Film Reviews

Our Family Wedding

ljmandell — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:37:18 -0500

When you make a movie about interracial marriage you’re bound to get on some people’s nerves. But for this light-hearted comedy about a Latina (America Farrera) marrying an African American (Lance Gross), those people just need to put aside their prickliness for a few hours and enjoy the high spirited fun this film has to offer.

Green Zone

ljmandell — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:57:22 -0500

Get ready for another motion-sickness-inducing, frantic thriller from Paul Greengrass, the same director who brought you the Bourne movies and United 93. Unfortunately, Greengrass wouldn’t recognize a camera dolly if it ran over him, and the jerky frenzy of his hand-held camera and lightening signature editing style leave me lurching for an empty popcorn bag. His films literally make me sick to my stomach, and I’m really tired of them.

Alice in Wonderland

ljmandell — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:34:23 -0500

I wonder why so many critics are sniping at Tim Burton’s version of the Lewis Carol classic, Alice in Wonderland.

Brooklyn's Finest

ljmandell — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:36:15 -0500

Is anyone else as weary of the dark New York cop drama as I am?

The Yellow Handkerchief

ljmandell — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:21:41 -0500

No one does silent and troubled like William Hurt. No one does tough and vulnerable like Maria Bello. No one does angst ridden and innocently sexy like Kristen Stewart.

Cop Out

ljmandell — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:17:57 -0500

I just don’t get Tracy Morgan. I don’t find him funny, clever, cute, endearing—hey, half the time I can’t even understand what he’s saying.

Shutter Island

ljmandell — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:02:26 -0500

From the very first frame, where an old time ferry emerges from the dank fog of Boston Harbor, you know this is going to be a masterfully conceived, noirish treat. And when your eyes first fall upon the usually pretty-boy Leonardo DiCaprio, dark-eyed, puffy and puking his seasick guts out in the ship’s grimy bathroom, you know that director Martin Scorsese is pulling no punches in this dark, genre, psychological thriller.

Shutter Island not for everyone. It’s eerie, dark, depressing and disturbing.

Happy Tears

ljmandell — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:36:51 -0500

In the end, the payoff promised in the title is not worth the long, slow trudge through maudlin indie muck.

The Wolfman

ljmandell — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:56:41 -0500

The howls that you'll hear during this film are not the anguished cries of a tormented monster, but rather the regretful and angry keening of an audience that wasted the price of admission and the time it takes to sit through this clunker. Granted, a lot of effort, expertise, creativity and money went into the broody, moody gothic visuals and score, but maybe even a modicum of attention paid to the script and the performances would have been nice.

Valentine's Day

ljmandell — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:01:01 -0500

I felt the same way about Valentine's Day that I do about a heart-shaped box of chocolates. If the ones with the fudgy, nutty centers outnumber the ones with the raisins in them and there are a few yummy surprises, I'm delighted and grateful. Direrctor Garry Marshall has kept the raisins to a minimum in this delicious box of sweet holiday treats.