Yearly Archives: 2013

“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” might be better than the dull “Unexpected Journey”

Let’s agree things need to move along a bit — ok, a LOT — more quickly with this second “Hobbit” installment. I’d dearly love to see a 100-110 minute cut (tops). It won’t, but if it moves like this trailer, … Continue reading

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Movie Review: “Pulling Strings” takes us into Mexico City’s “mariachi underground”

“Pulling Strings” takes a bit of a hit by being the third Latin single-dad comedy to roll into American theaters in a month. And though it is funnier and out-charms “Tio Papi,” it lacks the whimsy, magical realism and kid-friendly … Continue reading

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Mexican pop singer/actor Jaime Camil is ready for his “Cerrar de todo” (Close Up)

If you’re not of Latin heritage, you may not know the handsome pop-singing actor Jaime Camil. With three albums and numerous stage and telenovela (Mexican soap opera) appearances, Camil, 40, is just starting to pop out of the Univision corner … Continue reading

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Alfonso Cuaron tells us how to experience “Gravity”

Gravity” is not meant to be experienced by iPhone, iPad or the box where you watch Robin Williams and Michael J. Fox try to turn back the clock. No, director Alfonso Cuaron says. Part with a dime for “Gravity,” get … Continue reading

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“Runner Runner” director announces next project before this one hits theaters

The reviews, from overseas, mostly (a peculiar  Fox releasing strategy), are not good for “Runner, Runner,” a gambling/crime/betrayal thriller starring Ben Affleck as the criminal gambler mastermind in Costa Rica or someplace as Justin Timberlake as the guy who gets … Continue reading

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Today’s Screening: “About Time”

Time travel romances haven’t done Rachel McAdams any favors. But here she is, falling for another time-traveler (Domhnall Gleeson) whose (Bill Nighy) dad has told him about his family gift for zipping through time, meeting the right person, fixing that … Continue reading

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Movie Review: “Gravity”

Technically dazzling and emotionally gripping, “Gravity” is a space-age science fiction thriller grounded in something pretty close to reality. A space shuttle/space junk accident picture, Alfonso Cuaron’s movie gives us Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, space-walkers whose ship is wrecked … Continue reading

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“Sin City 2” : Made in India?

And Vancouver. And probably, soundstages in the U.S. Probably. PFW, one of the companies invested in Robert Rodriguez’s long-awaited “Sin City” sequel, “A Dame to Die For,” is shipping a lot of the special effects work to Mumbai, which RR … Continue reading

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Movie Review: “A.C.O.D.”

Melissa and Hugh divorced decades ago, but the heat never left their hate. They still go at it, hammer and tong, voices shrieking, threats rising and profanity flying. And they’re every bit as funny as old pros Catherine O’Hara and … Continue reading

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Next Screening: “Escape from Tomorrow”

Randy Moore’s filmed-on-the-sly theme park (Disneyland and Disney World) horror thriller got some level of Disney permission and has distribution. Intrigued.

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