Bio Hazards
The music of Ray Charles is a national treasure, as is the artist's legacy. The same can't be said for "Ray," the movie of his life, although the transcendent performance …
House of Strain
A Review of "The Grudge"
This Halloween season's requisite "spooky house" flick, "The Grudge," tries in vain to combine American and Japanese horror genre sensibilities, with clunky, derivative, disappointing results. Director Takashi Shimizu has adapted …
Paper Clips and Short Skirts
Take a look at the glossy, full-color brochure. Even if there were no words on the cover, you'd still get the gist from the graphics—a Menorrah, a film projector reel …
Picture Imperfect: A Review of "Wicker Park," PG-13
The trailer for Paul McGuigan's "Wicker Park" wrongly portrays the film as a thriller, a sort of Generation X "Fatal Attraction." While it certainly has its darker elements (many of …
Lights, Camera, College
Who knows about college life better than a 45-year-old writer in Hollywood, right? Before you embark on your many higher-ed adventures, make sure you've checked out Hollywood's best college films. …
A Bride's Revenge
A Review of "Kill Bill Vol. 2," R
One of the best films of 2004, Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill, Vol. 2" is a swift, funny, potent continuation of one of the most exciting film sagas in recent memory. …
School Movies
OK, some are better than others, but all the following movies set in one way or another in a school are worth renting, if for no other reason than to …
Sloppy, Dreary ‘Village'
"The Village" takes forever to reach its destination, and when it does, it's difficult to care. Following a trio of superbly crafted thrillers ("The Sixth Sense," "Unbreakable," and "Signs"), writer/director …
Straight to the Litter Box
Staggeringly bad filmmaking in nearly every conceivable way, it's hard to imagine a more boilerplate costumed comic-book actioner than "Catwoman," a DC Comics rip-off.
A Few Loose Screws
A Review of "I, Robot," PG-13
Will Smith has grown into our nation's most proficient green-screen actor. It's a dubious achievement, perhaps, but a very marketable skill in these glory years of computer-enhanced moviemaking. If you …
With Great Power
I met my first super-hero—the amazing Spider-Man—when I was around 7 years old. I am 24 now and still keeping up with many of those same comics on a monthly …
Burning Bush: A Review of "Fahrenheit 9/11"
Perhaps the most controversial (and deservedly so) film so far this year is "Fahrenheit 9/11," a new release from Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Michael Moore. Winner of last May's Golden Palm, …
We Want Our Indie Pics
Why can't we see "The Pianist" (pee-a-nist, it's OK to say it) in Jackson? For that matter, why can't we see "Bowling for Columbine" or "The Quiet American"? Why are …
City of Brutality: A Review of ‘City of God'
Crime, redemption and the viciousness of the human animal are the fundamental elements of "City of God (Cidade de Deus)," a brutal and beautiful drama from Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles. …
The Ice Movie Cometh
A Review of "The Day After Tomorrow"
The worst-case scenario effects of global warming are the subject of "The Day After Tomorrow," a new action film heavy on breathtaking visuals but light on story and complex characters. …
