The Intouchables
The Intouchables is my new favorite French feel-good film! Based on a true story, I must admit, the premise sounded like a total downer. A rich Parisian quadriplegic hires an…
Premium Rush
Premium Rush is a fun ride – on two wheels- without brakes. It’s sort of like Speed on a bicycle. The film moves at a steady clip, doesn’t make you…
Moonrise Kingdom
You know from the first frame of Moonrise Kingdom that you are watching one of Wes Anderson's movies. They're not like anyone else's. The textures are more textured, the children…
People Like Us
People Like Us will have to fight for attention and word of mouth. But it's a very satisfying departure from the loud, crazy, crude, animated, 3D, superhero, star-studded or simply…
Bernie
Whenever I see that a movie is "based on a true story" I wonder how little of said story actually made it onto the screen. With Richard Linklater's Bernie, the…
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
There are movies that only the British seem capable of pulling off, populated with non-caricatured older people who have depth and interesting stories to tell. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel…
The Lucky One
At last check, The Lucky One had a rather unlucky 21% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. I think that’s a little harsh. Sure, the movie is pure, unadulterated chickflick-romantic-drama-sap with a…
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen may sound like a boring documentary, but it’s actually a rather charming chick flick that will likely need strong word of mouth to expand its…
This Means War
This Means War could ignite a battle among critics – and debates among friends- because it’s not a great movie by any stretch, but it doesn’t suck either. It’s fine…
The Vow
I wouldn’t completely disavow The Vow, but I wouldn’t commit to a recommendation either. It’s mediocre melancholy that topped the box office in its opening weekend for one main reason:…
Man on a Ledge
Man on a Ledge is one of those movies that holds your attention and ultimately entertains, even if it does fade from memory a short time later. The less you…
Joyful Noise
Joyful Noise is full of, well, joyful noise – at least when the music is playin’. Unfortunately, the movie slows down quite a bit between numbers. In other words, you…
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
They're baaack! Holmes and Watson (Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law) pick up slightly after we last saw them in the first Sherlock Holmes. Dr. Watson is about to be…
New Year’s Eve
I just re-read my review of Garry Marshall’s easy breezy chick flick of last year, Valentine’s Day, and guess what? I could easily just change out the holiday - and…
The Artist
I have my favorite movie of the year now, and I expect that The Artist will be at the top of a lot of other reviewers’ lists, too. I’ve been…