In the scheme of things, Miles (Paul Giamatti) and Jack (Thomas Hayden Church) couldn’t be as different as night and day. Miles, a schoolteacher and aspiring novelist, is precise and enjoys a good Pinot Noir. Jack, over his frat-boy prime and a mediocre acting career, shoots off the cuff and enjoys pushing his man-child behavior to the limit. Read the rest of this entry »

One of my favorite films of all time, “Field of Dreams” is a celebration of life, baseball, and of fathers and sons. Written for the screen and directed by Phil Alden Robinson, “Field of Dreams” is quintessential entertainment. It entertains, informs, and provides a cathartic emotional release. Read the rest of this entry »

The first question is why. Why do people pay $45 to see four guys imitate The Beatles? Why is one of the longest running shows in Las Vegas a revue of celebrity impersonators? Is it because people feel the need to connect with their nostalgic roots? Read the rest of this entry »

After attending an evening of drinking and flirting at a Christmas party, Dr. William Harford (Tom Cruise) and his wife Alice (Nicole Kidman) retire to their swank Central Park West apartment for a little dope smoking and mind games. Read the rest of this entry »

As a film critic, I always find myself looking beyond the projected image. I’m constantly asked if dissecting a film detracts from my enjoyment of it. Hardly. A well constructed film holds up under any scrutiny. Unlike most audience members, I also derive pleasure in knowing how the filmmakers arrived at this point. Read the rest of this entry »

Extremely lightweight comedy about a two-time felon trying to avoid a Third Strike. It’s not as easy as Rob Douglas (Brian Hooks) thinks, as his career criminal buddies keep trying to draw him over to the wrong side of the law. Having just been released from prison, Douglas makes every effort to stay clean, knowing that one more strike could send him away for a very long time. Read the rest of this entry »

Despite good intentions, Hollywood filmmakers cannot resist the temptation to water down demanding subject matter into mainstream entertainment. War films are especially troubling, mostly because writers and directors feel the need to humanize the characters by allowing them to stop dead in their tracks and express their emotions. Read the rest of this entry »

You’re much too talented to be wasting time on sluggish potboilers like “High Times” and “Twisted.” Formulaic, derivative, and completely boneheaded, the script for “Twisted” should never have made it past a studio reader, much less someone with their client’s best interests in mind. Read the rest of this entry »

Talk about an easy pitch. Imagine selling “Mona Lisa Smile” to a studio. What’s it about? Well, it’s “Dead Poet’s Society” with chicks. So it’s a chick flick? Not really, it’s a people flick. Who’s attached? Julia Roberts. Good choice, Oscar winner, can open a film. Who does she play? Read the rest of this entry »

Who let the dogs out? Welcome to Hollywood’s Hall of Shame, late August, a favorite dumping ground for mindless movies. No, this isn’t a case of saving the best for last. On the contrary, the Dog Days of Summer are reserved for films aimed at audiences not smart enough to sneak out of town for one last hurrah. Read the rest of this entry »