Film & TV
Musical Score!
Forget Mozart - there's a new child prodigy in town. In August Rush, Evan is a musically gifted adolescent searching for his parents, a privileged cellist (Russell) and a free-spirited rock musician (Rhys Meyers). Along the way, Evan encounters Wizard (Robin Williams), a Fagin-type character who seizes the commercial cache of such a young genius and dubs the boy August Rush. Each actor's performance capitalizes on the emotional impact of the plotline.
Hits the Mark
Considering the history of movie adaptations of video games, Hitman is a pleasant surprise. In spite of an overused storyline, director Xavier Gens is still able to captivate audiences with raw and relentless action.
Take Four: Prepare for Battle
War and Peace Although almost unknown to American audiences, this Soviet adaptation of the epic novel was the most expensive movie ever made ($500 million when adjusted for inflation). The Battle of Borodino scene shows over 120,000 extras from the Soviet Army on screen.
Literary Story, Visionary Film
Beowulf Directed by: Robert Zemeckis Starring: Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, Angelina Jolie Rated: PG-13 Watching Beowulf in IMAX 3D is enthralling.
All You Need is Love... and Pepto Bismol
Love In the Time of Cholera Directed by: Mike Newell Starring: Benjamin Bratt, Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Javier Bardem Rated: R Director Newell, who previously helmed Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, tells this touching story about the disease of love.
Going South - To Rock Bottom
Southland Tales Directed by:Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Justin Timberlake, Seann William Scott Rated: R From the writer/director of Donnie Darko comes Southland Tales, which tells the story of a 2005 nuclear attack on Texas.
In the lion's den
Early on in Robert Redford's interview, a reporter asks him a difficult question: What do you think your role is in repairing the world?
Drop dead, Fred
Fred Claus tries to tell an updated version of the Santa Claus story by bringing in Santa's relatives and adding some modern flourishes, but it ends up being a formulaic cash-in on the holidays that only those under the age of six will enjoy. In order to drive home an anti-corporate message, the film has Santa answering to a board of businessmen (the script never explains why Santa has to answer to a board) and an efficiency expert (Spacey), who wants to shut down the North Pole and outsource to the South Pole.
'Lions,' and politics, and war - oh my!
Lions for Lambs tackles three intertwining stories that explore many of the harsher realities of our world today.
Like Prozac for the audience
Though the world of feel-good movies is remarkably vast, one would think that there would be little room for a film whose title represents a particularly violent form of suicide.
Buzzworthy
It's a little disconcerting to hear Jerry Seinfeld's voice coming out of an animated bee's mouth, but after a few minutes of Bee Movie, you'd swear you were watching Seinfeld.
Extraplanetary parenting
Adapted from a novel by David Gerrold, Martian Child aims to please with its amiable eccentricity, but ultimately falls short due to the filmmakers' meddling with the original story. John Cusack plays David, a widowed science fiction writer who decides to adopt a young boy, Dennis (Bobby Coleman), who truly believes he is from Mars.
Bee-ing Jerry
Is there a particular message people will get out of this? There is a message that I tried to install in there, but I don't think people are getting it.
99 Problems, but this film ain't one
If you haven't yet heard about American Gangster, you're probably living under a rock (or maybe just in Hill). The film's hype and star power (not to mention Jay-Z's decision to make a concept album based on it) set expectations high.
The Devil made me do it
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead answers a question you didn't know you were supposed to ask: can an art house action film be enjoyable?
A B.A. in Murder
To be honest, I had low expectations while sliding the Netflix DVD of Behind the Mask into my computer.
Take 4
In the mood for mutilation this Halloween? Shaun of the Dead (2004) Though this is a parody from across the pond - think Dawn of the Dead meets Harold and Kumar - British comedians Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright know how to splatter their way into movie history.
Real Good
This film - indie filmmaker Peter Hedges's follow up to Pieces of April - tells the story of Dan Burns (Carell), a widowed advice columnist having a tough time following his own advice.
It was a dark and stormy night
Halloween: a time when families map out trick-or-treating routes, neighbors stock up on candy and Penn students blur the boundaries between "dressing up" and not dressing at all.
