Comedy/Drama, 93 Minutes, 2013
We gave this a shot because, after watching the excellent BBC America series “Orphan Black” [IMDB] we became very impressed with Tatiana Maslany [IMDB]. Her turn as an entire group of clones, all with radically distinct personalities, is truly impressive. Very highly recommended.
This movie? It’s fine.
Drama, 83 Minutes, 2009
This is an odd little animated movie that I immensely enjoyed. The story is, basically, a biography of Tulip, an Alsatian dog owned by Londoner J.R. Ackerley. Tulip is, most people would have to concede, a “problem dog”. She’s rambunctious, hyperactive, possessive and unruly. Her owner lives in constant wonder of her.
Comedy, 96 Minutes, 2013
I looked forward to this. I really like the cast and the “kids take over” premise enjoys an eternal life. Like most it’s often done badly. Sometimes very badly. Still, periodically, it’s done so right that you always extend it at least the benefit of the doubt.
In this case Olesya Rulin [IMDB] plays Emily, a teenager so fed up with her parents self-absorption that she, with the help of her three siblings, imprisons them for a weekend of forced family therapy. Of course highly controlling, power-broker Mom (Kristin Chenoweth [IMDB]) and hippy-dippy, stay-at-home artist dad (Mathew Modine [IMDB]) are resistant to the concept. As time goes on, and more and more goes wrong, extreme measures are resorted to.
Drama, 93 Minutes, 2013
This is, like most true stories, difficult to watch without wondering what the real truth is. In this case that’s made doubly difficult because the movie gives us two versions of the truth to choose from. The first may be considered the “public” and the second the “private” version of events.
Action/Drama, 149 Minutes, 2013
As a big fan of both classic serialized heroes and westerns, I was actually looking forward to this quite a bit. Sure, I may have been the only one, but I thought that it would at least be a nice, meaningless, popcorn lark. Something well-done, over-the-top and forgettable.
But then they had to go and throw in all that genocide.
Drama/Thriller, 77 Minutes, 2013
A couple starts dinner. There’s quiet resentment hanging in the air. They eat in silence for several minutes. An attempt at small talk quickly devolves to petty sniping and veiled insults. The tension is visible and resentment hangs thick in the air. The doorbell rings.
The Ohio State Marching Band does summer blockbusters – and they start off with Supes! Supes is mah fav’rit!
Sure they also do a lot of other stuff, but smart people know: you can’t beat Superman!
Zombie alert!
See the review of “Germ” on our sister site, MoreBrains.com dedicated to all things zombie!
Horror, 90 Minutes, 2013
Danica McKellar [IMDB], who did this to you? Did they threaten you? Did they tell you, “it’ll be fun!” or, “don’t worry, nobody will get hurt!” Did they? Well, young lady, you may not have intended it, but people got hurt. Some seriously. I was one of them. So I need you to tell me who did this to you and I need you to do it right now.
Would you like to point out on the doll where they threatened to hurt you?
Comedy, 119 Minutes, 2013
This is a completely clichéd “Old dogs teach new tricks” story. Vince Vaughn [IMDB] and Owen Wilson [IMDB] are luxury watch salesmen made irrelevant in the age of smart phones. Deciding they need a change in their lives they apply, in a flash of optimistic hubris, to a cutthroat technical internship program catering almost exclusively to new college graduates.
The internship is at GOOGLE!
