Film Tag

It’s April, and as is customary, the films at the box office are dismally mediocre. Let’s take a look at the top movies at the box office for April 10-12, 2015. After each movie, I have also provided the IMDb metascore and the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: Furious 7 ($59.6 million, IMDb: 67, Rotten Tomatoes: 82%) Home ($18.5 million, IMDb: 55, Rotten Tomatoes: 47%) The Longest Ride ($13 million, IMDb: 32, Rotten Tomatoes: 29%) Get Hard ($8.2 million, IMDb: 34, Rotten Tomatoes: 29%) Cinderella ($7.1 million, IMDb: 67, Rotten Tomatoes: 85%)Read More

If I tried to share 50 praises for 50 Shades of Grey, I would experience 50 brain farts.  So instead, here are just 10 little tidbits about my late night Thursday viewing (and I don’t even mention feminism):   1. If you are going to see 50 Shades of Grey, I recommend going with not your boyfriend, because this movie was about as steamy as a shower when all the hot water is gone because you live with some really inconsiderate roommates. Like, basically just a lot of boobs andRead More

November and December are more than simple holiday months. This is the time in which the cinematic heavy-hitters step up to the plate. The 2014 movie scene got off to a relatively crappy start, but here are some well-done, indie-ish films that are worth checking out:   Birdman Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu Stars: Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton This movie just takes us on a whirlwind adventure. There is literally never a dull moment in this film. I am glad to see Keaton up and at ’em throughout this movie, andRead More

Kudos to AMC for adding those leather (pleather?) recliners I have come to love in my movie theater-going experience. The ticket markup, though excessive to the uninformed visitor, is negligible. Just make sure you eat a cheap meal before you visit, and you’re all set. However, I feel like I truly threw my money away with the latest Hunger Games installment. Was it a terrible movie? Nah, but yikes there was a ton of unnecessary footage in there. After some extensive* research on the book series, I learned that the actualRead More

Twenty years removed from semi-cult glory, Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels return with a lukewarm revival of the iconic characters Harry and Lloyd. The sequel fell in between modest attempt and doomed from the start, but my love of the original carried me through the entirety of the film. Unfortunately, there were several key moments that simply proved Harry and Lloyd’s idyllic, moronic behavior lost its pizzazz.     1. Carrey and Daniels lost their chemistry. When living out the formative years of your life quoting every mannerism and facialRead More

Let’s be clear about one thing: Interstellar is a really good movie. I’ve heard the commentary from the naysayers out there, but from the laymen’s perspective, this is definitely a worthwhile watch. However, I have also noticed that there are some pretty strong sentiments towards certain qualities of this movie that are worth taking a look at, especially if you are still on the fence about checking this one out. The more “agrees” you side with, the more you should definitely go see Interstellar.     1. Christopher Nolan isRead More

1. Thou Shalt Have No Other Hobbies Before Me Although it is permissible to lie on your online dating profile, in an interview, or to impress an acquaintance.     2. Thou Shalt Not Take the Name of Lord Netflix in Vain Seriously.  Don’t insult or mock Netflix.  There are too many devout and loyal followers.  We are everywhere.     3. Remember to Keep Holy the Sabbath Day Which, in the instance of Lord Netflix, is every day.  Especially Friday nights and entire Saturdays.  But we can’t rule outRead More

John Wick is an action movie that would have been right at home twenty or thirty years ago. It’s a paper-thin revenge story about a retired hit man (Keanu Reaves) taking on the Russian mafia because they killed his puppy. That’s not a joke, it’s the real plot of the movie. The inciting incident of the film is that a Russian gangster (Alfie Allen) kills his puppy. It’s the kind of action film in which the story really only exists to justify the wanton violence on display and I canRead More

Independent films don’t get the attention they deserve. Sound familiar? It should. Indie directors, producers, writers, and aficionados have been shouting this since the Sundance Film Festival hit the scene back in the late ’70s, with the intention of showcasing and promoting independently made films. Sadly, aside from the few cinematic darlings that are fortunate enough to earn a theatrical release, many great independent work goes unnoticed, while Transformers 11 makes 9 billion dollars and furthers the great reign of vacuous thrills and bad 3D. Luckily for us, there areRead More

Last weekend I attended the Mile High Horror Film Festival (MHHFF), Denver’s premier attraction for those looking to see the best and brightest in horror cinema. Luckily for me, this year boasted some significantly scary offerings. In its fifth year, Mile High Horror Film Festival has come into its own. Hosted by the Alamo Drafthouse, horror fans can have their fill of food and drinks while watching the screenings. There are also several opportunities to get done up in monster makeup, meet character actors—like this year’s Tony Todd of Candyman—andRead More

So, two nights ago, I saw a movie I’d been wanting to see for quite some time – Gone Girl. Having never previously read the book upon which the film is based, my enthusiasm came from my appreciation for director David Fincher and the enticing previews I had seen. First things first: the film was fantastic. I recommend that each and every one of you go see it ASAP. But now, a few days removed from roller coaster that is Gone Girl, I’ve found myself thinking a lot about the movie as a commentaryRead More

This is not a review. This is a recommendation that you, reader, take 90 minutes of your time and watch a documentary about YouTubers. The film is called Please Subscribe. The director is Dan Dobi. The cast is made up of famous YouTubers discussing their foray into YouTube-dom. These stories are fascinating for a number of reasons, reasons I will not list because the Internet is overrun with lists as it is. Suffice it to say, the expository nature of each YouTuber’s respective story allows for the utmost emotional honesty.Read More

Just prior to the third act in Lenny Abrahamson’s aggressively idiosyncratic ‘Frank’, the film’s mentally handicapped title character (Frank) announces to his band mates and devoted members of SORONPRFBS, an avant-grade rock ensemble begrudgingly prepped to take the stage at SXSW, that he has composed his “most likable song ever.” He’s done this, we learn, out of fear that the band’s experimental arrangements will alienate a virgin audience. Altogether hesitant, the mates listen as Frank, bent over a keyboard in a congested, Austin TX hotel room, plays a little dittyRead More

Life is really easy. Especially when you’re either Julia Roberts or Meg Ryan.   My Best Friend’s Wedding You can still be a likable protagonist while trying to ruin people’s lives by lying, scheming, and messing with their relationships for your own selfish reasons.   Grease You can get guys to like you by dressing slutty and smoking cigarettes.   When Harry Met Sally You can’t actually just be friends with a man. On the bright side, if you’re secretly in love with your best friend it’ll work out greatRead More

It’s halfway through July and summer love is in the air. In honor of love, here are the top 5 most romantic movie scenes…   Final Scene – When Harry Met Sally This is arguably the most beloved RomCom of all time, thanks to a smart, hilarious script by the lovely late Nora Ephron. It’s a classic. Most people are familiar with the orgasm scene (which is fantastic) but the last scene is truly one of the most rewarding endings to any film ever made. Billy Crystal is perfect, making bitter andRead More