Relative newcomer Brit Marling, who co-wrote and co-produced the picture, portrays Rhoda, an intelligent young woman with a scholarship to MIT and plans to become an astrophysicist. Those dreams disappear in an instant, however, when she causes a car accident that kills a woman and her small child. That wreck leaves a grieving husband and […]
blu-ray
Posted inArts & Culture
The Hangover Part II
Bottom line: While this sequel doesn’t offer the surprise factor of its big brother of two summers ago, I still laughed. A lot. The “wolf pack” reassembles — somewhat reluctantly — for the wedding of mild-mannered dentist Stu (Ed Helms, TV’s “The Office“) to a lovely Asian woman (Jamie Chung, “Sucker Punch“), whose father hates […]
Posted inArts & Culture
The Hangover Part II
Bottom line: While this sequel doesn’t offer the surprise factor of its big brother of two summers ago, I still laughed. A lot. The “wolf pack” reassembles — somewhat reluctantly — for the wedding of mild-mannered dentist Stu (Ed Helms, TV’s “The Office“) to a lovely Asian woman (Jamie Chung, “Sucker Punch“), whose father hates […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Intruder
Such was the world of “Intruder,” the directorial debut of Scott Spiegel, forever a god among cult filmdom for co-scripting “Evil Dead II.” That sequel, of course, was directed by longtime pal Sam Raimi, who grew up shooting homemade shorts with brother Ted, Spiegel and Bruce Campbell. “Intruder” is a feature-length version of the inventive, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Intruder
Such was the world of “Intruder,” the directorial debut of Scott Spiegel, forever a god among cult filmdom for co-scripting “Evil Dead II.” That sequel, of course, was directed by longtime pal Sam Raimi, who grew up shooting homemade shorts with brother Ted, Spiegel and Bruce Campbell. “Intruder” is a feature-length version of the inventive, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Our Idiot Brother
I think you see where this is going, and if not, here you go: Paul Rudd is not absolutely hilarious opposite Rashida Jones or Elizabeth Banks in “Our Idiot Brother.” He’s only occasionally funny, but given the man’s potential, that’s a disappointment. None of this is his fault, of course; he’s saddled with a script […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Our Idiot Brother
I think you see where this is going, and if not, here you go: Paul Rudd is not absolutely hilarious opposite Rashida Jones or Elizabeth Banks in “Our Idiot Brother.” He’s only occasionally funny, but given the man’s potential, that’s a disappointment. None of this is his fault, of course; he’s saddled with a script […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame
Set in Hark’s beloved Tang Dynasty, the film casts Andy Lau (“Infernal Affairs”) as the star sleuth, imprisoned for treason for daring criticize royalty. Now, the very person who ordered him behind bars, Empress Wu (Carina Lau, “2046”), requires his help. Days away from her coronation ceremony, a towering statue being erected in her honor […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame
Set in Hark’s beloved Tang Dynasty, the film casts Andy Lau (“Infernal Affairs”) as the star sleuth, imprisoned for treason for daring criticize royalty. Now, the very person who ordered him behind bars, Empress Wu (Carina Lau, “2046”), requires his help. Days away from her coronation ceremony, a towering statue being erected in her honor […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Life Above All
Now available on a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack, the South African film is a mostly unflinching look at the enormous and devastating social consequences the disease still exerts in a part of the world where nearly 12 percent of the population has it. The story, while harrowing, sidesteps becoming advocacy cinema by casting itself in a […]