Youth in Revolt (Weinstein Co.) During the movie-going doldrums of January, a teenage rom-com emerges a cut above the schlock. It’s not a prolonged stint of anarchy as you might be—as I was—expecting. Instead, it’s got a quirky pulse and, for awhile at least, a deliciously nerdy vibe. Michael Cera is his typical pillow-pasty self—only […]
Weekend Movie Report: It’s a New Moon at the Movies
Reviews • The Twilight Saga: New Moon • An Education • The Blind Side • Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire The Twilight Saga: New Moon (Summit) The Stab: A satisfying second chapter to the Twilight saga, improving on its predecessor in every way possible. Even with a scant narrative, the film gushes […]
Weekend Movie Report: 2012 is a Catastrophe, Pirate Radio is a Riot
Reviews 2012 (Columbia Pictures) The Stab: A poor excuse for filmmaking lacking in virtually every department. Even sequences of grandiose Earthly devastation are dim and dull. With a two-and-a-half hour runtime, this isn’t a movie: it’s torture. 2012 is just as the ancient Mayans predicted: an earth-shattering, cataclysmic event unleashing untold horror and agony upon […]
Weekend Movie Report: Carols & Creatures, Coaches, Coco, & Clooney
Reviews A Christmas Carol (Disney) The Stab: Visually spectacular, then some more—to the point of monotony. A scary story more than a Holiday moralistic tale, with emotional resonance suffocated by its showy display. Stuffed fuller than a Christmas goose, Disney’s animated adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic tale is overlong, overstated, and overindulgent. We all know […]
Weekend Movie Report: A Serious Man Means Business, Amelia Means Very Little
Reviews A Serious Man (Focus Features) The Stab: Rich with style and substance. Moves slowly but holds strong. A must-see for serious filmgoers. This darkly ironic comedy will make you go “huh” a lot more than “ha ha”—unless you are one to find humor in another’s misery. Larry Gopnik is steadily losing the reins on […]