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Movie Review: Iron Lady
2012-02-06 05:58:00 To watch the film “The Iron Lady” is like trying to learn about a person from a list. Grocer’s daughter, check. Politician, check. Anti Thatcher demonstrations, check. Falklands war, check. Going to celebrate the fall of the Iron curtain, check. For anyone not aware of the history of the 1970’s and 1980’s, the quick scenes depicting some ...
DVD Review: Northern Lights - The Complete Collection
2012-02-05 21:36:00 Nothern Lights ? The Complete Collections is an ITV series that aired on BBC America and was produced from 2004-2008. The series follows the lifelong friends and rivals, Colin Armstrong (Ronson Green) and Howard Scott (Mark Benton) on their hilarious misadventures. From a stint in witness protection to an international Santa competition, there is never ...
DVD Review: The Brontes Of Haworth
2012-02-05 20:56:00 The Brontes of Haworth is a finely crafted portrait that explores the soaring artistic achievements and personal tragedies of England?s most accomplishes literary family. The drama is a sensitive exploration of the Brontes tender and tragic family history. Although it has never aired in the U.S. on TV, the miniseries did air in the U.K. ...
DVD Review: New Tricks, Season 6
2012-02-05 19:56:00 New Tricks, Season 6 is a long-running, award winning series which combines compelling stories and likeable characters. It has a top-notch cast, which is now available on DVD, including Amanda Redman, Dennis Waterman, Alun Armstrong and James Bolam. The cast stars as a team of semi-retired detectives that set out to solve cold cases. New Tricks ...
DVD Review: The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret
2012-01-04 19:32:00 David Cross has been one of my favorite comedians since 2002’s standup album “Shut Up, You F*ing Baby!” His performances in “Mr. Show” and “Arrested Development,” along with his various movie roles, definitely haven’t hurt. He’s awkward, funny and strangely confident and self-deprecating at the same time. So after getting a sneak preview of this ...
2011 The Year In Reviews
2011-12-29 20:25:00 For the past few years I have compiled a list of my favorite books read. It was a surprisingly difficult task, the caliber of new authors is so high that to chose one over another is next to impossible. 2011 was no exception, time and time again wonderful books crossed my desk. It makes me happy ...
DVD Review: Crossing Borders
2011-12-15 23:40:00 A Film By Arnd Wachter The world is a very diverse place. There are great discoveries to be made, but few people take the effort. Foreign lands, foreign cultures, and foreign languages just seem to hinder the process. It is easier to stay within the boundaries of Disneyland than travel to some far flung country. Disney ...
An Interview With Jingle Hell Producer Carter Anne McGowan
2011-12-15 19:56:00 Jingle hell is a delightful Christmas comedy that has just been released on DVD, you can read the review here. The always great people at Janson Media, the distributor, arrainged an interview with the films producer and co-writer Carter Anne McGowan. Usually I have lots of time for research for an interview, however this one happened ...
Movie Review: The Help DVD/Blu Ray Combo
2011-12-11 01:37:00 Surely it’s bad form to extensively quote another reviewer in one’s own review (especially right at the start), but having stumbled upon the perfect quote, it’s hard to resist. It’s with that recognition and understanding that I quote the introduction to David Denby’s review of The Help from August’s issue of The New Yorker: ?The Help,? ...
DVD Review: Jingle Hell
2011-12-08 02:13:00 As I get older I have to admit that Christmas has lost a little of its luster and allure. Jingle Hell is a delightful excursion into the not always happy event when a family gets together. The humor is delightful. In some ways the opening credits tell the whole story. Poppa Bear of the clan is ...
DVD Review: Nazi Hunters
2011-10-20 20:27:00 The Most Evil Men In History Brought To Justice Every so often a truly sparking documentary series comes to light, and Nazi Hunters is among the very best. It was in someways strange how quickly the Western World lost interest in bringing these fugitives to justice after the conclusion of World War II. Much of this ...
Coming Soon: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
2011-10-13 20:25:00 In December Le Carre’s iconic book Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy will be hitting the big screen. I will be curious to see how this complex story can be compressed into a two hour production. It was written in 1972 by author John Le Carre. The author kicked off his writing career with two novellas, Call For ...
Movie Review: Mr. Nice
2011-10-03 05:33:00 It’s unfortunate for Rhys Ifans, who turns out a terrific performance in this lightly dramatic biopic about the life and times of British dope smuggler Howard Marks (aka Mr. Donald Nice, among other names) that writer/director Bernard Rose (Candyman, Immortal Beloved) didn’t give him a more coherent story to take part in. It starts out ...
Movie Review: The Trip
2011-10-02 23:52:00 Returning to the exaggerated self-portraits that they created in director Michael Winterbottom’s meta-film Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon again play versions of themselves in this Michael Winterbottom film - created by editing down bits and pieces from the critically acclaimed six-episode television series of the same name. The ...
DVD Review: New Tricks - Season 5
2011-09-30 21:31:00 This DVD set, New Tricks Season 5 is known to be the best television detective show ever shown on BBC. The series is filled with sharp writing, dry humor and engrossing mysteries. There are 8 episodes included in this season which went on sale in September on DVD in the US. New Tricks Season 5 is ...
DVD Review: Midsomer Murders - Barnaby?s Top 10
2011-09-29 23:24:00 This DVD set is a must to have if you are a fan of murder mysteries. Once again we have John Nettles starring in the role of Midsomer?s unflappable Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby. The DVD set includes 10 of his favorite episodes filled with witty and revealing production anecdotes taken from the first six ...
DVD Review: Family
2011-09-23 23:24:00 Last night I decided to sit down and watch a movie that looked like it would be a bit different from what I usually watch. I was looking for a change. I found in our stack of DVD?s a movie called ?Family? The movie starts out with an escaped prisoner running for her life. She calls ...
Money Ball: ?The Social Network? for fans of Economics and Baseball
2011-09-23 21:57:00 Money Ball is deservingly going to draw comparisons to The Social Network primarily because both are true stories about people who found success doing the seemingly impossible by going about their business in an unlikely and unusual way. The other comparison will come from the fact that both had academy award level performances. Money Ball is ...
DVD Review: Midsomer Murders - Set 18
2011-09-22 23:34:00 This DVD Set, Midsomer Murders, Set 18 is a long-running and very popular series which made its debut in the U.K. back in March 1997. Since then more than 80 feature length episodes have aired with new episodes still in production. The series has been aired in the US on A&E and on The Biography ...
Movie Reviews: Cedar Rapids (***1/2), Hall Pass (**), Drive Angry (*)
2011-03-02 19:00:00 CEDAR RAPIDS. 87 mins. R. Directed by Miguel Arteta. Written by Phil Johnson.Though he didn't write or direct it, the new comedy Cedar Rapids bears the distinct imprint of producer Alexander Payne. He's the guy behind Election, About Schmidt, and Sideways, and like those movies, Cedar Rapids excels at mining comedic truths out of the mundane. Ed Helms (The Hangover, The Office) stars as Tim Lippe, a small-town insurance rep who heads to a hotel convention in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. There, he meets a group of other insurance reps, who (literally) strip away his tightly wound exterior and teach him how to live. The hotel they stay at is instantly recognizable to any viewer - you've stayed at this...
Movie Reviews: The Green Hornet (**1/2), The Dilemma (**)
2011-01-20 06:18:00 THE GREEN HORNET, directed by Michel Gondry, Starring Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Cameron Diaz, and Christoph Waltz. PG-13. 108 mins.Seth Rogen may not be the first person that comes to mind when you think superhero. But when he started losing all that weight for his role in The Green Hornet, which he also co-wrote, I thought that maybe he was going to take his acting seriously and try to stretch a little, proving all the doubters wrong. Turns out, he's just taken The Green Hornet property and shaped it into the typical Seth Rogen Movie. Instead of feeling out of place, he's brought the character down to his level. If you like Rogen, which I do, then you'll probably...
DVD Review: Single -Handed, Set 1
2011-01-18 21:33:00 Single-Handed, Set 1 is a powerful crime drama film that was filmed on location in Ireland. Garda Sergeant Jack Driscoll (Owen McDonnell) has been transferred from Dublin to a small Irish town in which he grew up in. It doesn?t take him long to realize the law enforcement in the small town was rolling in ...
DVD Review: Garrow?s Law
2011-01-18 20:33:00 I have always been one interested in courtroom drama, especially on cases that have actually happened. I remember being glued to the TV when Court TV aired the O J Simpson trial. I don?t think I missed a day of that. Today?s courts have changed a lot and in this DVD Garrow?s Law Series 1 ...
Your new Twitter movie reviews--send more to @mattpais
2011-01-14 15:56:00 Every week RedEye/Metromix readers offer the shortest movie reviews out there, in 140 characters or less. Here's the latest batch; send your review my way to @mattpais and let the debate begin!**NOTE: We didn't have space to print them in RedEye this week, but we shoot to do that whenever possible.**"Black Swan"@MJLaRueBlack Swan - mesmerizing, dark, disturbing, and extremely beautiful. Must see it, but don't plan of fully understanding it.@TheEventJunkieBlack Swan, definitely creepy but not nearly as raw and edgy as I expected. Didn't quite live up to the hype IMO OTHERS@ppayton1974 Tron:The story was ok but visually it was just beautiful to behold@lepolichThe Fighter Loved it. Shows the reality of addiction and how it effects a family's success.@ardillaamarillaThe...-
DVD Review: Man In A Suitcase Set 1
2011-01-12 21:16:00 Richard Bradford stars in this DVD set Man In A Suitcase Set 1, as the US spy Mac McGill with a quick temper. He is no longer welcome in the US after he has been accused of treason by his American bosses. McGill, who is an avid chain smoker decides to become a private detective on ...
DVD Review: Pie In The Sky, Series 4
2011-01-11 21:57:00 What do you have when you mix a restaurant owner and a Detective Inspector? You get Detective Inspector Henry Crabbe, played by Richard Griffiths, a semi-retired but he is more interested in cooking than investigating in the crime world. Pie In The Sky Series 4 guests stars Keeley Hawes and Jane Wymark. Although his heart is ...
DVD Review: Wish Me Luck, Series 2
2011-01-11 20:59:00 I have always been a fan of movies or series that are based on true stories. It always seems more personal knowing that someone actually went through what we are watching. To me that seems to place more meaning to the program as I watch. Wish Me Luck Series 2 is one of those series ...
DVD Review: Agatha Christie Hour, Set 2
2011-01-11 20:10:00 Agatha Christie also known as the Queen of crime in the film industry gives us five more tales of mystery and murder, passion and peril, suspense and the supernatural in this 2 disc set, Agatha Christie Hour, Set 2. In July of 2010, I did a review on Agatha Christie Hour Set 1 which you ...
Your new Twitter movie reviews--send more to @mattpais
2011-01-07 15:44:00 Every week RedEye/Metromix readers offer the shortest movie reviews out there, in 140 characters or less. Here's the latest batch; send your review my way to @mattpais and let the debate begin!"Rabbit Hole"@ArdillaAmarillaRabbit Hole: Hard to watch but it's a good one.@MyChiConciergeRabbit Hole- Gripping, well acted, raw and Nicole might give Natalie a run for her money come #Oscar time!@MelissaClay84Rabbit Hole showed everyone copes differently. Great story and direction. Kidman and Eckhart are amazing. I laughed & cried."The King's Speech"@MelissaClay84King's Speech: must-see movie. Firth, Rush, Carter all wonderful. So many quotable lines. Breathtaking cinematography. @MCapp22The King's Speech is fantastic! Brilliant performances by a great cast. Loved it!"Black Swan"@kamaria_jasmine Just saw Black Swan. It was beautifully done & kept u on...
DVD Review: Dirty Tricks
2011-01-07 00:18:00 It is called ?Hilarious and decidedly naughty? by the Daily Telegraph from the UK and a ?Thriller with a sharply comic edge? by The Mirror (UK) Edward, (Martin Clunes) starts out by dodging the police ringing his front doorbell and he explains his situation by saying he is in a bit of trouble. As he goes ...
Movie Review: Last Train Home (2009)
2010-12-29 06:39:00 Director: Lixin Fan Runtime: 85 minutes I've been a bit late on the movie bandwagon and Last Train Home has been one of those movies I have been meaning to see for a while now.
Year-End Movie Reviews Pt. 2: True Grit, Yogi Bear, Gulliver's Travels
2010-12-28 03:45:00 TRUE GRIT (****)This remake of the John Wayne-starring film is a refreshingly old-fashioned, straight-up Western. Though it comes from the Coen Brothers, apart from some typically clever verbal sparring among the characters, you'd be hard pressed to recognize it as such. This is probably the Coens' most vanilla, crowd-pleasing effort yet, and it's sure to meet with more commercial success than the brothers are used to. If that's read as a knock against the movie, fine - I was hoping for something a little more unique but most are going to appreciate this effort. Not unlike the original, this True Grit is a basic revenge tale - 13 year-old Mattie Ross (newcomer Hallie Steinfeld) hires a one-eyed, vengeful lawman named Rooster...
DVD Review: Enemy At The Door - Series 2
2010-12-26 21:23:00 If you are a fan of drama programs set in World War II then this is one for you. Enemy At The Door, Series 2 is a gripping WWII series that you won?t want to miss. Based on the harrowing true stories it chronicles the long Nazi occupation of Britain?s Channel Islands. This series stars ...
DVD Review: The Guilty
2010-12-26 20:17:00 The Sunday Times (UK) calls The Guilty ?Terrific psychological thriller? and ?A tour de force for Kitchen? as it is seen on public TV. A London attorney, Steven Vey, played by Michael Kitchen, seems like the man that has everything. He has a beautiful wife, a very successful career and lots of money to buy whatever ...
Your new Twitter movie reviews--send more to @mattpais
2010-12-24 13:49:00 Every week RedEye/Metromix readers offer the shortest movie reviews out there, in 140 characters or less. Here's the latest batch; send your review my way to @mattpais and let the debate begin!"Tron: Legacy"@ChiBen10 Saw TRON this wkend, loved it! Story was good, great effects, great music! Might see it again...@DrewCrisan TRON: electric beats, electric suits, analog story.@TheFlintSkinny Tron wasn't the greatest story ever written, but The Dude as a geek god and Daft Punk's score made it well worth seeing.@KnitChick1979 TRON was a nice update to the classic film. The special effects are worth the ticket alone! The story is quite good too. :)@MikeyB3883 Tron. 1-10 scale. Looks=10 Plot=3 Acting=-1 Music=9 Altogether= Meh@MarkBeers TRON: Legacy - disappointingly soulless.@AndyM_Reyes TRON =...
Year-End Movie Reviews Pt. 1: TRON Legacy, The Fighter, How Do You Know, Th
2010-12-22 14:12:00 Time is running out on the year and I'm already behind so rather than give you full reviews of each film, I'll give you a little taste of my thoughts. Feel free to chime in and share yours. And check back at the end of the year for my official Best Of/Worst Of 2010 post. Will any of the following make the cut?TRON LEGACY (***)I'd been looking forward to this sequel to the 1982 original TRON all year. I'd easily count it as my most anticipated film of 2010. Before seeing it, Julie warned me to lower my expectations. She had no basis for this - she just didn't want to see me get my heart broken (cough, Kingdom of...
Your new Twitter movie reviews--send more to @mattpais
2010-12-17 13:50:00 Every week RedEye/Metromix readers offer the shortest movie reviews out there, in 140 characters or less. Here's the latest batch; send your review my way to @mattpais and let the debate begin!"Black Swan"@carlykeenanBlack Swan. A little dark and twisted but interesting and thrilling all the same! NP is awesome!@vaughnchicagoThe Black Swan is a captivating vision of how ascent to perfection and the downward spiral to madness go hand in hand. Powerful.@jamesgoekeI had the best time getting stressed out during a movie all year! Natalie Portman's crotch deserves an Oscar for Black Swan.@HaydenPlastiqueBlack Swan was like the New Show Girls Natalie Portman is a Bitch Diva her role as a dancer was fantastic@mpruimBlack Swan is the best movie out since Inception....
Your new Twitter movie reviews--send more to @mattpais
2010-12-03 13:55:00 Every week RedEye/Metromix readers offer the shortest movie reviews out there, in 140 characters or less. Here's the latest batch; send your review my way to @mattpais and let the debate begin!"Love and Other Drugs"@cwilliamhughesSaw Love&Other Drugs- surprisingly not as chickflicky as i thought; laughed much and it actually moved my heart a bit... I hope I still have my man card, though. @BillieHoligayLove and Other Drugs, the plot was a little "shaky" but who doesn't love Jake G Nakey@BrianKPowers'Love & Other Drugs' - Gyllenhaal & Hathaway are an awesome match and it's definitely worth viewing! Funny, Romantic Comedy!@dbarbossa"love & other drugs" entertaining story that was made better w excessive Hathaway boobage and pot shots at big pharma@ecrouge "Love and...
DVD Review: The Sacred Triangle: Bowie Iggy & Lou 1971-1973
2010-10-17 18:00:00 I am a firm believer that on occasions the history behind the music is as important as the music itself. The unlikely triumvirate of David Bowie, Iggy Pop and Lou Reed is very much a case in point. Unless you are older than dirt (like me) the chances are that you do not remember the ...
DVD Review: The Age of Stupid
2010-10-15 18:37:00 Have you ever sat back and wondered just how everything you do today will look say 40 or 50 years from now? Do you ever wonder just how it will effect the future of the world years from now? This film, The Age of Stupid brings us to the year of 2055 and makes you want ...
DVD Review: On The Road With Charles Kuralt - Set 3
2010-10-14 20:55:00 Since I was a young child I have loved to travel. Since my father worked in construction we had the opportunity to travel with him during the summer school breaks. Fortunately it took us places we probably will never see again, so we enjoyed it all while we had the chance. As an adult I ...
DVD Review: Poldark - Series 2
2010-10-13 19:26:00 If you are a fan of PBS Masterpiece Theatre then you would love this DVD set, Poldark , Series 2. It is based on the beloved novels well written by Winston Graham that tells the story of a gallant English officer who finds the trials and travails at home just as much as perilous as ...
DVD Review: Leonard Cohen?s Lonesome Heroes
2010-10-08 22:26:00 There is little doubt that Leonard Cohen was the voice of a generation. His anti war message during the Vietnam conflict rang loud and often. Was he poet, folk musician, writer, or activist? In my mind he was all of the above. While others might disagree with me, I place Leonard Cohen in the same ‘box’ ...
DVD Review: 20th Century With Mike Wallace - Politics and Presidents
2010-10-04 21:54:00 TV?s History Channel and A&E aired this series, 20th Century With Mike Wallace - Politics and Presidents but now on October 19, 2010 it will be available on DVD for your convenience of viewing in the pleasure of your home. Topics that are always going to be around for centuries will be wars, assassinations, impeachments and ...
DVD Review: A Mind To Kill - Series 2
2010-10-04 20:48:00 Once again we have the acclaimed actor, Philip Madoc, in his role as the Welsh cop, DCI Noel Bain. Bain is decent man combating the worst aspects of human nature. In January 2010, I did a review on A Mind To Kill Series 1, which you can read here. Madoc continues his role as Bain ...
Movie Review: The Human Centipede (First Sequence)
2010-10-03 06:58:00 If you haven’t yet heard about the twisted premise underlying Dutch director Tom Six’s “thriller” The Human Centipede, take a moment to imagine what it might entail. Now imagine something a little bit worse. And then probably a little worse than that. Got an image in your mind? “But wait,” you think, “that’s much too ...
Movie reviews: Overrated 'Let Me In' and three good, smaller movi
2010-09-30 22:44:00 I very much like the 2008 Swedish film "Let the Right One In." I'm shocked that so many critics are fawning over Matt Reeves' stunningly bad remake "Let Me In." Shocked, shocked I tell you!OK, I'm getting dramatic. That's just because everything else I saw that's opening this week is so much better.-- James Franco anchors the intellectually playful "Howl." -- Oops, I wanted to save the phrase "intellectually playful," since you could say the same about the thought-provoking "Freakonomics."-- As for "A Film Unfinished," it's a hard movie to watch but it's an essential piece of cinema in many ways.The movie to see, though, is still "The Social Network." No doubt.What will you see this weekend?...
Movie reviews: 'Wall Street,' 'Owls' and 'Buried&a
2010-09-24 16:34:00 Lots of new movies this week, but I'm sorry to say the only one I'd sort of recommend seeing is "Catfish," which has plenty of problems but is pretty interesting anyway.Of course, the big release is "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps," which is as embarrassing and soft as the original was slick and entertaining.Ryan Reynolds communicates claustrophobic dread in "Buried," but the movie loses tension as it unfolds.I saw "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'hoole" because it's directed by Zack Snyder ("300," "Watchmen"). I also heard the word "gizzard" about 3 million times and was subjected to a boring, idiotic story that's much too violent for kids."Never Let Me Go" could have been an effective and mystical horror-romance,...
Your new Twitter movie reviews--send more to @mattpais
2010-09-24 16:23:00 Every week RedEye/Metromix readers offer the shortest movie reviews out there, in 140 characters or less. Here's the latest batch; send your review my way to @mattpais and let the debate begin!"Easy A"@BillieHoligayEasy A with the corset and scarlet letter. Sure to be a popular costume amongst LP trixies this Halloween@KeepMoochinEasy A surpassed my expectations this weekend with semi-original plot elements and lands a few steps past Mean Girls.@TforTrendsettaEasy A was cheeky,satirical and some jokes went over teenagers heads, I think that was the best part!"The Town"@GoatKINGThe Town is an intense bank robbery spree with high-powered dialogue with a star-studded cast taking you along for the ride.@BVAXThe Town- It was wicked awesome!!OTHERS@vaughnchicagoin- "Devil" the story is predictable, the characters are...
Your new Twitter movie reviews--send more to @mattpais
2010-09-17 15:44:00 Every week RedEye/Metromix readers offer the shortest movie reviews out there, in 140 characters or less. Here's the latest batch; send your review my way to @mattpais and let the debate begin!"Resident Evil: Afterlife"@CM_NERDResident Evil 3D.... Such a snooze fest.. Way to much talking for an action movie. 2 out 5@beth1170Resident Evil Aftermath was tons of a$$ kicking fun in 3D. Thin plot, but great action. Who doesn't love zombies?@vaughnchicago"Resident- Evil:Afterlife" Lots of action, simplistic plot, nice eye candy, sequel to come. That about sums it up.@VaunbucI saw Resident Evil 4 tonight. Its good but I'm still wondering why it was in 3D. Action is worth the money though!!"Easy A"@chuckolivaSaw the pre-screening of 'Easy A' and it was hilarious. Emma... |
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