Monthly Archives: December 2013

Golden Globes boost “Slave,” “Mandela,” “Hustle” — not “The Butler”

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Roger Moore

“American Hustle” and “12 Years a Slave” led this year’s Golden Globes nominations, announced today. A few quick observations — the broader Globes “comedy” vs. “Drama” categories always allows greater inclusion. So you get both Bruce Dern AND Robert Redford … Continue reading →

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Steve Carell empties his head for “Anchorman 2”

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Roger Moore

Steve Carell is determined to lower expectations for “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.”“It’s SO stupid. I couldn’t believe how stupid it is.”And in a world of stupid and a cast ’70s era TV news buffoons, Steve’s character, the ditzy, naive … Continue reading →

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Movie Review: “Here Comes the Devil,” there go the frights

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Roger Moore

“Here Comes the Devil” is a case study in how to make your low-budget horror movie sellable.It barely has a fright in it on its own, this bloody, Mexican-made supernatural thriller set in the hill country near Tijuana.But open it … Continue reading →

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SAG refuses to write off “The Butler” or kill Oprah’s faint Oscar hopes

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Roger Moore

“The Butler” scored nominations for best picture (is IS an ensemble piece, and SAG loves to see members working), best actor and best supporting actress from the Screen Actor’s Guild today. “12 Years a Slave,” “Dallas Buyer’s Club,” “American Hustle” … Continue reading →

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Spike Jonze solves loneliness with technology in “Her”

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Roger Moore

Spike Jonze is reluctant to call his new film “Her”, a melancholy romance about a man who falls in love with a sentient, learning and loving operating system, “science fiction.” He doesn’t want to talk about technology and the modest … Continue reading →

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Movie Review: Thompson and Hanks seem Oscar bound in the sublime “Saving Mr. Banks”

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Roger Moore

It’s a Hollywood legend that Walt Disney felt some sort of malevolent glee in killing Bambi’s mom, and what that animated death would do to the children who saw it. But that’s only a legend.P.L. Travers, the woman who wrote … Continue reading →

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Movie Review: “The Hobbit, The Desolation of Smaug”

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Roger Moore

Bilbo turns tougher and more cunning and “The Hobbit” turns altogether more entertaining in “The Desolation of Smaug,” Peter Jackson’s livelier, funnier and action-packed middle film in his trilogy based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s slight delight of a novel.It looks more … Continue reading →

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Movie Preview: “Jupiter Ascending,” Wachowski’s “comeback?”

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Roger Moore

“The Matrix” siblings haven’t had an unqualified success in the years since — an embarrassing “Speed Racer” sell-out, and “Cloud Atlas” was an aesthetic and box office misfire. So they’ve hung their hopes on sci-fi resurrection on this story of … Continue reading →

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Today’s screenings, “Mandela” and “Desolation of Smaug”

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Roger Moore

It’s a Mandela and Middle Earth Monday. The Nelson Mandela bio-pic starring Idris Elba and Naomie Harris opened in VERY limited release a week or two back. Blew up the box office in South Africa. Didn’t make much of a … Continue reading →

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Box Office: Ice Storm, football, and “Frozen” take down “Catching Fire”

Posted on December 8, 2013 by Roger Moore

A depressed weekend tally at the box office that most are attributing to the Great American Ice Storm might also have a day-long/night long college football “Championship Saturday” element. “Frozen” held more of its audience than “Catching Fire” and will … Continue reading →

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