The opening sequence of SKYFALL is a mind-boggling, ass-kicking, death-defying Rube Goldberg variation involving a speeding car, chasing a speeding train, carrying a giant front loader, with 007 and his nemesis-of-the-moment locked in combat and dangling by their fingertips, heading for an overpass, with a sniper looking to take one of them out! I nearly [...]
I have seen LINCOLN-- and he is Daniel Day-Lewis. This is an absolutely flawless performance, which together with Spielberg's direction, Tony Kushner's screenplay, based in part on Doris Kearns Goodwin's book TEAM OF RIVALS, and a treasure trove of vivid performances -- has resulted in one of the finest movies of the year, and one [...]
It's hair-raising-- but DON'T MISS this FLIGHT! It's an unexpectedly emotional, quiet, faintly pious, but deeply engrossing dramatic thriller, which stars a slightly paunchy Denzel Washington as a veteran airline pilot named Whip Whitaker; he's as cocky as his name. He struts down the gangway, immaculate in uniform, sunglasses on, baby. In fact, he's cruising [...]
I've seen it--the film of the year: THE SESSIONS. I know it's only October, but the bar is now set extremely high. THE SESSIONS makes everything else I've seen lately look fake and showy. The premise is simple and unusual, based on the true story of 39 year old Mark O'Brien (Boston born?) poet/journalist living [...]
THE PAPERBOY--OMG. This is the darkest thing I've seen in years. I'm calling it "swamp noir." Written and directed by Lee Daniels who gave us the acclaimed PRECIOUS, THE PAPERBOY gets even murkier. The film held me in its terrible grip for more than two hours. Evocatively shot and compellingly told, THE PAPERBOY features an A-list [...]
The silly season is over. Now it’s time for some serious fun—and that means FALL MOVIES with Oscar in mind. Here's what I can't wait to see! (Check out the link to my article on Page 68 of EXHALE Magazine!) ARGO is directed by and stars Boston's own Ben Affleck! (I recently chatted [...]
If Richard Gere is up on the big screen--I'm watching. I've been smitten since his Armani-clad turn as an AMERICAN GIGOLO. In ARBITRAGE, he's grayer, still a sharp dresser-- and still playing fast and loose with his personal and professional life. Technically "arbitrage" is defined as "the possibility of a risk-free profit at zero cost." [...]
Last night I interviewed Boston's own Ben Affleck in person before a live audience at the AMC BOSTON COMMON CINEMAS immediately following a 7PM special screening of his latest film, ARGO! Ben stars in and directs this taut thriller about a little known chapter in the Iranian hostage crisis that put the nail in the [...]
If you missed Matthew McConaughey in MAGIC MIKE one of the best films this summer, look for him at Oscar time. Now, a few words about a few flicks still out there as the season slips away: THE BOURNE LEGACY-- Jeremy Renner is no Matt Damon, and can only go through the motions --which are [...]
HOPE SPRINGS-- that movies are still being made (if I may paraphrase our 16th president) of the grownups, for the grownups, and by the grownups... and that they have not perished from the earth. Though far from perfect, HOPE SPRINGS is a funny, painful, tender, and smart take on a long-term marriage gone dry, and [...]
