AltWeeklies Wire
Brad Pitt Nails 'Button'new
How crazy ... or bold ... or foolhardy ... do you have to be to make a big, expensive movie out of F. Scott Fitzgerald's least adaptable short story?
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
12-29-2008 |
Reviews
Mickey Rourke Stages a Comeback in 'The Wrestler'new
He's pretty much a lock for a Best Actor Oscar nomination, and he deserves it, though Sean Penn, for Milk, is a better bet to win.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
12-19-2008 |
Reviews
'Gran Torino' Finds Clint Funny and Still Toughnew
While Gran Torino is not without serious aspects, it feels far more "commercial" than Changeling or than such Eastwood award-winners as Bird, Unforgiven, Mystic River and Million Dollar Baby.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
12-12-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Clint Eastwood, Gran Torino
'Frost/Nixon': Frosted Dicknew
Like Oliver Stone, Ron Howard paints Nixon a little more sympathetically than many of us who remember the era are likely to warm to. Nixon was an unlovable scoundrel, a villain who would have dismantled the Constitution, had he been able to.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
12-05-2008 |
Reviews
Is Hollywood Recession-Proof?new
While there are many more pressing national issues about the economic crisis than How It Will Affect the Film Industry, our local economy is bound up with Hollywood tightly enough that it's a legitimate subject for concern.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
12-01-2008 |
Movies
Sam & Mac Do Sam & Dave in 'Soul Men'new
Malcolm D. Lee's latest may be lightweight and flawed, but it cruises on star power and great music.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
11-07-2008 |
Reviews
'Synecdoche, New York' Keeps Me Guessingnew
Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut may not be everyone's cup of tea. It's really quite brilliant, but it's also so difficult and so emotionally downbeat that it's hard to characterize it as "entertaining."
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
10-24-2008 |
Reviews
Bill Maher Zaps Faith in 'Religulous'new
Maher takes stands against religion and against the very notion of faith (as the word is generally used these days) some of the time; and against the intermingling of religion and public policy all of the time.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
10-03-2008 |
Reviews
Spike Lee Goes to Warnew
In Miracle at St. Anna, he gets in touch with his inner Spielberg.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
09-26-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Spike Lee, Miracle at St. Anna
'Man on Wire' Re-creates a Jaw-dropping High-wire Exploitnew
Philippe Petit, together with a band of accomplices, snuck into the World Trade Center, still under construction, and strung a wire between the towers, upon which Petit – an extraordinary wire-walker – not only walked, but also danced, hopped, lay down, and even playfully taunted arriving police.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
08-08-2008 |
Reviews
It's Time to Wrap Up 'Mummy' Franchise and Bury It for a Long Spellnew
The script lifts from sources that were themselves tired liftings from other sources. The funniest lines don't appear to have been intended to be funny. The action sequences are flat and unexciting, and the behavior of the CGI Yetis briefly slides into Airplane!-level reality.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
08-01-2008 |
Reviews
The New Batman Film is Deeper, Darker, More Action-packednew
We learn that Batman's dual existence is taking a toll on him, both physically and spiritually ... and the latter is the more dangerous.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
07-18-2008 |
Reviews
'Hulk' No Longer Lumbersnew
The new take on the Marvel Comics hero moves more swiftly than its predecessor.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
06-20-2008 |
Reviews
Is 'Winnipeg' for Real?new
Guy Maddin's docu-fantasia describes a surreal city.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
06-20-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Guy Maddin, My Winnipeg
Sydney Pollack, R.I.P.new
Once upon a time -- when both personal expectations and statistical expectancy were lower -- 73 would have counted as a reasonably long life. It no longer seems that way, but Pollack's professional accomplishments certainly suggest a full -- even bursting -- life.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
06-02-2008 |
Movies
Tags: Sydney Pollack
