AltWeeklies Wire
Jackie Chan and Jet Li Bring the Monkey King to Hollywoodnew
The most obvious selling point of The Forbidden Kingdom is the first-ever onscreen teaming of Jackie Chan and Jet Li, the world's two best-known martial arts stars. But it also represents another first: It's the first big Hollywood production in two decades to really absorb the kinds of Chinese stories that have formed the basis for much of Hong Kong action cinema.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
04-21-2008 |
Reviews
'Expelled': Another Expression of the Right Wing's Victim Complexnew
The film claims not to be about atheism vs. religion or Darwinism vs. Intelligent Design, but rather about academic freedom. I'll agree with the first half of that: Among the reasons this film was made, religion is second and science (at best) third. But the No. 1 agenda has much less to do with academic freedom than with political ideology.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
04-21-2008 |
Reviews
The Quick and the Deadnew
Shine a Light and Chapter 27 prove again how '60s culture continues to haunt us.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
04-04-2008 |
Reviews
'21' is Full of Plot Implausibilitiesnew
For most of its length, 21 seems like a cautionary tale ... at least, until the whole point is negated by a tacked-on happy ending.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
03-28-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: 21, Robert Luketic
Heists and Homelifenew
The Bank Job is solid entertainment, while Married Life and CJ7 run out of laughs.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
03-07-2008 |
Reviews
Windy City to Washington to Beijingnew
Politics can be found in Chicago 10, real life, and Summer Palace.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
02-29-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Brett Morgen, Chicago 10
'The Counterfeiters': A Counterfeit Realitynew
In the Austrian Oscar nominee, a forger is caught in an unreal dilemma.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
02-22-2008 |
Reviews
Definitely Notnew
The Ryan Reynolds romantic comedy is too bland to compete with this week's foreign fare.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
02-15-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Adam Brooks, Definitely, Maybe
'Cassandra's Dream' Has More Crime, Less Humornew
Like Match Point, Cassandra's Dream seems very sharp and focused; for better or worse, it lacks the tangents that both lightened up and diffused the tone in Scoop. That also means that there’s not a moment of humor in it.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
01-18-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Woody Allen, Cassandra's Dream
Dial M for Murkynew
There's no need to pick up One Missed Call.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
01-11-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Eric Valette, One Missed Call
Bloodless 'Blood'new
Paul Thomas Anderson's new film is striking but dry as dust.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
12-28-2007 |
Reviews
Wild 'Youth'new
Coppola's Romanian rhapsody is wacky but somehow absorbing.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
12-14-2007 |
Reviews
Mr. Smith Goes to Zombietownnew
An old story gets a fresh prince in the latest adaptation of I Am Legend.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
12-14-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Francis Lawrence, I Am Legend
Guy Ritchie Steps Backwardnew
Revolver turns out to be a touchy-feely ultraviolent gangster flick. Come over here and give Scarface a hug, you big gruff pussycat.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
12-07-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Guy Ritchie, revolver
My Left Lidnew
It’s hard to imagine anything more daunting than the task faced by director Julian Schnabel and screenwriter Ronald Harwood in The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – bringing to the screen the memoirs of former Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby, who suffered a stroke that left him entirely paralyzed, save for his left eyelid.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Wade Major |
11-30-2007 |
Reviews
