Monthly Archives: January 2015

Movie Review: American flyers went “Above and Beyond” to ensure the birth of Israel

Posted on January 27, 2015 by

“Above and Beyond” is a moving and entertaining documentary about the young international volunteers who dashed to Israel in 1948 to create an Israeli Air Force. They were World War II vets from the U.S., South Africa, Britain and elsewhere. … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news

Producers Guild goes for “Birdman,” “Lego Movie” and “Life Itself”

Posted on January 25, 2015 by

The PGA is widely regarded as the surest of sure fire Oscar indicators, and if so, that means “Birdman” is the favorite come Academy Awards night. It took the two top awards at Saturday’s Producers Guild honors. But “The Lego … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news

Box Office: Another “Sniper” weekend, J.Lo opens well, Depp bombs

Posted on January 25, 2015 by

“American Sniper” looks to have tallied another 50-$61 million this weekend, after yet another massive Friday. It’s a certified smash, a rare one in Clint Eastwood’s canon, and should have cleared $150-$175 by the end of its run. “Wedding Ringer” … Continue reading →

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Movie Review: “Strange Magic”

Posted on January 23, 2015 by

“Strange Magic” is a cartoon fantasy cooked up from a half-baked idea from George Lucas. The hook in that this tale of fairies fighting goblins over a love potion is that every minute or three, some fairy, elf or goblin … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news | 4 Comments

Movie Review: “Mortdecai”

Posted on January 23, 2015 by

As you might have guessed from the daft and something-short-of-hilarious TV ads, “Mortdecai” is an extended inside Anglo joke that most of us aren’t in on. Rather. But for a certain sort of Anglophile, one who recognizes the attempted homage … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news | 2 Comments

Movie Review: “The Boy Next Door”

Posted on January 22, 2015 by

Universal’s “The Boy Next Door” is almost so bad it’s good. Well, at least they got the “bad” part of that equation right. A risible stalker thriller predicated on the absurd notion that Jennifer Lopez is still a movie star, … Continue reading →

Posted in previews, profiles and movie news, Reviews

Movie Review: The vast sea and burning sun are the enemies in “Against the Sun”

Posted on January 21, 2015 by

Three downed Navy airmen stuck on a raft in the middle of the Pacific in World War II for weeks on end. It’s a familiar movie narrative, at least in part, because it happened more than once, even happened to … Continue reading →

Posted in previews, profiles and movie news, Reviews

Movie Review: Aniston is the frosting, the plate, the whole reason to see “Cake”

Posted on January 21, 2015 by

A comedy that barely flirts with funny and a grim weeper that never quite raises a tear, “Cake” has one thing going for it — Jennifer Aniston. And if she didn’t get the Oscar nomination that might have seemed certain … Continue reading →

Posted in previews, profiles and movie news, Reviews

Movie Review: “Black Sea”

Posted on January 21, 2015 by

His hair is thinning and his features are thickening, and Jude Law is evolving into a more interesting actor as this happens. He’s more at home in tough guy roles such as “Dom Hemingway.” The gritty submarine thriller “Black Sea” … Continue reading →

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Movie Review: McGregor goes dark for “Son of a Gun”

Posted on January 21, 2015 by

You’ve never seen Ewan McGregor quite like this — all sadistic, ruthless and what not. In “Son of a Gun,” he plays Brendan, an escaped convict who busts out of the joint, does a job and is double-crossed. And Brendan … Continue reading →

Posted in previews, profiles and movie news, Reviews