In an industry where so many of the key decisions makers have discarded, or never been equipped with, a moral compass, there needs to be some respect given when a valiant attempt at creating decent entertainment with as little offence as possible.

Such a film is the recent release, Four Christmases, starring Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon. It tries so hard to take the misery that is family Christmas celebrations for so many, and turn it into a tight little comedy with a heart

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Original Sci Fi Thriller Worth Standing Still For

December 2nd 2008 03:29

The innocent state of the world that saw one of the original Sci-Fi greats, The Day the Earth Stood Still, horrify and shock audiences throughout America and the world is often the source of scorn today.

Many snicker at the simplicity of the picture, it's melodramatic themes, poor quality acting, and syrupy sweet message. But the reality is, the world could do a lot worse than, in this wonderfully modern, progressive society, have another look at this instructive piece of Cold War drama

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That Thing Something Special

December 2nd 2008 03:11

Tom Hanks is no one trick pony, of that there is no doubt. Like him or loath him, the former funny-man has consistently expanded his range and repertoire throughout his successful career, including a number of stints off camera with impressive writing, producing and directing credits in his CV.

Take for instance the charming 1996 dramedy, That Thing You Do, Hanks first - and only - effort as writer, director, and producer

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'Slidin' Home' Double Play as Script Posted

December 1st 2008 00:38

A quick scan of most online dictionaries pulls up a lot of synonyms for that very fashionable of words today - especially if you are a financial journalist - 'crisis'.

Having been splashed over the front pages of the world's newspapers ad-nauseum for the last few weeks, one would've thought some originality from pundits and their sub editors might have prevailed. Like 'predicament', or 'pickle', maybe? How about 'bind', 'dilemma', 'pinch', 'quandary', or 'stew

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Australia, the Movie: Renowned Throughout the Lands

December 1st 2008 00:27

I was surprised, and initially disappointed that Baz Luhrmann’s much hyped epic, Australia, began with a clear politically driven message at its heart - the plight of indigenous Australia: the Aboriginals. 'More brow beating from the left-leaning cultural elite' I instinctively thought.

After an hour or so though, the story began to fold over on me, drawing me in to the extent that I was able to look past my reservations and concerns, becoming engrossed in what was generally, an applaudable film, with only a couple of drawbacks that I am working hard to rationalize

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Lars, a Real Treat

August 20th 2008 04:22

I had a strong hunch that I would get into Lars and the Real Girl, a quixotic tale of the mysterys of love, and even greater mystery that is the human coping mechanism.

But I had equally strong reservations of how the filmmakers would deal with such an off-beat, somewhat provocative, concept without slipping easily into the smutiness and innuendo that immediately springs to mind for a story that is about an emotional recluse, and his delusion that a lifesize female doll is his living, breathing, girlfriend

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Carrell Delivers Lovely Touch of Real Life

August 20th 2008 04:09

The world, naturally enough, sees America through the prism of its entertainment exports.

Which is pretty scary when you consider what is out there in record stores, and theaters from Durban to Dortmund, and everywhere in between

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True Grit Is Out There Somewhere

August 20th 2008 04:04

The essence of drama is conflict. Welcome to “Filmmaking: 101”.

Sadly though, this definition of drama has become a one-size-fits-all justification for the on-screen atrocities that are the majority of movies today. How else can we see real drama played out without language to make a teamster blush, not to mention nudity, violent splatter, and S – E – X (hey, my kids are reading this, you know

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Good Guys Rake in the Receipts

August 20th 2008 03:57

We all know the movie business is a numbers game, and that the studio execs just don’t get it – execs can be like that from time to time. But you’d think the stars would understand where their bread is buttered.

But alas, it seems they don’t. Finding a genuine good guy in Hollywood these days seems to be as difficult as finding rocking horse manure, despite the numbers that say it’s the path to fame and fortune

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Potter Biopic Doesn't Miss the Mark

August 20th 2008 03:48

One day, my daughter will be of an age that boys come a-knockin’. And, if she looks anything like her mother, the line will likely extend way out onto the street!

So I expect that will be about the time we have the love vs. lust talk. It’s not one I look forward to, to be honest. I’m the sort of father that wants my children to magically transform from gorgeous 6 year-olds, into married adulthood

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December 2008

5 Posts

August 2008

9 Posts

July 2008