In Theatre

Few actors have portrayed a more wide variety of quirky characters than Johnny Depp. He seems to search for roles in which he can display a character’s “individuality.” In his latest effort, “The Tourist,” he plays a relatively normal math-teacher. But a quick look back shows that, for Depp, normal in not the norm.

Of course his quirkiest role was as poor Edward Scissorhands… or was that Willie Wonka…or Captain Jack Sparrow… you get the idea. Even when his Read the rest of this entry »

Not every actor makes a strong impression the first time out. As filmmaking has evolved, glamour has become less a part of the “star quality” that draws people to the theater. Today, it’s more about acting chops, and that sometimes takes a while to develop. Moviegoers who saw the Coen Brothers’ version of “True Grit” were treated to an impressive acting debut recently in the person of Haliee Steinfeld, who plays the precocious Mattie Ross.

In her first outing Steinfeld showed that she can carry a scene, as when she bargains for her murdered father’ Read the rest of this entry »

As many adults know, there are plenty of anime movies out there not suitable for children, but what many don’t know is the plethora of anime for children that adults will also enjoy. Some titles that are family friendly include the many works of Hayao Miyazaki’s, such as “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Ponyo”, which mostly center on children discovering a world beyond their own, Katsuhiro Otomo’s “Steamboy” (though this does have some violent scenes toward the end), and Hiroyuki Morito’s “The Cat Returns”. Miyazaki’s main characters are for the most part girls aged Read the rest of this entry »

Anybody under the age of 40 had to be asking themselves why we’re getting a new “Green Hornet” movie when they first found out. That’s after they looked him up to find out who he was, of course. The pulp-fiction hero of the ’30s and ’40s hasn’t had a presence in mainstream pop-culture since the 1966-1967 television series, which was more notable for introducing Bruce Lee to American audiences than anything else. For some reason, though, starting in the 1990s, big-name writers started batting around screenplay ideas, with George Clooney attached at one point to play the lead. The result, after more than a decade, is Michel Gondry’s The Green Hornet. Read the rest of this entry »

With big American blockbusters dominating the current theater scene, it’s important to remember that there are still some independent and foreign films on the market worth your time. Here are a few that might catch your interest.

• The Secret in Their Eyes is an Argentine mystery by director Juan Jos Campanella. While set in 1999, it flashes back to 1974 when a federal agent begins to investigate the murder of a young woman. Campanella had previously directed episodes of House and Law & Order, but this film shows him at his best, and has already won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. Don’t let this one pass you by.
• City Island is a limited-release American comedy film set in the Bronx location of the same name. Stars include such big names as Andy Garcia, Julianna Margulies, and Alan Arkin. The plot follows an Italian family named the Rizzos hiding some big secrets, like an illegitimate son and what the daughter is doing when she’s supposed to be in college. Overall, this film focuses on the importance of family, and could provide a smart and touching alternative to the standard family fare. Read the rest of this entry »

Hollywood has been entranced by remakes for about a decade now, and comic books have also become increasingly popular sources of inspiration. Here is a look at some of the films out now that you may recognize from somewhere else.

• The Karate Kid is a remake of the 1984 film by Rocky director John G. Avildsen. The new film comes from the director of Agent Cody Banks, Harald Zwart, and stars Jackie Chan and Will Smith’s son, Jaden Smith. The film looks like a classic tale of overcoming adversity and standing up for yourselfwith a healthy dose of kung-fu added in.
• The A-Team is another 80′s remake, this time of the popular television show which ran from 1983-1986 and launched the career of Mr. T. The military thriller follows a unique Army Special Forces unit attempting to recover their good name, and features cameos by some stars from the original show like Dwight Schultz and Dirk Benedict. For a slice of summer action, it will definitely fit the bill. Read the rest of this entry »

Now in its second week in theaters, Knight & Day debuted at 3 last weekend, coming in behind Toy Story 3 and the comedy ensemble piece Grown Ups.  Although the film marked the second pairing of Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz since 2001′s Vanilla Sky, the movie is falling hard below expectations.  It lost 9 in ticket sales after its first day and becoming the least-earning Tom Cruise action movie of the last 20 years.

Considering the attachment of director James Mangold (best known for hits Walk the Line and 3:10 to Yuma), this turn of events is equally surprising.  However, Mangold was not the first choice for the filmand neither were Cruise or Diaz.  The disparate list of considerations for Cruise’s role included comedians Adam Sandler and Chris Tucker, as well as more versatile star Gerard Butler.  In a similar turn, Diaz took over for Eva Mendes.  Tom Dey, the director of Shanghai Noon and Failure to Launch, was originally signed on for the project.  What did he choose instead?  Family comedy Marmaduke, which has been gaining even more scathing reviews.

Things aren’t all bad, however.  Cruise’s and Diaz’s on-screen chemistry has been praised, as well as Cruise’s strong solo performance.  The film is not catching on with younger viewers, though, perhaps because of the age of the two stars.  In that respect, maybe the similar romantic-action-comedy Killers will perform better, despite its even lower reviews.  That film stars Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl, both of whom have a strong teen fanbase thanks to shows like That ’70s Show and Grey’s Anatomy, respectively.  If you’re looking for a fluffy summer film, you could just take your pick, but you may feel more adult if you go with Knight & Day.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse opens today, and hardcore fans of the vampire-teen-romance series everywhere are rubbing the sleep from their eyes this morning. The lines showed no signs of diminishing for this new film. Along with regulars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner, the film also sees the addition of Bryce Dallas Howard and Xavier Samuel. Howard, best known for her roles in The Village and Spider-Man 3, takes on the role of Victoria, the powerful vampire temptress who was portrayed by Rachelle Lefevre in the two earlier films. Samuel is an Australian actor still relatively unknown in America, taking on the role of Riley Biers, Victoria’s faithful servant and lover. Read the rest of this entry »

Those who turned out for the third in the Twilight series early this morning also got a sneak peek at another popular series nearing its end. The trailer for the first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows premiered before the film, and it had stars like Lo Bosworth of The Hills showing their appreciation via Twitter. The trailer is now available on the web, and starts off with the snake-faced Voldemort (a slithery Ralph Fiennes) standing in the woods, before he is approached by star Harry. The trailer then kicks into high gear, showing the dwarfs, dragons, and snakes that make Hogwarts such a dangerous place to try to get an education.The film is being released in two parts, with the first premiering in November 2010 and the second in July 2011. The two-part philosophy is being emulated by Twilight for its finale as well, with the first part of Breaking Dawn arriving in November 2011. Breaking up these series into two parts will help ensure that fans are not left disappointed, after the filmmakers have been forced to cut or adapt plot elements in earlier films. Read the rest of this entry »