Currently browsing the "Drama" tag.

Drive

What happens when a Hollywood action flick collides with an artsy indie? You get Drive, a movie that will either crash and burn at the box office or earn a cult following, particularly among fans of Pulp Fiction or maybe The Sopranos.

Contagion

If you’re a germaphobe, then run – don’t walk- to the nearest exit. And wash your hands. Twice.

The Debt

The Debt is intriguing and has a stellar cast, but I’m hesitant to recommend it – except to those who desperately crave a spy-thriller over the long Labor Day weekend. If you do go, keep your expectations in check and enjoy it for the fine acting as opposed to any real depth of character or story development.

Friends with Benefits

Friends with Benefits is basically a beach-read romance novel come to life on the big screen. Not that there’s anything wrong with a little summer heat. If the premise sounds vaguely familiar, that’s because it is. Just seven months ago, Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher brought us No Strings Attached– a movie about a couple of old friends who agree to engage in a purely physical relationship. Friends with Benefits stars Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake as two new friends who try to convince each other that their physical relationship is merely a fleeting bonus to their comfortable, otherwise platonic friendship. See the difference?

Larry Crowne

Even if you really like Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, you’re still going to have a hard time liking this movie. It just falls flat – as does the chemistry between these two powerhouse actors. What a disappointment.

The Art of Getting By

The Art of Getting By is another one of those small movies that may get lost in the summer swarm because it’s good, but not good enough to generate much buzz.

Beautiful Boy

Beautiful Boy is about as far as you can get from the “feel good movies” of summer. But to be fair, it’s hard to imagine a good time of year for this type of indie drama. It’s a bit reminiscent of last year’s Rabbit Hole (Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhardt) which came out during the winter holiday season (that seemed like bad timing too). Both movies revolve around married couples dealing with grief and confusion in the aftermath of losing their only child. Beautiful Boy, however, is darker and more complex.

Super 8

Super 8 is a blast from the past – especially for those of us who, um, grew up in the 1970s.

The Tree of Life

The Tree of Life won the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival this year. So it’s gotta be good, right? Well…

Midnight in Paris

I’m not (book) smart enough to fully appreciate Midnight in Paris, but I would certainly encourage fans of the literary and art world of the 1920s to check it out. The movie presents an interesting, somewhat whimsical Woody Allen-ified twist on the time travel genre.