December 10, 2009
December 05, 2009
TCM Thrillers (December 7 - 13)
December 03, 2009
TCM Thrillers Preview (December 7 - 13)
November 29, 2009
Twilight: New Moon - Selling one's soul for love in a cheesy teen melodrama
Over Thanksgiving weekend, Daniel Crandall took in a groan-inducing teenage melodrama, and heard the age-old question, "What good is my soul if my boyfriend isn't around?"
Continue reading "Twilight: New Moon - Selling one's soul for love in a cheesy teen melodrama" »
November 28, 2009
Disney’s “A Christmas Carol”
Despite some valid criticisms of Robert Zemeckis’ new high tech re-make of Dicken’s Christmas classic the movie and the story still enthrall, writes Mike D’Virgilio.
Continue reading "Disney’s “A Christmas Carol”" »
TCM Thrillers (November 30 - December 6)
November 25, 2009
TCM Thrillers Previews (November 30 - December 6)
November 21, 2009
TCM Thrillers (November 23 - 29)
November 20, 2009
Megan Fox Trashes Middle America ... Again
Via Pam Meister at Big Hollywood comes word that the fetching Megan Fox is not all that happy that her first legitimate starring role in Jennifer's Body bombed at the box office.
Who's to blame? The rubes in Middle America, for whom the girl raised in Tennessee has an enduring hate, Jim Lakely notes.
Continue reading "Megan Fox Trashes Middle America ... Again" »
November 19, 2009
'Fourth Kind' Unfairly Derided by Critics
Although popular with audiences, the paranormal thriller The Fourth Kind hasn't fared well with critics. That's not the movie's fault but a result of mainstream critics' need to pretend they're sophisticated, Michael Long notes.
Continue reading "'Fourth Kind' Unfairly Derided by Critics" »
TCM Thrillers Preview (November 23 - 29)
November 17, 2009
'2012' No Box Office Disaster in First Week
Overcoming much negative pre-release criticism and showing the public's rising interest in apocalyptic story lines in movies and television fare, 2012 finished tops at the U.S. box office over the weekend with an impressive $65 million in North American ticket sales.
That was actually $3 million less than 2012 director Roland Emmerich's 2004 disaster film, The Day After Tomorrow, brought in during its opening weekend, but it's a very good start and shows audiences' strong interest in apocalyptic story lines. Read more here.
Review: Great Short Story Mangled into a Clumsy Film
Richard Kelly's film The Box gets lost in a confusing wilderness when its director abandons its source's themes, Daniel Crandall writes.
Continue reading "Review: Great Short Story Mangled into a Clumsy Film" »
November 16, 2009
'Equalizer' Star Woodward Played Exemplary Heroes
The late Edward Woodward was an exemplary actor, S. T. Karnick writes.
Continue reading "'Equalizer' Star Woodward Played Exemplary Heroes" »
November 15, 2009
Woody Allen's Big Blind Spot
It's not inherently a bad thing that the characters in Woody Allen's movies tend to be victims of their lusts, but it shows a weakness in his vision and his films, writes TAC guest contributor Shmuel Ben-Gad.
Continue reading "Woody Allen's Big Blind Spot" »
November 14, 2009
TCM Thrillers (November 16 - 22)
November 12, 2009
TCM Thrillers Preview (November 16 - 22)
November 10, 2009
The Gulag Lives On--But Not in Our Culture
The creative worlds’ failure to spark the public’s moral imagination with projects depicting the horror of the gulag allows the world to ignore the continued presence of those hellish prisons, Daniel Crandall writes.
Continue reading "The Gulag Lives On--But Not in Our Culture" »
November 09, 2009
Disney's 'Christmas Carol' Disappoints at Box Office, Carrey Slams Capitalism
The new adaptation of A Christmas Carol from Disney and director Robert Zemeckis opened unexpectedly weakly at the North American box office. Lead actor Jim Carrey's comments slamming market capitalism probably didn't help, S. T. Karnick notes.
Continue reading "Disney's 'Christmas Carol' Disappoints at Box Office, Carrey Slams Capitalism" »
November 07, 2009
TCM Thrillers (November 9 - 15)
November 05, 2009
TCM Thrillers Poster Art Preview (November 9 - 15)
November 03, 2009
Jackson's 'This Is It' Is It--Outside U.S.
The Michael Jackson film This Is It led at the U.S. movie box office during its first weekend, but its total North American receipts of $32.5 million for its first five days were well below industry expectations, which had pegged the film to draw in the $40 million range. For the weekend it brought in an unexciting $21.3 million.
This Is It did well overseas, snagging $101 million in its first five days. The independent film Paranormal Activity finished second with $16.5 million in ticket sales, for a film that cost just a few thousand dollarst to make and which has been given a limited advertising budget by its studio.
--S. T. Karnick
November 02, 2009
'Bella' Shows Stories Are More Powerful Than Arguments
Political activists should be aware that stories are more powerful movers of the human spirit than propositions. A fine example comes from the journey of the amazing movie Bella, Mike D'Virgilio writes.
Continue reading "'Bella' Shows Stories Are More Powerful Than Arguments" »
October 31, 2009
TCM Thrillers (November 2 - 8)
October 29, 2009
TCM Thrillers Poster Art Preview (November 2 - 8)
Michael Jackson’s "This Is It" Really Was
Released yesterday, This Is It is a behind the scenes look at rehearsals for the tour that never happened. It might be interesting, writes Mike D'Virgilio.
Continue reading "Michael Jackson’s "This Is It" Really Was" »
October 24, 2009
TCM Thrillers (October 26 - November 1)
October 22, 2009
TCM Thrillers Poster Art Preview (October 26 - November 1)
October 19, 2009
'Wild Things' Leads Healthy U.S. Movie Box Office
October 17, 2009
TCM Thrillers (October 19 - 25)
October 15, 2009
TCM Thrillers Poster Art Preview (October 19 - 25)
October 12, 2009
'Couples,' 'Paranormal' Show Value of Genre Traditions
The unexpectedly strong box office perfomance of both Couples Retreat and Paranormal Activity show that respect for genre traditions and fundamental American values consistently make for successful popular art, S. T. Karnick writes.
Continue reading "'Couples,' 'Paranormal' Show Value of Genre Traditions" »
October 10, 2009
TCM Thrillers (October 12 - 18)
October 08, 2009
TCM Thrillers Poster Art Preview (October 12 - 18)
October 06, 2009
Hollywood Feeling Economic Pinch, Cutbacks Loom
Confessions of a Shopaholic was among the many bombs of 2009 that have strained the budgets of the Hollywood studios—in this case, Disney (Touchstone).
Isla Fisher (right) may be lovely, but she can't carry a movie in America, where most movie-goers have never heard of her, Jim Lakely writes.
Continue reading "Hollywood Feeling Economic Pinch, Cutbacks Loom" »
October 04, 2009
A Zombie Confection
With a $25 million dollar opening this weekend, Zombieland demonstrates that there's simply no substitute for showing people a good time. Relatively short on plot and deep characterization, but long on charm, this postmodern zombie comedy hits all the right buttons and sends you back out into the world with a smile on your face, writes R. J. MacReady.
Continue reading "A Zombie Confection" »
October 03, 2009
Review: 'The Invention of Lying'
Ricky Gervais's The Invention of Lying ironically ends up confirming a good many traditional religious ideas.
Continue reading "Review: 'The Invention of Lying'" »
A Certain Truth in 'The Invention of Lying'
There is something in The Invention of Lying on which all parties should be able to agree, S. T. Karnick writes.
Continue reading "A Certain Truth in 'The Invention of Lying'" »
TCM Thrillers (October 5 - 11)
October 02, 2009
TCM Thrillers Poster Art Preview (October 5 - 11)
September 28, 2009
'Surrogates' Stumbles at Box Office, Willis Appeal Remains Weak
The usual fall doldrums have hit the Hollywood box office particularly hard this week--with Bruce Willis's lugubrious persona a prominent victim, S. T. Karnick writes.
Continue reading "'Surrogates' Stumbles at Box Office, Willis Appeal Remains Weak" »
September 26, 2009
TCM Thrillers (September 28 - October 4)
September 23, 2009
'Top Secret!'—An Amiable Spy Film Spoof
 "'Top Secret!' (1984)")
TCM Thrillers Poster Art Preview (September 28 - October 4)
September 22, 2009
Enslaving Culture to Politics in Film: A Homeless Cellist and Reporter vs. a Chef and Two Soldiers
Valuing ideology over art cheapens the product, tarnishes the story, and enslaves culture to politics, Daniel Crandall writes.
September 21, 2009
U.S. Movie Audiences Continue Quest for Optimism, Positivity
The animated comedy Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs was unexpectedly successful last weekend as U.S. movie audiences continued to seek out more positive stories, S. T. Karnick writes.
Continue reading "U.S. Movie Audiences Continue Quest for Optimism, Positivity" »
September 19, 2009
TCM Thrillers (September 21 - 27)
September 17, 2009
TCM Thrillers Poster Art Preview (September 21 -27)
September 16, 2009
Patrick Swayze Remembered, Fondly
The late Patrick Swayze wasn't a great actor, but he was a dude, which is more important and is what makes his best films well worth watching. Andrew Klavan fondly remembers Swayze at Klavan on the Culture.
My Swayze recommendations: Red Dawn, Road House, Point Break, Next of Kin, Uncommon Valor, North and South, Donnie Darko, City of Joy.One to avoid: To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar. (They must have paid him a fortune to do this drag-queen film. I certainly hope so.)
--S. T. Karnick
September 15, 2009
Tyler Perry's Latest Tops U.S. Box Office in Opening Weekend
Proving once again the power of appealing to Christian moviegoers, Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself finished at the top of the U.S. box office during its opening weekend.
Continue reading "Tyler Perry's Latest Tops U.S. Box Office in Opening Weekend" »
September 14, 2009
Romero's Latest Zombie Film Has Political Slant, As Usual
George Romero, who made the excellent and highly influential Night of the Living Dead, has another film on the way. Unfortunately, his ambitions have far outweighed his abilities over the years, S. T. Karnick writes.
Continue reading "Romero's Latest Zombie Film Has Political Slant, As Usual" »
September 12, 2009
TCM Thrillers (September 14 - 20)
September 11, 2009
TCM Thrillers Poster Art Preview (September 14 - 20)
September 05, 2009
TCM Thrillers (September 7 - 13)
TCM Thrillers Poster Art Preview (September 7 - 13)
August 31, 2009
Audiences Shun Lee's Woodstock Comedy
Director Ang Lee's films tackle a wide variety of ostensible subjects and genres, but they're consistent in conveying antinomian-individualist platitudes.
Continue reading "Audiences Shun Lee's Woodstock Comedy" »
August 29, 2009
TCM Thrillers (August 31 - September 6)
August 27, 2009
TCM Thrillers Poster Art Preview (August 31 - September 6)
August 22, 2009
TCM Thrillers (August 24 - 30)
August 21, 2009
TCM Thrillers Poster Art Preview (August 24 - 30)
August 18, 2009
Hollywood takes shot at Palin again, and misses
Movie critic Christian Toto alerts us to what many of his readers see as a cheap shot at Sarah Palin in the upcoming movie, "Did You Hear About the Morgans?" I see it as more of a misfire — if not an (unintentional) tribute to the popular Hollywood pinata.
Continue reading "Hollywood takes shot at Palin again, and misses" »
August 15, 2009
TCM Thrillers (August 17 - 23)
August 14, 2009
Cheap Shots at Republicans and Nonliberals Almost Ruin 'Julie & Julia'
TAC editor S.T. Karnick is right that Julie & Julia is likely to enjoy a profitable run for the rest of the summer. And while I'm not normally a fan of Nora Ephron movies (I am a man, after all), this film is worth seeing with the love of your life if only to watch Meryl Streep's charming and captivating Julia Child impression, Jim Lakely writes.
But even in this cute little movie, Ephron can't help but take political shots at nonliberals—one of which was perhaps the most jarring I can ever remember watching.
Continue reading "Cheap Shots at Republicans and Nonliberals Almost Ruin 'Julie & Julia'" »
TCM Thrillers Poster Art Preview (August 17 - 23)
August 13, 2009
The Intellectual Pretensions of 'Classic' Scifi Films
Sometimes the most celebrated scifi films are the silliest, S. T. Karnick writes.
Continue reading "The Intellectual Pretensions of 'Classic' Scifi Films" »
August 12, 2009
Gratuitous Nudity Can't Save Val Kilmer's Global Warming Movie
The invaluable anti-climate-alarmist site Globalwarming.org alerts us to how far Val Kilmer's star has fallen.
Not even "gratuitous nudity" can save his stinker of a global warming film, The Chaos Experiment. (And, no — Thank God! — the gratuitous nudity did not involve Kilmer.)
Continue reading "Gratuitous Nudity Can't Save Val Kilmer's Global Warming Movie" »
August 10, 2009
Top Two New Movie Releases Take Contrasting Approaches
Stephen Sommers' simplistic summer blockbuster G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra opened well at the U.S. box office, but the smaller film Julie and Julia will probably be remembered much more fondly.
Continue reading "Top Two New Movie Releases Take Contrasting Approaches" »
August 08, 2009
TCM Thrillers (August 10 - 16)
August 04, 2009
A Harold Lloyd Film Festival
August 03, 2009
Weak 'Funny People' Box Office Shows What Audiences Really Want
Funny People got off to a poor start at the U.S. box office this past weekend. It shows that what audiences are really looking for is edification and enjoyment, not ambitious vulgarity.
Continue reading "Weak 'Funny People' Box Office Shows What Audiences Really Want" »
August 01, 2009
TCM Thrillers (August 3 - 9)
July 25, 2009
TCM Thrillers (July 27 - August 2)
July 23, 2009
Mann's 'Public Enemies' Marred by Moral Relativism
Michael Mann's Public Enemies conveys some impressive insights into modernity, but his choice to avoid the truth about his central characters exemplifies how the contemporary denial of moral clarity destroys drama and truth.
Continue reading "Mann's 'Public Enemies' Marred by Moral Relativism" »
July 20, 2009
Boring 'Bruno' Continues Box Office Decline Despite Critics' Phony Praise
As I predicted last week, Sacha Baron Cohen's Brüno continued its precipitous decline at the U.S. box office this past weekend. A week after finishing first during its opening weekend on the strength of audiences' appreciation for Cohen's previous film, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, Brüno fell to fourth this past weekend, with a stunning 73 percent drop in audience numbers from the previous week.
Even though critics did their best to pretend this turkey was a pheasant, audience members obviously were spreading the word of their disappointment with the boring and beyond-asinine Brüno, as the film was neither consistently funny nor amusingly iconoclastic. On the contrary, Brüno slavishly gave allegiance to contemporary social-transformation pieties while unintentionally making homosexual behavior and the attendant lifestyle look appalling.
Audiences aren't buying it.
--S. T. Karnick
July 18, 2009
TCM Thrillers (July 20 - 26)
July 16, 2009
The Astonishing Awfulness of 'Brüno'
After a strong opening weekend, U.S. audiences' interest in Sacha Baron Cohen's Brüno has cooled considerably. That trend should continue as audience members tell others how astonishingly bad it is, S. T. Karnick writes.
Continue reading "The Astonishing Awfulness of 'Brüno'" »
July 15, 2009
Harry Potter and the Half-Enjoyed Movie
You know, there may be something to this Harry Potter book thing. After all, you really aren't going to get that much out of the movie adaptation unless you've read the books. Fortunately (or unfortunately) for me I've consciously decided against reading the books. While that may make me a rare individual this weekend, it also kept me from enjoying the movie.
Continue reading "Harry Potter and the Half-Enjoyed Movie" »
July 10, 2009
TCM Thrillers (July 13 - 19)
.jpg "'Dick Tracy' (1945)")
'Bruno' Slaps Leftist Elites Under Cloak of Irony, Obscenity
I haven't yet seen Bruno, the new film from Sacha Baron Cohen, but I can point you to John Nolte's superbly informative and analytical critique at Big Hollywood. Nolte praises the film for consistently mocking contemporary liberal elites and political correctness, but laments its unceasing excessive obscenity and nudity, which he says becomes tiring very quickly:
Continue reading "'Bruno' Slaps Leftist Elites Under Cloak of Irony, Obscenity" »
July 06, 2009
Christian-Themed 'Transformers' Sequel Sustains Strong Box Office Appeal
Despite being trashed by the critics, Transformer: Revenge of the Fallen led at the U.S box office for the second weekend in a row.
With its strong complement of Christian themes and images, the Transformers sequel edged out the premiere weekend performance of the animated comedy entry Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, the third in that series, $42.3 million to $41.7 million.
Indicating that Christian themes, likable characters, and stories depicting people with a positive purpose outweigh critics' cavils, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen continued to draw well from all audience segments and shows signs it will sustain its ability to garner good numbers, according to a studio source.
--S. T. Karnick
July 03, 2009
TCM Thrillers (July 6 - 12)
July 02, 2009
Hollywood's Greatest Year, 1939
This year marks the 70th anniversary of Hollywood's greatest year, 1939.
Accordingly, Turner Classic Movies is celebrating the anniversary this month by showing 39 films released in '39, beginning tonight with a showing of The Wizard of Oz at 8 EDT, followed by a new documentary, 1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year.
It's a truism among fans of classic movies that 1939 was the Hollywood cinema's greatest year. But if it has become something of a cliche to say so, it's only because it's so undeniably true.
It's really rather amazing to consider how many classic or transcendentally classic films were released during that annus mirabilis. Among the most highly praised then and in the ensuring years were the following:
Continue reading "Hollywood's Greatest Year, 1939" »
The Toxic Philosophy Behind 'Quirky' Film(s)
Charming, quirky films such as Away We Go aren't always as innocent as they seem, S. T. Karnick writes.
Continue reading "The Toxic Philosophy Behind 'Quirky' Film(s)" »
July 01, 2009
Malden Brought Depth, Moral Responsibility to Movie Roles
Actor Karl Malden, who died today at age 97, was a fine performer who stood for good principles and conveyed a sense of moral responsibility in his performances, S. T. Karnick writes.
Continue reading "Malden Brought Depth, Moral Responsibility to Movie Roles" »
June 30, 2009
Good Themes Overshadowed by Cinematic Flaws in 'Transformers' Sequel
Thematically, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is just as good as its predecessor. Unfortunately, it falls short in other important ways, S. T. Karnick writes.
Continue reading "Good Themes Overshadowed by Cinematic Flaws in 'Transformers' Sequel" »
June 29, 2009
Review: The Stoning of Soraya M
The Stoning of Soraya M. is a "Schindler's List" for a new generation — a film that starkly exposes the brutality of a regime that is almost impossible for the modern Western mind to comprehend, but is true nonetheless. It won't be seen as that, I fear, by the elites in modern American culture. After all, it condemns an immoral Iranian culture and power structure the enlightened President Obama is trying to respectfully engage.
Continue reading "Review: The Stoning of Soraya M" »
June 28, 2009
Little Miss Parenthood
While Away We Go offers some wonderful performances and two leads with real chemistry, it's lacks any real dramatic development. Moreover, in its earnest desire to be this year's Little Miss Sunshine, it passes off quirky individuality as a recipe for successful parenting.
Continue reading "Little Miss Parenthood" »
June 27, 2009
TCM Thrillers (June 29 - July 5)
June 25, 2009
Burton Tackles Alice
Filmmaker Tim Burton is in production on a film based on Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.
Burton, director of Batman, Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, Sleepy Hollow, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and other successful fantasy films, is using digital manipulation of real-life actors and actresses to recreate the inhabitants of Wonderland, such as the Mad Hatter (Burton regular Johnny Depp), the Red Queen (Helena Bohnam-Carter), the Cheshire Cat (Stephen Fry), the Jabberwock (Christopher Lee, a superb choice), and Tweedledum and Tweedledee (both played by Matt Lucas (Little Britain).
The film has Alice (Mia Wasikowska, Defiance) returning to Wonderland as a teenager.
Given that Burton said he chose Wasikowska because she has a "certain kind of emotional toughness," and putting that together with the director's track record and the use of a significantly older protagonist than in the books, it's likely that this new version of the story will be much darker, disturbing, and grotesque (as opposed to Carroll's charming use of the bizarre) than Carroll's books and the various film and theatrical versions.
Judging by Burton's previous work, the film is also likely to be interesting, inventive, cinematically smart, visually arresting, emotionally affecting, and quite difficult to make much ultimate sense of.
Photos of of some of the characters in the film are available in a Yahoo! article.
June 23, 2009
Character Charm Overcomes Comic Anarchy at U.S. Box Office
It will be a good thing if the Sandra Bullock romantic comedy The Proposal continues its box-office success--if Hollywood draws the right conclusions about why it did well.
Continue reading "Character Charm Overcomes Comic Anarchy at U.S. Box Office" »
Despite Ugly Facade, 'Year One' Has Positive Message About Religion
Behind its unpleasant facade of vulgarity and chaos, Year One conveys an interesting and positive message.
Continue reading "Despite Ugly Facade, 'Year One' Has Positive Message About Religion" »
June 21, 2009
It's Not The Mask, Stupid!
Mr. Karnick has already written a wonderful essay on the original Friday the 13th movie with an eye toward the forest path it opened up for subsequent horror films. Well, the reboot of the movie came out this past week on DVD, so I thought it only fitting to examine how the new movie demonstrates just how lost in the woods we really are when it comes to horror.
Continue reading "It's Not The Mask, Stupid!" »
June 18, 2009
TCM Thrillers (June 22 - 28)
That Only Happens in the Movies . . .
Recent events may have pulled the curtain back on one of Hollywood's favorite bogeymen, the evil corporation. Often portrayed as unscrupulous and unfettered, it seems impossible that such a caricature could be accurate given recent events, notes R. J. MacReady.
Continue reading "That Only Happens in the Movies . . ." »
June 17, 2009
Criminally Funny: Comic Crime Films (Part Four)
June 16, 2009
Community in Gran Torino
In a DVD commentary Daniel P. Crandall argues that Clint Eastwood’s latest movie, Gran Torino, illustrates how important community is to a fulfilled life.
Continue reading "Community in Gran Torino" »
Criminally Funny: Comic Crime Films (Part Three)
June 15, 2009
Criminally Funny: Comic Crime Films (Part Two)
Criminally Funny: Comic Crime Films (Part One)
June 13, 2009
TCM Thrillers (June 15 - 21)
June 08, 2009
Farrell's 'Land of the Lost' Ridicules False Scientific Consensus Claims
Land of the Lost is a typically zany and in many ways nonsensical
Will Farrell comedy, but it includes a powerful truth conveyed through satire, S. T. Karnick writes.
Continue reading "Farrell's 'Land of the Lost' Ridicules False Scientific Consensus Claims" »
June 06, 2009
An Hour with Buster (Part Two)
.jpg "Buster (sans trousers) with Stanley Adams (left) and James Flavin")
An Hour with Buster (Part One)
June 05, 2009
TCM Thrillers for June 8 - 14
June 04, 2009
'Up' Success Could Bode Well for Positive Change in Hollywood
The unexpectedly big box-office and critical success of the animated film Up tells a lot about how Hollywood works--and doesn't work.
Continue reading "'Up' Success Could Bode Well for Positive Change in Hollywood" »
Carradine and 'Kung Fu' Retain Relevance Decades Later
Prolific actor David Carradine, best known for the Kung Fu TV series, the Quentin Tarantino film Kill Bill, and a series of ads for telephone directories, has been found dead in the closet of his hotel room in Thailand, where he was about to begin participation in a new film.
Preliminary reports have the death as a suicide by hanging.
The circumstances of his death, however, should not be allowed to overshadow his accomplishments as an actor.
Continue reading "Carradine and 'Kung Fu' Retain Relevance Decades Later" »
May 29, 2009
TCM Thrillers for June 1 - 7
The Citizen Kane of Puppet Movies
With Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen coming out June 24th to transform all sequel numbers into colons and subtitles, you should make a point to check out Team America: World Police. Not only did it use the same colon, but it also poked fun at Hollywood's gravitation towards puppet movies before anyone realized that action movies no longer require actors.
Continue reading "The Citizen Kane of Puppet Movies" »
May 26, 2009
'Terminator Salvation' Delivers Action but Little Real Drama
Terminator Salvation is a solid entertainment but unfortunately too beholden to contemporary big-budget action-movie conventions. Analysis by S. T. Karnick.
Continue reading "'Terminator Salvation' Delivers Action but Little Real Drama" »
May 25, 2009
Amusing 'Battle of the Smithsonian'
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian is a classic--a classic example of an unnecessary sequel. But if you liked the first one, you'll probably enjoy the follow-up, S. T. Karnick writes.
Continue reading "Amusing 'Battle of the Smithsonian'" »
May 22, 2009
TCM Thrillers for May 25-31
May 19, 2009
Sherlock Holmes, Action Hero
I know that purists will hate Guy Ritchie's forthcoming Sherlock Holmes, which recasts the great detective as a cartoonish action hero, but it looks like great fun nonetheless. Judge for yourself whether you're interested in this film by the mind behind Snatch, RocknRolla, and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, as the HD trailer is now available for your viewing pleasure:
May 18, 2009
'Angels and Demons' Opens Well at U.S. Box Office, but Far Short of Predecessor
On the heels of a public relations juggernaut with the inspiring message that it's "not as anti-Catholic as The Da Vinci Code!", the cinematic conspiracy thriller Angels and Demons finished first at the U.S. box office during the past weekend, providing some useful evidence about the effects of church boycotts. S. T. Karnick examines the facts.
Continue reading "'Angels and Demons' Opens Well at U.S. Box Office, but Far Short of Predecessor" »
Under the Seat: Nostalgia for '50s Sci-Fi Films
May 15, 2009
TCM Thrillers for May 18 - 24
May 13, 2009
The (Quotable) Lady from Shanghai
May 11, 2009
'Star Trek,' Abrams 'Make Optimism Cool Again'
Despite early polling data showing a distinct lack of enthusiasm toward the Star Trek movie reboot by J. J. Abrams (Lost, Alias, Cloverfield, Fringe, Felicity), the film had an excellent opening weekend at the U.S. movie box office.
Continue reading "'Star Trek,' Abrams 'Make Optimism Cool Again'" »
May 09, 2009
TCM Thrillers for May 11 - 17
May 06, 2009
Zombie Culture and the March of Socialism
Yes, vampires are still a hot media commodity, but zombies are vying to knock them off the cultural pedestal.
S. T. Karnick considers the terrifying facts.
Continue reading "Zombie Culture and the March of Socialism" »
May 04, 2009
'Wolverine' Leads Strong Opening Weekend for Hollywood's 'Summer' Season
Surprising no one but pleasing audiences, X-Men Origins: Wolverine topped the weekend U.S. movie box office with a heroic opening-weekend total of $87 million in the United States and Canada and $160 million worldwide. The movie cost approximately $130 million to produce.
Wolverine led a strong first weekend of Hollywood's "summer" season of popcorn movies, with the rest of the top ten dominated by genre films such as comedies and action fare.
Last year's top-grossing film, Iron Man, brought in $98.6 million during its first weekend in U.S. and Canadian theaters.
May 01, 2009
TCM Thrillers for May 4 - 10
April 27, 2009
Studios, Filmmakers to Blame for Hollywood Dramas' Lack of Box Office Appeal
Escape was the theme once again for U.S. moviegoers last weekend-but don't blame the audiences.
Continue reading "Studios, Filmmakers to Blame for Hollywood Dramas' Lack of Box Office Appeal" »
April 24, 2009
TCM Thrillers for April 27 - May 3
April 17, 2009
TCM Thrillers for April 20 - 26
April 13, 2009
'Hannah Montana' Movie Leads the Pack
For the second time, a movie starring Miley Cyrus as Hannah Montana has opened at number one in U.S. movie ticket sales.
Continue reading "'Hannah Montana' Movie Leads the Pack" »
April 12, 2009
DeMille's 'King of Kings' Well Worth Watching
Providing a real Easter treat for the discerning movie watcher, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will show Cecil B. DeMille's classic 1927 cinematic recounting of the life of Jesus Christ, King of Kings, uncut and without interruptions, tonight beginning at midnight EDT.
As I wrote about the film for National Review Online,
Continue reading "DeMille's 'King of Kings' Well Worth Watching" »
April 10, 2009
Black Bird, Blonde Bombshells Featured in Upcoming Classic Thrillers
Turner Classic Movies presents a diverse variety pack of thrillers this week, Mike Gray writes.
Continue reading "Black Bird, Blonde Bombshells Featured in Upcoming Classic Thrillers" »
April 03, 2009
TCM Thrillers for April 6 - 12
April 02, 2009
Faith Knows What Science Can Never Understand
The movie Knowing reflects the reality that we all live by faith, and it shows us that the atheist attempt to reduce life to the material is doomed to failure. (Note: this essay includes several plot spoilers.)
Continue reading "Faith Knows What Science Can Never Understand" »
March 31, 2009
New Essay Refutes Fantasy of Life Without Limits
A new essay by S. T. Karnick outlines and refutes "the American fantasy that both individuals and society as a whole can overcome every obstacle to our numerous desires, provided we only wish strongly enough and get our friends on our side." It also points out how the recent comedy film Marley and Me constitutes a refreshing criticism of this vulgar and adolescent fantasy of godlike power.
Continue reading "New Essay Refutes Fantasy of Life Without Limits" »
March 30, 2009
Audiences Flock to 'Monsters vs. Aliens'
Monsters vs. Aliens just achieved the best opening weekend at the U.S. movie box office this year.
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March 29, 2009
PBS Dickens Adaptation Politicizes and Vulgarizes Classic Novel
The latest PBS Masterpiece Classics adaptation of Charles Dickens's classic novel Oliver Twist demonstrates the urgent need for reform of the taxpayer-supported broadcasting service, S. T. Karnick notes.
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March 26, 2009
TCM Sci-Fi Films for March 31st - April 1st
March 25, 2009
TCM Thrillers for March 31 - April 5
For crime film fans, Turner Classic Movies offers a slate dominated by cult favorites this week, with a couple of acknowledged classics as well.
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March 23, 2009
Cage, Catastrophe Draw Top Weekend Movie Numbers
An imminent world catastrophe and Nicolas Cage drew U.S. audiences to the nation's movie theaters last weekend.
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March 16, 2009
Audiences Race to Disney's 'Witch Mountain', Abandon 'Watchmen'
Race to Witch Mountain knocked Watchmen off the top spot in movie box office receipts this past weekend. S. T. Karnick explains why.
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March 09, 2009
Audiences Watching 'Watchmen', but Fewer Than Expected
Watchmen opened at number 1 in U.S. movie ticket sales, but slightly below expectations. It may mark the peak for this type of film, S. T. Karnick writes.
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March 07, 2009
Watchmen: Dark, brooding, captivating and puzzling
By Jim Lakely
I saw Watchmen yesterday. And since I'm not a fanboy, — I'm only now beginning to read Alan Moore's graphic novel — I came into the movie unaffected by comparisons between the film and the source material.
Watchmen seems to have polarized the movie critic world. Count me among the admirers.
(NOTE: Some spoliers ahead, but nothing I think will ruin your enjoyment of the film.)
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March 06, 2009
TCM Thrillers for March 9 - 15
March 04, 2009
Reagan's Underrated Acting Ability Displayed on TCM
Ronald Reagan's B movies are a lot of fun, and S. T. Karnick recommends watching or recording them tonight on the Turner Classic Movies channel.
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February 27, 2009
TCM Thrillers for March 2 - 8
February 24, 2009
'Fireproof' Shows How to Avoid Preachiness, Cliches
Fireproof might make some viewers uncomfortable at first, but the film has real emotional power and good sense, Mike D’Virgilio writes.
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February 23, 2009
'Big Hollywood' Relieves Academy Awards' Emetic Qualities
Reading the 'Big Hollywood' live blog during the televised Academy Awards ceremony made it possible to get through the program without experiencing too strong a bout of flulike symptoms, S. T. Karnick writes.
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February 22, 2009
'Slumdog Millionaire' Too Good for Oscars?
Tonight Hollywood tells us once again what we should like—and they might just get it right, S. T. Karnick observes.
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February 19, 2009
TCM Thrillers for February 27th - March 1st
February 16, 2009
'Friday the 13th' Sets Opening Weekend Box Office Record; Besson Film Stays Strong
Warner Bros' and producer Michael Bay's remake of the influential 1980 horror film Friday the 13th significantly outperformed expectations by setting a new opening weekend box office record for a horror movie, taking in more than $42 million to finish first among U.S. audiences this past weekend.
But the best news was the continuing strength of Taken, the action thriller starring Liam Neeson, written and produced by Luc Besson, and directed by Pierre Morel.
February 13, 2009
The 'also-rans' of National Review's Conservative Movie List
Kathryn Jean Lopez has some nits to pick with John J. Miller's list of the Top 25 Conservative Movies of the last 25 Years — a feature for which Mr. Karnick and I were fortunate enough to be assigned reviews. (Please refrain from teasing Sam about my movie rating higher than his ... he's still quite sore about it). Also don't miss Mike D'Virgilio's take on the subject at this site, especially the inclusion of Metropolitan at No. 3.
K-Lo has some legitimate beefs, arguing strongly for the inclusion of Rocky Balboa on the list. I haven't seen that movie (yet) so I'll have to take her word for it. And she makes a compelling case:
Rocky, of course, is a man. And if you watch him from Rocky to Rocky B — you see the ups and downs and hits and misses and the heartaches. And where pop culture so often trivializes men – by making them buffoonish (the doofus dad, the over-testosteroned action hero, or feminized dude) – to have a guy who faces his responsibilities, insecurities, and trials … like a man … is something to celebrate.
I'm more interested, however, in the complete also-ran list — those movies that were strongly considered but just didn't make the Top 25.
Continue reading "The 'also-rans' of National Review's Conservative Movie List" »
Are Slasher Films More Than Just Exploitation?
S. T. Karnick's essay on the 1980 original version of Friday the 13th and the slasher genre in general is now up on National Review Online.
Click on the link in the sentence above to read the article, and feel free to leave comments here.
Are slasher films more than just exploitation? Which ones do you think have real value? Comment here.
Overrating Films Based on Politics—Conservative Edition
Conservatives often do the same thing they justly complain about liberals doing—evaluating films more on their presumed political stance or that of the filmmakers, instead of aesthetics, intelligence, and insight, Mike D'Virgilio notes.
Continue reading "Overrating Films Based on Politics—Conservative Edition" »
February 11, 2009
DVR Alert! Movie Mysteries Feb. 16-22
TAC correspondent Mike Gray has the scoop on some fine movie mysteries being shown on TV next week. Read now, watch later!
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February 10, 2009
Comedy, Suspense Remain Strong at Movie Box Office
He's Just Not That Into You, a romantic comedy starring Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, Scarlett Johannsen, and several other thirtysomething Hollywood luminaries, led the U.S. box office during its first weekend of release, taking in $27.5 million. That's a decent though not spectacular number, and its $7 million above what industry analysts had expected it to bring in.
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'Brazil' Appreciation Sparks Furious Denunciation
A published appreciation of Terry Gilliam's Brazil sparked a bizarre, politically motivated controversy, S. T. Karnick writes.
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February 02, 2009
'Last Templar' Shows Value of Cultural Freedom
NBC's miniseries The Last Templar is an interesting antidote for those bothered by The Da Vinci Code and worried about cultural freedom in general.
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January 30, 2009
Burning Danny Boyle in Effigy
So, we see that the desperately poor people of Patna, India are filth-throwing mad about Danny Boyle's acclaimed film "Slumdog Millionaire."
The protesters said their sensibilities had been offended by the title, which they said was abusive of people who live in slums. The protests continued for the second day, even as Republic Day was being celebrated. ...
'We will burn Danny Boyle in effigy in 56 slums here,' Tapeshwar Vishwakarma, general secretary of the group said.
How inaccurate is Boyle's portrayal of Indian poverty if a single city in the country has 56 slums? That's what he gets, I suppose, for portraying the downtrodden of India in a heroic and accurate light. And it's not like Boyle thought up the term "Slumdog" on his own. Oh, well.
I thoroughly enjoyed the film. The formerly unknown Frieda Pinto is luminous as the object of Jamal's undying affection. She performs very well considering it's her first-ever acting gig. And, since this is a Danny Boyle film, it's gritty, dirty, tragic and funny all at once — just like Trainspotting, in which Boyle gave us a glimpse into the Scottish thug/drug underbelly.
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January 28, 2009
Downey's Oscar Nod Shows Good Sense About Racial Issues
The Oscar nomination for Robert Downey Jr.'s performance in Tropic Thunder should remind us that America is a much better place than many people are wiling to admit, writes Mike D'Virgilio.
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January 26, 2009
'Mall Cop' Survives Critical Raspberries with Big Audience Success
Paul Blart: Mall Cop, a comedy the critics hate, is still number one at the box office.
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January 16, 2009
R.I.P. Ricardo Montalban
The great Ricardo Mantalban has passed on to the great "Fantasy Island" in the sky.
Ricardo Montalban, the suave leading man who was one of the first Mexican-born actors to make it big in Hollywood and who was best known for his role as Mr. Roarke on TV's "Fantasy Island," has died. He was 88.Montalban died Wednesday morning at his Los Angeles home of complications related to old age, said his son-in-law, Gilbert Smith.
Yes. Yes. "Fantasy Island." Even I couldn't resist a reference in the lead. He and Tattoo are finally reunited. But the Montalban role that I think will go down in history is (naturally, from the picture I chose) his turn as Kahn in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn." He chewed up every bit of scenery in every take — not an easy task with William Shatner on the set. And Montalban was given great lines like this one:
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January 13, 2009
Eastwood Tops Box Office
At age 78, directing and appearing in what he says might be his last starring role, Clint Eastwood captured the top U.S. movie box office position with the release of his new film, Gran Torino. The film led the pack by selling $29 million worth of tickets in its first weekend of wide release.
It's a superb film, well deserving of the audience appeal it has shown so far. The Christian theme of redemption is strong throughout, and the film strongly expresses positive values without ever become maudlin or preachy. It is the best thing Eastwood has done in many years.
I will publish a review of it shortly. In the meantime, I recommend that you go and see it and post your opinions in our comments section.
—S. T. Karnick
January 12, 2009
Fish's Top Ten Movies List
The literary theorist and academician Stanley Fish has published his list of the ten best movies of all time.
Fish is well-known as a powerful advocate of a controversial and somewhat confused set of literary assumptions that accept some of the premises of post-structuralism while entirely contradicting that approach with his acceptance of the notion of authorial intent as defining the meaning of a text.
Fish's work is always interesting and though-provoking, though it is clear that it would be even more useful if he were to pursue more fully his differences with post-structuralism and its odious offspring, multiculturalism.
As befits his status as a controversialist and cultural agent-provocateur, Fish's list is rather eccentric but quite charmingly traditional. My list of the ten best films of all time would not include any of those on Fish's list, but his choices are largely defensible. Even more importantly, Fish's consideration and appreciation of the emotional effect films create is invigorating and constitutes a very important corrective to the two competing approaches to cultural criticism of our time, structuralism and post-structuralism.
—S. T. Karnick
Internet Blamed for Idiocy of 'At the Movies' Host
The decline of the mainstream media—a very good thing—is the real story behind an interesting L. A. Times article about Ben Lyons, a film critic on the syndicated TV show At the Movies. Critics and movie buffs alike both have nothing but contempt for the 27-year-old Lyons, son of former host and newspaper film critic Jeffrey Lyons.
Jeffrey Lyons was never any great thinker, or even a good one, but Ben Lyons makes him look like Samuel Johnson by comparison. The younger Lyons strikes the viewer as an ignoramus and a jackass, and the producers of At the Movies clearly made a horrendous mistake in hiring him.
Apparently they hoped to get frat boys and other Sports Center fans to watch the show, which only further confirms major stupidity on the producers of At the Movies.
Continue reading "Internet Blamed for Idiocy of 'At the Movies' Host" »
January 08, 2009
Independent Christian Film Was Hollywood's Best Investment in 2008
Yes, The Dark Knight made more money in U.S. theaters than any film in history except Titanic (in nominal dollars, unadjusted for inflation), but in terms of sheer return on the investment dollar, you'd have been better off putting your cash into the teen vampire movie Twilight, the teen musical High School Musical 3: Senior Year, or Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert.
And you'd have been much, much smarter to invest in Kirk Cameron's small, independent, Christian film Fireproof: it cost a half-million dollars to make and brought in $33.1 million, a return of mnore than sixty times its budget.
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January 06, 2009
Celebrating 35th Anniversary of 'Death Wish'
American Movie Classics is marking the 35th anniversary of the release of Death Wish, the controversial and highly influential film featuring Charles Bronson as a liberal architect in New York City who becomes a vigilante after a group of thugs murder his wife and rape his daughter.
The film was highly successful with audiences, making Bronson a big star and inspiring several sequels. Critics hated it.
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January 05, 2009
America's Dark Past, and Present, in a Blind Alley
A vivid example of the powerful changing of the American mind during just a few short years in the twentieth century can be found this week on Turner Classic Movies, as the movie channel replays two films which I pointed out in an earlier article illustrate the radical change in American elites' views of personal responsibility and moral accountability.
The films are Blind Alley, from 1939, scheduled for Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. EST, and The Dark Past, from 1948, showing at 6:45 p.m. EST, both on TCM as noted above.
I believe that a viewing of these two films after reading my article will give readers a vivid sense of the enormity of this change and the immense, deleterious consequences it brought about.—S. T. Karnick
U.S. Movie Box Office Remains Strong As Audiences Broaden Tastes
U.S. movie box office attendance remained strong in the first weekend of the year, with Marley and Me staying at the top of the heap with a three-day take of $24.1 million. The Adam Sandler comedy "romaction" film Bedtime Stories continued to be a strong draw, finishing second with $20.3 million.
Both films have good, positive values presented in an entertaining and rather thoughtful way, and audiences are responding enthusiastically.
Rounding out the top five for the weekend were The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Valkyrie, and Yes Man. All three boast big stars in the lead roles, and Button and Valkyrie both demonstrate that audiences will attend challenging films as long as the filmmakers attend to entertainment value and don't press unpopular left-wing political points, attacks on bourgeois normality, or cockeyed moral relativsm.
—S. T. Karnick
January 02, 2009
Agog Over the Van Goghs
Vincent Van Gogh is definitely not one of my favorite painters, but I'm glad to hear that his artworks are about to be displayed in an Imax theaters documentary. This seems likely to create a greater appreciation for his works. Who know but that even I might come to like them a little more?
Unfortunately, the documentary includes some silly conceits intended to make it more interesting to ignoramuses, who will most certainly resist the lure pay the high ticket prices to see Van Gogh paintings anyway. In addition, the choice of Van Gogh appears rather trendy and asinine, meant to appeal to people's awareness of him as a disturbed genius.
Still, bringing great art to the masses in this way is quite a good thing to do.
The next step should be to present big-screen appreciations of Rembrandt, Vermeer, Michaelangelo, Titian, and the countless other great artists whose works the great majority of people will never get a chance to see in person.
Note: thanks to S. J. Perelman for the article title above.
—S. T. Karnick
December 29, 2008
Big Weekend at the Movies
U.S. audiences flocked to the nation's movie theaters this past weekend as several new films opened with big stars and popular genres in the past few days, S. T. Karnick writes.
Continue reading "Big Weekend at the Movies" »
December 25, 2008
A Christmas Crime Burlesque
Here's a brilliantly funny burlesque of twisty films noir, set at Christmas. Directed by Vincent Bal in 1996, it's in Belgian, with English subtitles, but is quite watchable and a good deal of fun. It can be purchased on DVD here.
(Thanks to The Seattle Mystery Bookshop and TAC correspondent Mike Gray for letting us know about the film.) Note: to see the film in full-screen mode, click on the rectangle at the lower right corner of the player window. Enjoy The Bloody Olive.
December 23, 2008
Christmas CDs; 'In Bruges'; 'A Clockwork Orange'
December 19, 2008
Che Movie; Palin Haters; New Number 1 on TV
December 15, 2008
'The Day the Earth Stood Still' Opens OK at Box Office Despite Horrible Reviews
The new remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still is getting terrible reviews. But is there something more going on here? S. T. Karnick writes.
Continue reading "'The Day the Earth Stood Still' Opens OK at Box Office Despite Horrible Reviews" »
December 08, 2008
'Four Christmases' Stays Strong, Audiences Begin to Sour on 'Milk'
U.S. movie audiences are ignoring the critics—wisely—writes S. T. Karnick.
Continue reading "'Four Christmases' Stays Strong, Audiences Begin to Sour on 'Milk'" »
December 02, 2008
'Wanted' Has Much to Offer Beneath Sensationalistic Surface
The action/sci-fi/conspiracy/you-name-it film Wanted, available on DVD and Blu-Ray starting today, shows that even mere "entertainments" often have more interesting ideas than the explicitly "thoughtful"—meaning politicized and arrogantly didactic—films that deluge U.S. audiences during the holiday season.
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December 01, 2008
'Four Christmases' Leads High-Performance Weekend for Hollywood Genre Films
U.S. movie audiences stayed with tried-and-true genre films and rejected big-budget Hollywood Significance over the Thanksgiving weekend.
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November 28, 2008
Alleged 'Twilight' Prudishness Might Be a Good Cultural Sign
What the New York Times critic sees as prudishness and Victorian repression in the Twilight books and movie may actually be a sign of hope for the American culture.
—Analysis by Mike D'Virgilio.
Continue reading "Alleged 'Twilight' Prudishness Might Be a Good Cultural Sign" »
November 26, 2008
Intolerant Homosexual Activists Force Resignation of LA Film Festival Director
A film festival director has been forced to resign his position because he supported California's successful Proposition 8 referendum that prevented the state courts from forcing all the state's citizens to recognize same-sex marriages.
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November 24, 2008
'Twilight' Leads at Box Office with Unexpectedly Strong Performance
U.S. movie audiences continued their trend of avoiding political and arty films and sticking to genre entertainment this past weekend, as the teen vampire movie Twilight led with an impressive $70.6 million U.S. box office take.
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