Monthly Archives: May 2016

In “The Nice Guys,” director Shane Black and producer Joel Silver go back to the ’70s to relive their 1980s glory, those guns, giggles and gore action comedies like “Lethal Weapon” and “The Last Boy Scout.” A hilarious Ryan Gosling … Continue reading →

You don’t have to be Ridley Scott or have $100 million to make a Trip to Mars movie. A couple of minimalist sets, video monitors to bring other settings/characters and a desert you can film in reddish filters and voila … Continue reading →

Children’s cartoons from most every film studio these days adhere to the Pixar model — especially in terms of themes and messages. “You’ve got a friend in me,” and “friends stick together” and the like seems to be as deep … Continue reading →

If horror movies are meals, “The Darkness” is one that takes the smorgasbord approach. It’s got demons, a haunted house, portals to “the Third World,” a demon-targeted autistic kid, Native American rituals, an alcoholic mother who sees things but whom … Continue reading →

“Captain America: Civil War” still owns the box office this weekend. But it’s falling off over 60% from its robust $179 million opening frame. A 60% drop is a little steeper than average with a blockbuster with great reviews and … Continue reading →

No explanation required.

The pedigree for “Fathers and Daughters” suggests there were great expectations for this melodrama at one time. Oscar winners Russell Crowe, Jane Fonda and Octavia Spencer, Oscar nominee Quvenzhane Wallis and reunited “Big Love” lovers Amanda Seyfried and Aaron Paul … Continue reading →

Gennadiy Mokhnenko is a two-fisted Pentacostalist pastor who sees himself as a character he remembers from a children’s cartoon. He is “Gennadiy the Crocodile,” friend to children everywhere, and a friend with teeth. Steve Hoover’s documentary “Almost Holy” follows this … Continue reading →

But but but… I thought “The Curse of Sleeping Beauty” was a children’s film! Not animated? In 3D? No true love’s kiss, and all that? Well, sort of. It’s a haunted house story, though it doesn’t start that way. Thomas … Continue reading →

Everybody pretty much abandoned this weekend to “Captain America: Actually an Avengers Movie.” It could manage another $80 million at the box office (any less than that is a sign of audience fatigue). So there’s not a lot of new … Continue reading →