Monthly Archives: January 2017

It’s a secret every stand-up comic must master if she or he is to have any chance of success. Know when to get off stage, when to as the rappers say, “drop the mike.” “The Comedian” is an 85 minute … Continue reading →

A lot of top flight talent wanted to be a part of James Franco‘s most ambitious movie as a director. Scene after scene of “In Dubious Battle” is filled with the faces of Ed Harris, Bryan Cranston, Robert Duvall, Sam … Continue reading →

A huge Thursday night had box office prognosticators thinking “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter,” would “go out” with a bang. Then again, maybe Variety and others were just trolling for gamer traffic. But Friday proved otherwise, and it’s slated to … Continue reading →

It must have seemed like a good idea. If losing a ton of weight to play an emaciated redneck AIDS patient who resolves to not go quietly into the dark Texas night in “Dallas Buyers’ Club” won Matthew McConaughey an … Continue reading →

The most successful video game film franchise ever wraps up its saga  in “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter.” But — spoiler alert here — if you think that title represents truth in advertising, there’s there’s this bankrupt billionaire con artist … Continue reading →

The 37th annual Golden Raspberry Awards, dissing the disasters of cinema, were announced this week. And the voters cooked up their usual blend of condemnation and dish on the year’s unworthiest films, scripts for films and actors in films. So … Continue reading →

The conventions of the “fresh out of prison” drama are long-established. But they’re recycled, to good effect, in “Chapter & Verse,” a well-acted genre picture that suffers only from a chronic inability to surprise. Writer-star Daniel Beaty lays out the … Continue reading →

Yet another entertainment icon has passed. Mary Tyler Moore was 80. The cause of death wasn’t made immediately available, but she suffered from diabetes and battled brain cancer in recent years. She made her mark on TV, starting with her … Continue reading →

Not all Vin Diesel franchises are created equal. Then again, maybe they are. Paramount tries to clone the Diesel “Fast/Furious” formula with “xXx: Return of Xander Cage,” a ham-fisted, instantly-awful action revival back from back in Diesel’s heyday. It’s got breathlessly … Continue reading →

  We don’t need a movie, based on a novel, to tell us what “A Dog’s Purpose” is. Dogs provide unconditional love, non-judgmental companionship and teach us about loyalty, responsibility and mortality. It can’t hurt to be gently reminded of … Continue reading →