nomination. That old maxim, “Best directors direct best pictures” is going to be turned on its ear … Continue reading →

I was a fan of “Old Boy.” I also enjoyed Park Chan-Wook’s entire “Vengeance” trilogy — “Sympathy for Lady Vengeance” being the last of those. And “Thirst” gave me the creeps, big time. Now, as Spike Lee finishes the American/Hollywood … Continue reading →

She landed the coveted role of Hollywood’s “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” and she’s followed that up with a lead role in a Steven Soderbergh thriller — “Side Effects” — which opens in a couple of weeks. Rooney Mara is … Continue reading →

She dazzled in “Alice in Wonderland” and “The Kids are All Right.” She’s the formidable teen presence anchoring “Stoker” — a girl you don’t want to mess with. There was “Jane Eyre,” “Restless,” “Lawless.” Mia Wasikowska is definitely an acting … Continue reading →

“Transformers” really whetted Hollywood’s appetite for movies about gigantic fighting/flying bipeds. But they don’t necessarily have to be Battle Bots with funny voices to qualify. Anime has a long tradition of soldiers/etc. inside gigantic fighting machines. “Pacific Rim” will have … Continue reading →

The heist doesn’t go wrong. Five guys, some dressed as clowns, one wearing a priest’s collar and the getaway guy in a fire chief’s uniform – knock over the cash office of the Ohio State Fair. But just afterward, four … Continue reading →