Monthly Archives: January 2014

He’s come a long way from being a British TV actor who could never, ever escape the ghost of Alan Partridge. Steve Coogan once mocked that trap in “Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story,” mocked the sanctity of Shakespeare … Continue reading →

“Gimme Shelter” is a simplistic, faintly emotional account of a pregnant teen’s desperate search for help, support and compassion with the huge decision she faces. It’s simplistic because the script discounts debate over that decision and glosses over the messy … Continue reading →

Writer-director Ron Krauss ran through more than a few Hollywood starlets in trying to cast the homeless pregnant teen, Apple, in his debut feature film — “Gimme Shelter.” He’d spent more than a year getting to know such women and … Continue reading →

Aaron Eckhart has some advice for monster movie and Mary Shelley purists who might quibble with “I, Frankenstein,” his futuristic movie version of creature that features Eckhart as the monster almost 100 years in the future. “Get on Twitter,” he … Continue reading →

The weekend’s round of awards shows produced one modest surprise. The Screen Actor’s Guild gave best supporting actress to Adepero Oduye from “12 Years a Slave.” That’s a performance that critics have boosted into the limelight, and it’s nice to … Continue reading →

In her youth, Gloria hit the discos and danced the Chilean nights away, grooving to the Andrea True Connection and Umberto Tozzi’s song that used her name. “Gloria”, a song later remade in America by Laura Brannigan, is an ear … Continue reading →

“Run & Jump” is an uncommonly offbeat and charmingly unconventional romance, an Irish comedy that lets itself get very serious, now and again, and is all the richer for it. Vanetia (Maxine Peake) is a vivacious 30something mother of two, … Continue reading →

Paulina Garcia took the best actress prize at last year’s prestigious Berlin Film Festival for her performance in the title role in “Gloria.” And as Irish Times film critic Donald Clarke enthused, “It is hard to imagine the jury deliberated … Continue reading →

Kevin Hart, whatever the effort or lack of effort he’s putting into his movies these days, is box office gold — the new Chris Tucker. He’s made the leap from up and comer, the latest cast member from “Freaks and … Continue reading →