A half-century of Rings-mania culminates in The Return of the King.
By Gregory Weinkauf,
December 18, 2003
Not unlike Kurt Vonnegut, J.R.R. Tolkien remains a massively popular author whose seemingly "morbid" work often reflects surviving the horrors of... More>>
The idiots what brung you Dumb and Dumber ain't funny no more
By Luke Y. Thompson,
December 11, 2003
Remember the Farrelly brothers? Makers of Dumb and Dumber and There's Something About Mary? Known for crossing the line of good taste and making... More>>
Even stoners won't find anything to laugh about in Potluck
By Brendan Joel Kelley,
December 11, 2003
"Here, go ahead and light this joint, man, let me tell you my idea . . ."
Flick, flick . . . puff, inhale, hold it, eyes bug out, holding it,... More>>
What a bad feeling - and taste - Honey leaves behind
By Robert Wilonsky,
December 04, 2003
Honey is one of those movies you will see (or not, whatever), swear you've seen before in several other guises and incarnations, then immediately... More>>
Michael Crichton seems pretty clever. The doctor-screenwriter-novelist digs odd history (Eaters of the Dead, a.k.a. The 13th Warrior), clashing... More>>
The Missing misses plenty, except ancient prejudices
By Robert Wilonsky,
November 27, 2003
In director Ron Howard's The Missing, Tommy Lee Jones' Samuel Jones takes his place among the oldest archetypes in the Western genre -- the white... More>>
A mean ghost kid kicks Halle Berry's ass in Gothika
By Luke Y. Thompson,
November 20, 2003
It took four years, but finally Dark Castle -- Robert Zemeckis and Joel Silver's horror division that puts out a movie a year around Halloween --... More>>
The Cat in the Hat forms clumps for easy scooping and disposal
By Gregory Weinkauf,
November 20, 2003
If you're hankering for a movie about an awkward yet lovable "outsider" type who wanders into a pastel mockup of Middle America and cajoles the... More>>
On his maiden voyage, veteran director Peter Weir masters the sea epic
By Gregory Weinkauf,
November 13, 2003
Russell Crowe to his agent: "More Oscar-bait. Now." Agent, considering his cut of Crowe's $20 million payday: "Yes, sir."
A possible scenario,... More>>
In the annals of fraud and fakery, a discredited ex-magazine reporter named Stephen Glass will likely wind up a mere footnote. The people who... More>>
Warner Bros. delivers a merchandising vehicle that falls flat
By Melissa Levine,
November 13, 2003
The first question that comes to mind upon hearing that the Looney Tunes are back and, indeed, in action, is the following: Back from where? Who... More>>
'Tis the season and all that jive; beneath the tree this first week of November you will find two films set during the final week of December,... More>>
Pieces of April's story of a family falling apart to come together is no turkey
By Robert Wilonsky,
November 06, 2003
Pieces of April, made by playwright turned novelist turned screenwriter turned director Peter Hedges, could be confused for a compendium reel of... More>>
Richard Curtis is in Love with love, so what's new?
By Robert Wilonsky,
November 06, 2003
With its soundtrack stockpiled with songs of romance and Christmas and a screenplay by the man who wrote Bridget Jones's Diary, Four Weddings and... More>>
Jane Campion guides Meg Ryan through a stunning career transformation In the Cut
By Gregory Weinkauf,
October 30, 2003
Remember that silly little-girl version of Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally . . . , snuffling "I'm difficult!" through a charming tantrum? Well,... More>>
One man’s deceptions help to highlight our own flaws in The Human Stain
By Bill Gallo,
October 30, 2003
The riddles of identity that drive and disturb Philip Roth's impressive body of fiction usually focus on contemporary Jewish characters whose... More>>
Alien returns revised and remains bloody brilliant
By Gregory Weinkauf,
October 30, 2003
Some movies approach perfection. Alien: The Director's Cut basically enhances a 99.9 percent perfect movie from 1979 with some digital polishing,... More>>
Christine Jeffs and Gwyneth Paltrow imbue Sylvia Plath with new life . . . uh, and death
By Gregory Weinkauf,
October 23, 2003
Sometimes something so wonderful appears on the big screen that I want to leap up like a shameless non-professional and hug it. Such is the case... More>>
Brutality and romance make odd bedfellows in Beyond Borders
By Luke Y. Thompson,
October 23, 2003
Given the way the United Nations has been taking a beating in the American media over the past year or so, it may not be a bad thing that the new... More>>
That a new feel-good sports movie called Radio contrives to move us is just fine -- that's what feel-good sports movies are supposed to do. That... More>>
