Monthly Archives: June 2016

It happened for John Wayne the first time John Ford tracked in on him,close-up, in “Stagecoach.” Steven Spielberg made sure it happened for Harrison Ford when he copied that shot in “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” And it just might … Continue reading →

“Nuts!” is a comical documentary exploration of Americana, a piece of Great Depression history playfully related with animation and tongue planted firmly in cheek. It’s about a Great American, a visionary almost forgotten today, Dr. John Romulus Brinkley, whose impotence … Continue reading →

Sensitive child actor turned sensitive character player and leading man Anton Yelchin is the latest celebrity death in the grim gallery of 2016. Pinned against a wall by his own car, apparently. It was a Jeep Grand Cherokee, under a … Continue reading →

Some movies, and almost all popcorn pictures, don’t need to be previewed for critics. They’re “brands” more than movies. They have a built-in constituency, and the only things do for that constituency is rile them up if some of us … Continue reading →

Pixar’s magic touch has never been more magical. “Finding Dory,” the “Finding Nemo” sequel, is on pace to set the opening weekend box office record for animated films. $134 million, per Deadline.com. The most beloved Pixar (Disney Pixar) title to … Continue reading →

    Pervy, titillating and deeply disturbing, the one word you’d never use to describe the documentary “Tickled” is funny. An expose of the Internet phenomenon of “Competitive Endurance Tickling,” it’s one of those “sports” you hear DJs talk about … Continue reading →

OK, so now they’re three weeks into “Top Gear: TNG.” How’s it doing? “Still gaining acceptance?” Don’t know about that. Wouldn’t be prudent to make a judgment. Yet. Maybe everybody made up their minds about post-May/Hammond/Clarkson TG with the premiere … Continue reading →

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Kevin “Little Man” Hart team up for “Central Intelligence.” That’s all the info we need to know exactly how this action comedy is going down. Lots of Big Man/Little Fella sight gags, confident muscle man, … Continue reading →

There are enough laughs in “Finding Dory” to justify Disney wanting a sequel to “Finding Nemo,” one of the most successful animated films of all time. And there’s enough heart and smarts to warrant Pixar making it. A message-heavy action … Continue reading →

The characters are ’80s “types” — the Madonna-wannabe, the would-be B-Boys, the punk rock punk, the martial arts geek, etc. The soundtrack is a John Hughes comedy cliche — a little “Pretty in Pink,” a lot of “Breakfast Club,” with … Continue reading →