You know what the British comedy “Alien Autopsy” needs? Comedy. The coroner’s report “? i.e. this critic’s review “? has found not a single laugh within its hour and a half. Based on a true story, the film concerns two friends “? Ray (Declan Donnelly), a shifty VHS bootlegger, and Gary (Ant McPartlin), a lowly […]
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The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Third Season
<iframe marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" style="width: 120px; height: 240px;" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=oklahgazet-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B002N5N4M6&fc1=000000&IS2=1 Here’s my theory on “The Big Bang Theory“: Despite being a conventional sitcom in an era where unconventional sitcoms rule the critical roost, its success is all due to its conventionality. It’s tough to imagine its jokes playing via a multicamera setup; its ensemble cast thrives under […]
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Afterschool
Antonio Campos, report for detention, please. The offense? Cinematic pretentiousness. The 20-something writer/director/editor makes his feature-length debut with “Afterschool,” a prep-school drama with very little drama. That such a decision appears to be intentional is all the more aggravating. Robert (Ezra Miller, TV’s “Royal Pains“) is a porn-addicted little twerp who lives his life through […]
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7 Days
It’s not easy to watch “7 Days.” Most would agree for its sheer amount of thoroughly brutal and unflinching violence. I more blame its languid pace. Then again, Daniel Grou’s film is intended to bother, unsettle, disturb. If it doesn’t … well, please don’t visit our offices. Kthx. Combining elements of “Law Abiding Citizen” and […]
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Under Still Waters
About the worst thing I can say regarding “Under Still Waters” is that its title bears little relevancy to its plot. “Three’s a Crowd” would be more appropriate, although that would make it sound like a comedy, and if there’s one thing this film doesn’t have, it’s laughs. Good thing it’s a thriller, then. Lake […]
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The Phantom
<iframe marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" style="width: 120px; height: 240px;" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=oklahgazet-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B003Q7B71K&fc1=000000&IS2=1 I’m one of the few people who thinks there’s nothing inherently wrong with 1996’s “The Phantom,” which featured Billy Zane as the purple-suited superhero. Back then, comic-book movies weren’t dime-a-dozen as they are today, so you happily took what you could get. I remember it being promoted […]
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Fragile
<iframe marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" style="width: 120px; height: 240px;" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=oklahgazet-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B003T04NC4&fc1=000000&IS2=1 Completing my eight-film tour of the debuting “Fangoria FrightFest” line, I had saved the two Spanish, medical-themed ghost stories for last: “The Haunting” and “Fragile.” The former, my son and I found so boring, we admitted defeat and couldn’t finish it. The latter, much better. In fact, […]
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The Office: Season Six
On Friday mornings, after a new episode of “The Office” airs the night before, we talk about it around our office. This past year, I’ve heard a lot of, “It’s not as good as it used to be.” While I agree to some degree, it’s still funnier than all other comedies on network TV, minus […]
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Star Crash
When “Star Wars” broke box-office records, producer Roger Corman responded by putting the Italian-made “Star Crash” into wide release in 1978, hoping it’d be the start of a blockbuster sci-fi franchise of his own. It wasn’t. But I am totally and completely serious when I say that “Star Crash” is better than “Star Wars.” I’d […]
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Boogie Woogie
Weep once more for the 2006 passing of Robert Altman, because he might’ve knocked something like “Boogie Woogie” out of the park, even if it’s thematically reminiscent of his middling “Pr