SCREEN
Leonardo DiCaprio made middle-class Americans think twice before making that engagement ring purchase with his 2006 performance in Blood Diamond. Al Gore might have overwhelmed viewers with his innumerable graphs and charts but was one of the first to relay the importance of going green. But celebrities and politicians aren’t the only ones getting into the action.
May 08, 2008
Filmmakers attempt to spur change through celluloid
Leonardo DiCaprio made middle-class Americans think twice before making that engagement ring purchase with his 2006 performance in Blood Diamond. Al Gore might have overwhelmed viewers with his innumerable graphs and charts but was one of the first to relay the importance of going green. But celebrities and politicians aren’t the only ones getting into the action.
(Web Exclusive) Batman Begins has the serious comic book movie concept down, but Iron Man is the perfect example of what a fun superhero can be with the right cast, script and direction.
(Web Exclusive) Made of Honor is a cookie-cutter romantic comedy that satisfies love-hungry women seeking comfort in a good chick flick. But with the exception of a gender swap, it adds no originality or twists reminiscent of its obvious forerunner, 1997’s My Best Friend’s Wedding.
May 01, 2008
Movies people watch while under the influence
Jon Stewart has a pressing question: “You ever see the back of a $20 bill ... on weed? Oh, there’s some crazy s—, man. There’s a dude in the bushes. Has he got a gun? I dunno! RED TEAM GO, RED TEAM GO.” This quote from Half Baked conveys how an altered mind-set can inject a cinematic flavor that everybody experiences differently.
Tie-ins offer fans something extra
This summer, before he returns to wipe the smirk off the Joker’s face in the sure-to-be blockbuster The Dark Knight, Batman is turning Japanese. Batman: Gotham Knight, out July 8, depicts the caped crusader’s adventures between Batman Begins and the upcoming sequel. The direct-to-DVD anthology of six short films is the character’s first foray in Japanese animation, or anime. Movie and anime message boards across the Internet are buzzing with a level of anticipation that rivals that of its theatrical successor.
(Web Exclusive) Like other thrillers, Deception is filled with twists and turns designed to surprise the audience. Unfortunately, not one of them is actually misleading. The plot revelations are as transparent as the fact that Ewan McGregor and Hugh Jackman were working for a paycheck on this film — unless it was the multiple sex scenes that drew them in.
Take Two: Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay
(Web Exclusive) Comedy lovers all over have been awaiting the triumphant return of Harold and Kumar since their adventure to White Castle in 2004. Unfortunately, their return isn’t as graceful as anticipated. Escape from Guantanamo Bay is a movie that can be bust-a-gut hilarious, but after five minutes, your jaw will drop from the absurd and offensive humor.
April 24, 2008
A look at the current state of LGBT characters
When Ellen DeGeneres came out in April 1997, conservatives protested Ellen and ABC. The network ran a parental advisory warning before the show. Today, such a dramatic response from the public would be more surprising than a TV character or celebrity coming out. Representations have progressed since the first out LGBT characters, but how far?
Gay filmmakers struggle to make it
Brokeback Mountain was a breakout hit, but it’s one of few gay-themed films that have become part of mainstream audiences’ film vocabulary. Since the indie scene began, independent gay cinema has held its own among niche audiences before pioneering filmmakers such as Gus Van Sant and Todd Haynes had breakthroughs. Today, filmmakers are challenged with approaching storytelling in ways that confront personal and social identities — but even with strong examples, the business of marketing remains as major a hurdle as ever.
Catch the new wave of film in ... Romania?
(Web Exclusive) Imagine living in a world where daily items such as perfume and medication are sold on the black market, a pregnant woman cannot get an abortion and a communist dictator is in his last days of power.
Take Two: Forgetting Sarah Marshall
(Web Exclusive) Crude, painful, awkward and immature — in a good way. This pretty much sums up Forgetting Sarah Marshall, the latest film from Judd Apatow’s comedy clan. Funnier than Knocked Up, though not quite as original as The 40-Year-Old Virgin, the romantic comedy, written by lead actor Jason Segel and directed by first-timer Nicholas Stoller, would surely be included in an Apatow box set.
Take Two: The Forbidden Kingdom
(Web Exclusive) It’s been a long time coming. Jackie Chan and Jet Li have dominated the martial arts genre for ages, and a collaboration between the two superstars has been much overdue. The Forbidden Kingdom technically fulfills this requirement, but kung-fu film buffs will be disheartened to learn that Chan and Li play second fiddle to relative newcomer Michael Angarano (Lords of Dogtown). Despite this missed opportunity, The Forbidden Kingdom delivers enough acrobatic fighting and comedic hijinks to make it worthwhile for casual action fans if not martial-arts enthusiasts.
April 17, 2008
Two legends go head-to-head
Action movies involving martial arts never get old, even with aging stars. It’s hard to believe Jackie Chan and Jet Li have not made a picture together before The Forbidden Kingdom. The movie opens April 18 and combines Chan’s style of comedy and Li’s artistic aura. Together, they join an American kung fu fan on a journey to save a captured king.
(Web Exclusive) Intentions are questionable and loyalties are scarce in the new, edgy cop drama, Street Kings. Members of the notorious LAPD find themselves lost in a web of plots, counter-plots, distrust and death — and discover some ambiguous moral ground.
(Web Exclusive) Anyone who has ever dreamed of returning to their high school prom might have second thoughts after seeing the horror flick Prom Night. It’s not because of the fact that an escaped killer crashes the party and takes out almost all of the leading cast members. It’s because the cliché lines and high school stereotypes make this film as enjoyable as a knife to the gut.
Professional film critics reach their final reel
Film criticism is far from the sole casualty as the newspaper stares down a potential slide into oblivion, but it is consistently one of the earliest. The past two years have seen a glut of firings and departures that have repercussions for film discussion and the industry around which it revolves.
April 10, 2008
(Web Exclusive) With leather on his head and football in his heart, Jimmy “Dodge” Connelly’s (George Clooney) livelihood revolves around his beloved sport. But in the mid-1920s, the dying popularity of professional football threatens to sack the sport permanently.
(Web Exclusive) Ever dreamed of having your own private island in the South Pacific complete with tame, helpful animal friends and that most essential modern tool — an Apple computer?
Eco-horror films show nature’s dark side
Blood-sucking insects. Flesh-eating monsters. Old milk cartons. For generations of horror flicks, the subcategory of eco-horror has used scare tactics to spread awareness about the environment. And when it comes to motivating change, these films might be on to something. “Fear is an effective motivator,” says Columbia psychologist Jacqueline Ellis.
