When you're home for the holidays and get to the point where you can't possibly stand your relatives any longer, turn to the entity that truly shaped your childhood: TV.
Editor's note: While Danny and I disagree somewhat on the year's best movies, remember he's the expert. Here are his picks.
There is a scene in "Dan in Real Life" where one of Steve Carell's character's shrill, insufferable daughters ("She sounds like a tea kettle," to quote an earlier, better Carell movie) is pleading emotionally with him to let her boyfriend stay over. Once she uses the word "love," Carell suddenly laughs uncontrollably at his daughter's naïve stupidity. Not only is it the only genuinely funny scene in the film, but his line also accurately depicts how I felt watching "Dan in Real Life": "You've got to be kidding me."
"Hitman" is perhaps one of the better film adaptations of a video game. However, that is not saying much. It is quick and highly stylized but suffers from a lack of depth.
After my first viewing of the trailer for "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry," with its rampant homophobia and the sheer presence of Adam Sandler ("Punch Drunk Love" notwithstanding), I knew it was going to be a film to avoid. When it turned out to be my only viable choice at a movie theater one night, I knew deep within my soul that I was going to hate it and write a scathing review.
Take a good look at the poster for "Scarface" with that famous black-and-white image of Al Pacino. Now imagine Denzel Washington in the place of Pacino (he even holds a pistol in the same hand) and plop Russell Crowe behind him for good measure, and you have the poster for Ridley Scott's new film, "American Gangster," which was surely no accident.
Judging from his films, the coming-of-age story seems to be Wes Anderson's favorite genre. At the end of every one of his films, at least one of the protagonists has arrived at some enlightened state of maturity, and this nirvana is usually acknowledged by a sentimental slow-motion shot accompanied by heartfelt music.
"Elizabeth: The Golden Age" was like a long walk in the park.
If I had to pick a word to describe the new movie "The Kingdom," I might choose "intense." "Rapid" also comes to mind.
There are probably some people who would confidently accuse David Cronenberg of selling out. Since 2002's "Spider," Cronenberg has seemed to purposefully avoid working in the horror and sci-fi genres in which he made some of his best films. Others would consider it as the director "maturing," as if his previous films were infantile (go rent the classic "Videodrome" and marvel "infantile" social commentary about our sick love affair with television).
"Mr. Woodcock" is a textbook example of the preview showing all the funny parts of a movie. After an hour and a half, I can safely say there was only one scene not revealed in the previews worthy of a laugh. That's it. Only one. The rest of the film plods along with all the enthusiasm of a mollusk.
The poster for "Shoot 'Em Up" brings to mind the work of John Woo before he started wasting his talent in Hollywood: Clive Owen, ever the new icon of modern, tough-guy cool, firing two pistols midair a la Chow Yun Fat.
This movie was a funny, clever tale about a silly sport. This movie kept the audience in stitches the whole time. This movie had cameos to die for and endearing characters spouting quotable lines.
Underwater filmmaker Rob Stewart is revolutionizing the way people view the "media-fied" shark.
The Hippodrome State Theatre is giving college students an opportunity to reunite with their childhood selves as they embark on a nostalgic journey down memory lane via Hollywood.
When director Matthew Vaughn left "X-Men 3" at the mercy of the pack of untalented wolves known collectively as Brett Ratner in favor of helming "Stardust," I hoped the gamble would pay off. Otherwise, humanity would have two additional squandered adaptations stinking up the place and making the hole in the ozone layer even bigger. But thankfully, the odds of getting sunburned haven't drastically increased, because "Stardust" succeeds at being a charming fantasy comedy adventure.
"Superbad" is funny. Really funny. Actually, it'll make you hysterical. This comedy manages to remain witty during its entire 114 minute runtime and never slows down for more than a beat.
If you haven't discovered this yet, a keen knowledge of movies can definitely enhance your college education. Throughout your years of schooling, whether you are a freshman, grad student or anything in between, you will find movies are a staple conversation piece. They bring us together and give us all something in common - or at the very least, give you something to chat about with that cute classmate sitting next to you.
Solutions by The State News
