One for the Money is palatable enough—even amusing, at times—but most all of these moments are given away in the trailer. The rest has a connect-the-dots kind of predictability to it. Director Julie Anne Robinson tries to break rom-com formula (the movie’s an adaptation of Janet Evanovich’s novel), and does a so-so job. Stephanie Plum […]
Molly Segal
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The Artist: silence is golden in black and white
As we make the transition from film to digital, The Artist —a black and white silent film—takes us back to 1927 as movies were transitioning to the “talkies”. George Valentin (Jean Dujardin), a gesticulating star of the silent era, scoffs at the addition of sound, just as he gives Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo) her big […]
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Red Tails goes down in flames
Word has it George Lucas, as producer, has been working on this WWII flick (directed by Anthony Hemingway) since the late ’80s. You’d think a couple of decades would be time enough to concoct fully developed characters and credible dialogue. As it is, this tribute to a group of black pilots in the Tuskegee program, […]
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Underword: Awakening, Franchise: Repetition
There’s little point in stepping in for the 4th edition of the Underworld vampire fantasy series if you’re not already a fan. “Death dealer” Selene (Kate Beckinsale), a vampire, awakes from 12 years in cryogenically frozen captivity, right where she left off: fighting the Lycans (a werewolf species). And, surprise, she has a daughter now! […]
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The 10 best movies of 2011
50/50 Those are the odds of Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) beating cancer. Good thing writer Will Reiser and director Jonathan Levine crafted a movie that’s funny and sad in exactly that ratio. Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen (as the best friend) play well off each other. (MJS) Attack the Block Joe Cornish injects fresh energy into the […]
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Sweet! We Bought A Zoo!
The end of December is an apt time to release a movie suitable for all generations and Cameron Crowe’s We Bought a Zoo is inoffensive and entertaining enough to fit the bill. Based on Benjamin Mee’s book chronicling his own life experience, Benjamin (Matt Damon) and his kids, moody teen Dylan (Colin Ford) and adorable […]
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War Horse sentimental but captivating
It’s an ambitious project to make an animal the star of a film without overloading on the cheese factor. Steven Spielberg’s War Horse is sentimental, but it’s also touching and beautifully shot, in a grand, big-budget Hollywood way. Albert Narracott (Jeremy Irvine) is a poor Devon farm boy whose drunkard father (Peter Mullan) sells his […]
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Molly Segal’s Top 11 DVDs of 2011
Around a Small Mountain (Cinema Guild) Directed by Jacques Rivette Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo (Argot) Directed by Jessica Orek Bill Cunningham: New York (Zeitgeist) Directed by Richard Press New York Times street-style photographer is a captivating character: accepting no pay for his work snapping stills of Manhattan’s chic and elite, living minimally and alone—not even […]
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Best DVDs of 2011
Carsten Knox Coast writer since 2003 Bobby Fischer Against the World (Mongrel) Directed by Liz Garbus Once upon a time, chess champions were famous. This doc follows the chaotic life of the biggest ever, and how pressure to compete drove him off the rails. Bruce Springsteen, The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge […]
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Top 11 of 2011
Settle in and read our critics’ picks of the year. Learn about yourself and our writers in the process. Possibly a two coffee read and at least one of those coffees should have whiskey in it. MUSIC BOOKS DVDS VIDEO GAMES THE LOT OF IT
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Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked sinks
Chip-Wrecked is the unfortunate third addition to the CGI/live-action chipmunk flicks (a combination destined for failure) typically including an onslaught of high-pitched cover songs. Dave (Jason Lee) brings the manic, helium-injected Chipmunks and Chipettes on a cruise vacation, quickly landing them on a remote island, complete with a stranded crazy lady (Jenny Slate). Outdated references […]
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Young Adult dark, humourous and cringe-worthy
Writer-director duo Diablo Cody and Jason Reitman craft a dark comedy that lacks the overt humour of their debut collaboration, Juno. Two decades after high school, Mavis Gary (Charlize Theron)—or a “psychotic prom queen bitch” as one ex-classmate calls her—returns to her Minnesota hometown to reclaim a high school love, a handsome lug of a […]
