By John C. Since the dawn of entertainment, there has been much debate as to what makes something funny. Why do certain things make audiences laugh and others miss their mark? The bigger question in Hollywood seems to be whether or not there is any one formula to effectively tickle the box office funny bone.… Read More “The Hangover” & “Bridesmaids:” A Look at Comparisons Between Modern Comedy
Bridesmaids – A Universal Pictures’ Release http://www.bridesmaidsmovie.com/ Release Date: May 13th, 2011 Rated 14A for coarse language, sexual content and crude content Running time: 125 minutes Paul Feig (dir.) Kristen Wiig (writer) Annie Mumolo (writer) Michael Andrews (music) Kristen Wiig as Annie Maya Rudolph as Lillian Rose Byrne as Helen Melissa McCarthy as Megan Chris… Read More Movie Review: Bridesmaids
The Illusionist – A Sony Pictures’ Release http://www.sonyclassics.com/theillusionist/ DVD Release Date: May 10th, 2011 Rated PG for thematic elements and smoking Running time: 80 minutes Sylvain Chomet (dir.) Jacques Tati (original screenplay) Sylvain Chomet (adaptation) Sylvain Chomet (music) Jean-Claude Donda as The Illusionist (voice) Eilidh Rankin as Alice (voice) Our reviews below: __________________________________________ The Illusionist… Read More DVD Review: The Illusionist
Le Concert (The Concert) – An eOne Films’ Release http://www.weinsteinco.com/#/film/the_concert DVD Release Date: May 10th, 2011 Rated 14A for coarse languge, not recommended for young children Running time: 123 minutes Radu Mihaileanu (dir.) Héctor Cabello Reyes (original story) Thierry Degrandi (original story) Armand Amar (music) Alexeï Guskov as Andrei Filipov Dmitri Nazarov as Sacha Grossman… Read More DVD Review: Le Concert (The Concert)
Blue Valentine – An Alliance Films’ Release http://www.bluevalentinemovie.com/ DVD Release Date: May 10th, 2011 Rated 18A for sexual content, coarse languge and nudity Running time: 112 minutes Derek Cianfrance (dir.) Derek Cianfrance (writer) Cami Delavigne (writer) Joey Curtis (writer) Grizzley Bear (music) Ryan Gosling as Dean Michelle Williams as Cindy Faith Wladyka as Frankie John… Read More DVD Review: Blue Valentine
By John C. The 18th annual Hot Docs Film Festival came to a close over the weekend, with Family Portrait in Black & White being named the best Canadian feature, Dragonslayer the best international, and the overrated Somewhere Between being voted by audiences as the best of fest. With the numerous fine films being screened,… Read More Hot Docs 2011: Final Thoughts on the Documentary Film Festival
By John C. As we reach the end of an exhausting week, it’s hard to believe that we are already at the final weekend of the 18th annual Hot Docs Film Festival. Between this past Thursday and Tuesday, I have published capsule reviews of a total of 12 films. Today we are in the homestretch… Read More Hot Docs 2011: Final Weekend, including 6 capsule reviews
Something Borrwed – A Warner Bros. Pictures’ Release http://somethingborrowedmovie.warnerbros.com/ Release Date: May 6th Rated PG for mature theme, language may offend Running time: 112 minutes Luke Greenfield (dir.) Jennie Snyder Urman (screenplay) Based on the novel Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin Alex Wurman (music) Ginnifer Goodwin as Rachel Kate Hudson as Darcy Colin Egglesfield as… Read More Movie Review: Something Borrowed
As it is May the 4th (an unofficial Star Wars day), DK Publishing is presenting a special online event celebrating reading – and Star Wars! As part of this event, DK Canada is launching a photo contest for Canadians, where they could win a complete set of DK Star Wars books. For every photo submitted, DK… Read More May the 4th Be With You!
By John C. The 18th annual Hot Docs Film Festival is currently going strong in Toronto, with 199 films being screened. When the festival opened last Thursday, I published my thoughts on 5 films including POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, The National Parks Project, Buck, The Bully Project and Being Elmo: A… Read More Hot Docs 2011: 7 midpoint capsule reviews
Today, Universal Studios Home Entertainment is releasing The Dilemma on DVD & Blu-ray. Directed by Ron Howard and featuring characters written with a surprising amount of depth, this is an entertaining film that works as light drama. We reviewed The Dilemma on January 14th, our overall consensus was: “Striking a satisfying balance of comedy and… Read More DVD/Blu-ray Release: The Dilemma
The Green Hornet – A Sony Pictures’ Release http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/thegreenhornet/ DVD Release Date: May 3rd, 2010 Rated PG for violence, language may offend Running time: 119 minutes Michel Gondry (dir.) Seth Rogen (writer) Evan Goldberg (writer) Based on the radio series by George W. Trendle James Newton Howard (music) Seth Rogen as Britt Reid / The… Read More DVD Review: The Green Hornet
By John C. It’s hard to believe that we are already at the summer movie season for 2011. We’ve already seen a handful of good and even great films, coupled with a whole lot of average. I’ve liked several films that others did not, and disliked some as much as everybody else. We have witnessed… Read More A Lawyer, a Lizard and a Bird: A Look at 2011, So Far
Prom – A Walt Disney Pictures’ Release http://www.disney.com/prom/ Release Date: April 29th Rated PG for mature theme Running time: 103 minutes Joe Nussbaum (dir.) Katie Wech (writer) Deborah Lurie (music) Aimee Teegarden as Nova Prescott Thomas McDonell as Jesse Richter DeVaughn Nixon as Tyler Barso Danielle Campbell as Simone Daniels Yin Chang as Mei Kwan… Read More Movie Review: Prom
By John C. The 18th annual Hot Docs Film Festival kicks off this evening, with the Toronto premiere of Morgan Spurlock’s brilliant documentary, POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold. From April 28th to May 8th, the documentary festival will screen 199 films from 43 different countries on 12 screens across Toronto. Please get… Read More Hot Docs 2011: 5 capsule reviews, including “The Greatest Movie Ever Sold”
By Erin V. Two weeks ago, I attended a panel at the Toronto Screenwriting Conference, which ran April 9th & 10th. The one I attended was with author/script consultant Chris Vogler who gave a talk on story structure in film. After the panel I had the opportunity to speak with him for about 15 minutes,… Read More Interview: Christopher Vogler, Author of ‘The Writer’s Journey’
Casino Jack – An eOne Films’ Release http://casinojack-movie.com/ DVD Release Date: April 26th, 2010 Rated 14A for coarse language Running time: 108 minutes George Hickenlooper (dir.) Norman Snider (writer) Jonathan Goldsmith (music) Kevin Spacey as Jack Abramoff Barry Pepper as Michael Scanlon Jon Lovitz as Adam Kidan Graham Greene as Bernie Sprague Our reviews below:… Read More DVD Review: Casino Jack
I Love You, Phillip Morris – An Alliance Films’ Release http://www.phillipmorrismovie.net/ DVD Release Date: April 19th, 2010 Rated 14A for violence, coarse language and sexual content Running time: 98 minutes Glenn Ficarra (dir.) John Requa (dir.) John Requa (writer) Glenn Ficarra (writer) Based on a book by Steven McVicker Nick Urata (music) Jim Carrey as… Read More DVD Review: I Love You, Phillip Morris
Somewhere – An Alliance Films’ Release http://focusfeatures.com/film/somewhere/ DVD Release Date: April 19th, 2010 Rated 14A for coarse language and nudity Running time: 98 minutes Sofia Coppola (dir.) Sofia Coppola (writer) Phoenix (music) Stephen Dorff as Johnny Marco Elle Fanning as Cleo Chris Pontius as Sammy © 2010 Somewhere LLC. All Rights Reserved. Distributed exclusively in… Read More DVD Review: Somewhere
By John C. Water for Elephants opened over the weekend, comfortably coming in at number three at the box office, despite receiving a decidedly mixed critical response. The film stars Robert Pattinson in his first big role outside of the Twilight series, and it’s a good film worth talking about even though we unfortunately didn’t… Read More The World’s Run on Tricks: Thoughts on “Water for Elephants”
