RSS 2.0 FeedFILM REVIEW: Terrific performances in "Get Low"
Tue, Aug 31, 2010
Robert Duvall and Bill Murray deliver terrific performances in the 1930s era drama "Get Low."
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FILM REVIEW: "Wild Grass" is aimless and incomprehensible
Wed, Aug 25, 2010
French film "Wild Grass" ("Les herbes folles") is less than wild with an aimless, poorly paced storyline and odd characters who are difficult to like, much less understand.
FILM REVIEW: "Winter's Bone" is one for your must-see list
Tue, Aug 03, 2010
Set in the Missouri Ozarks, "Winter’s Bone" is an intelligently written piece with a break-out, potentially Oscar worthy performance and should be on your must-see list.
Tivoli Cinemas and UMKC Department of Communications announces Silent Cinema Series
Tue, Aug 03, 2010
Tivoli Cinemas and the UMKC Department of Communication Studies will present a special SILENT FILM SERIES beginning September 2nd that will culminate with the Kansas City premiere of THE COMPLETE METROPOLIS the first week of October.
"Ondine"
Tue, Jun 29, 2010
Filmmaker Neil Jordan delivers an Irish cinematic gem in the form of the drama/fairy tale "Ondine" starring Colin Farrell.
"Sweetgrass"
Mon, Jun 14, 2010
This lifeless documentary focuses more on sheep than the supposed cowboys who shepherd them.
"The Secret in Their Eyes"
Mon, May 31, 2010
This year's Oscar winner for Best Foreign Language Film doesn't disappoint with a richly written story that combines edgy suspense, perfectly placed humor and unspoken love to create a true masterpiece of cinematic art.
"Mother"
Mon, May 24, 2010
South Korean film offers up great suspense with an odd blend of humor and creepiness that will keep you guessing.
"The Secret of Kells"
Tue, May 18, 2010
Overflowing with lush, vibrant colors and infused with traditional Celtic music that heightens its mythical qualities, "The Secret of Kells" is a nicely paced animated feature, yet has difficulty deciding what its target audience will be.
"The Art of the Steal"
Tue, May 11, 2010
Impressive documentary details how high society greed and governmental power led to the controversial moving of the greatest individual art collection ever assembled.
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers
Sun, May 02, 2010
Nominated earlier this year for an Academy Award in the Best Documentary category, The Most Dangerous Man in America is a well-made, thoroughly researched work that for years to come will be an important tool to show future generations the tragedy that was the Vietnam War. It will also prove to them that there are always inspirational Americans like Daniel Ellsberg who are willing to sacrifice everything in order for truth to prevail.
"Vincere"
Tue, Apr 27, 2010
Two lead performances dominate wildly paced Italian drama "Vincere," which depicts the alleged first marriage of Benito Mussolini and the brutality his first wife and son are put through as a consequence.
"Greenberg"
Tue, Apr 20, 2010
Ben Stiller delivers the best acting performance of his career as a dysfunctional ex-band member in the dark comedy "Greenberg."
"Chloe"
Mon, Apr 12, 2010
Amanda Seyfried steals the show as the title character, but director Atom Egoyan and rest of the cast fail to take "Chloe" to a higher level.
"A Prophet"
Tue, Apr 06, 2010
It's not just a prophecy. It's a fact. "A Prophet" is an epic French prison drama that should not be missed by anyone who has a passion for cinema.
Kansas City FilmFest 2010
Mon, Apr 05, 2010
The Kansas City FilmFest begins on April 14 and runs through the 18th at AMC Mainstreet. More than 400 films were submitted for the competition this year and 112 were selected for the Festival.
" The Girl on the Train"
Mon, Mar 29, 2010
The French film "The Girl on the Train" attempts to take dramatic license with a false accusation about an anti-Semitic attack, but ends up derailing in the process.
"North Face"
Mon, Mar 22, 2010
Beautifully shot, the German film "North Face" is a gut-wrenching story based upon real events in 1936, but bad pacing hinders it from achieving greatness.
The grandaddy of all heist films
Mon, Mar 08, 2010
The Film Noir Series at the Tivioli Cinemas included the grandaddy of all heist films — the black-and-white 1955 Jules Dassin classic "Rififi." The Series continues through March 25 with four more iconic classics of the genre.
Film Noir Series 2010 at the Tivoli
Tue, Mar 02, 2010
Seven international film classics have been selected for a special Film Noir Series at the Tivoli Cinemas in Westport. Starting March 2 and continuing through the month, audiences will have the opportunity to experience these cinematic treasures from master filmmakers.
My nine - make that 10 - incredibly entertaining and mostly accurate Oscar predictions
Tue, Mar 02, 2010
No, I didn't pick nine categories because there happened to be a 2009 musical titled "Nine" starring Penélope Cruz. There are 24 categories after all, so I have instead focused on those that you - the average, cinema-loving person - really cares about.
"The White Ribbon"
Tue, Mar 02, 2010
An instant classic, "The White Ribbon"is an unsolvable black-and-white mystery set in a pre-World War I German village where children are brutalized and an age-old class structure is threatened.
"That Evening Sun" shines brightly
Tue, Feb 16, 2010
Generations collide when a bitter, elderly Tennessee widow returns to his farm only to discover it's been rented to an enemy from his past. "That Evening Sun" is a tense, superbly written drama with a performance by Hal Holbrook that shows he is still on top of his game.
Top Ten Films of 2009
Tue, Jan 26, 2010
Better late than never. Your humble, yet incredibly insightful film critic has created a list of the ten best films of 2009.
"Crazy Heart"
Tue, Jan 26, 2010
Jeff Bridges delivers the best performance of his long career as an alcoholic country singer in "Crazy Heart."
"Broken Embraces"
Tue, Jan 19, 2010
With all the smoldering sexual energy of Sophia Loren and sophisticated elegance of Audrey Hepburn, Academy Award-winner Penelope Cruz delivers a brilliant, emotional performance in the well-paced Spanish drama "Broken Embraces."
"The Maid" is more than just cleaning tips
Tue, Jan 12, 2010
A longtime maid's psyche begins to unravel as she desperately tries to remain a part of her Chilean upper class "family."
Well-performed "Still Walking" may still cause drowsiness
Tue, Jan 05, 2010
The Japanese family drama "Still Walking" is an interesting, well-acted slice of cultural insight, but is in places, as flat as many once thought the world was.
"The Young Victoria" is royally good
Tue, Dec 29, 2009
Of course there is a little dramatic license taken here and there during the course of the story, but only one attains a little historical blasphemy and it involves an assassination attempt. Otherwise, The Young Victoria will leave you saying, "God Save The Queen!"
"Red Cliff" has all the bravery of "Braveheart," but not the heart
Tue, Dec 15, 2009
Director John Woo set out on a path paved with good intentions. His plan was to create an epic film which would depict a famous battle from the pages of ancient China history.
"Precious" is dark reminder of America's problems
Tue, Dec 08, 2009
America is supposed to be a shining beacon of hope to the world, but the emotionally intense drama "Precious," with a memorable performance by newcomer Gabourey Sidibe, reminds us that there are plenty here at home whose American dream is a hellish nightmare instead.
Military drama one of the year’s best
Mon, Nov 30, 2009
To receive news that a loved one has died in military combat would be a painful and tragic experience. The impact it has on a pair of soldiers who have to relay such news on a near-daily basis is depicted with unwavering brilliance in the military drama "The Messenger," one of 2009's best films.
"Revanche" is a slow-paced drama worth the patience
Tue, Nov 24, 2009
Revenge is a dish best served cold. While the merits of that proverb have been debated ad nauseam, there is nothing cold about the devastatingly tragic tale depicted with raw emotion and brutal honesty in the 2008-released Austrian film, "Revanche."
"Pirate Radio" offers a rockin' good time
Tue, Nov 17, 2009
Long live rock n'roll! That sums up the theme for the new British offbeat comedy "Pirate Radio," an irreverent look back at a period in time when anyone who listened to rock was labeled as a degenerate.
"Coco Before Chanel" is more than a 'Project Runway' episode
Tue, Nov 10, 2009
You don't have to be a great lover of fashion to appreciate the rags-to-riches story of legendary designer Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel - or to appreciate the wonderful performance of French actress Audrey Tautou as the lead in "Coco Before Chanel."
"A Serious Man" should not be taken seriously
Tue, Nov 03, 2009
Larry wants to think of himself as a serious man, however, he cannot figure out what God is trying to tell him as a myriad of bad things continue happening to him. So he goes through a trio of rabbis in search of guidance but to no avail. His son's pot-hazed Bar Mitzvah provides a brief glimmer of hope to a better tomorrow but nothing is easy, or good in Larry's world.
American Jazz Museum is new home to world's largest collection of rare jazz films
Tue, Oct 27, 2009
As part of its permanent collection, the American Jazz Museum is home to one of the world's largest and most comprehensive collections of early and rare jazz film. Originally amassed by John H. Baker, an Ohio attorney and collector, the collection is comprised of over 5,000 titles
"More Than a Game" is a slam dunk
Mon, Oct 26, 2009
The title alone, "More Than a Game," says it all. This glorious, honest documentary is more than a film about basketball. It's more than the rise of LeBron James to superstar status in the NBA. Instead, it's a captivating glimpse into the formative years of five boys whose deep friendship, with the positive influence of their coaches, carries them through trials and tribulations and on into manhood.
Burdened by romance, "Amelia" never gets off the ground
Mon, Oct 26, 2009
Although "Amelia" is interspersed with flashes of her 1937 attempt to fly around the world, the story itself begins in 1928 when Amelia Earhart (Hilary Swank) meets publisher/publicist George Putnam (Richard Gere) in New York. As a result of their meeting, she becomes the first woman to fly across the Atlantic, but as a passenger.
New environmental documentary makes you miss Al Gore
Tue, Oct 20, 2009
Imagine living without your automobile, electricity, plastic bottles or anything else that might have an environmental impact. In an effort to inspire people to save the planet, Manhattan-based author Colin Beavan subjected his family to a spartan lifestyle for a year in the less than impactful documentary, No Impact Man. My question is: where is Al Gore when you need him?
Enigmatic film is a testament to KC’s thriving arts community
Tue, Oct 20, 2009
After months of brainstorming, a feverish 17-hour film shoot, and masterful editing sessions to follow, the feature film revolving around Kansas City's own answer to German cabaret, Alacartoona, premiered this past Saturday at the Crossroad's Screenland Theater. While "Night is the Mirror" is certainly a visual and aural feast, it also acted as a testament to the current support system within Kansas City arts community.
Clive Owen is superb in "The Boys Are Back"
Mon, Oct 12, 2009
Rarely does an opening scene involve a smiling father driving his SUV along a public beach with his laughing six-year-old sitting precariously on the hood. Despite this Britney Spears-like parenting moment, "The Boys Are Back" soon becomes a wonderful drama with enough emotional punch to make your eyes water and your face smile.
"Cold Souls" won't give you a warm, fuzzy feeling
Tue, Oct 06, 2009
What is your soul worth to you? Is it worth putting in cold storage at a warehouse somewhere in New Jersey so you can live more carefree, or perform better in a play? Paul Giamatti, as Paul Giamatti, gambles with his soul and almost loses it in the lackluster comedy/drama "Cold Souls."
Doomed love portrayed brilliantly in "Bright Star"
Mon, Sep 28, 2009
Rock icon and self-described poet Jim Morrison once wrote, "Did you have a good world when you died? Enough to base a movie on?" While early 19th century poet John Keats, a tragic figure in his own right, may not have thought he had a good world when he died at the age of 25, his life and love were epic enough to inspire this drama.
"Lorna's Silence" is nothing to behold
Mon, Sep 21, 2009
They say that silence is golden, but there is nothing golden about the Belgian drama "Lorna's Silence." Even though it received a best screenplay win at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, it is a tremendously slow-paced work that left at least yours truly wondering why he had wasted a small part of his life.
"World's Greatest Dad"
Mon, Sep 14, 2009
Imagine having the most repulsive, disrespectful, moronic, perverted and dishonest teenager that has possibly ever lived in modern history. Now imagine that teenager is your son and you're a single parent whose feelings of loneliness and professional rejection make you feel like a punching bag.
"Adam" is not your typical romance
Tue, Sep 01, 2009
Let's face it, romance on the silver screen often follows a plodding, predictable format that's given a nice, big red bow at the end to help insure that everyone leaves satisfied. It may upset some apple carts, but the new romance "Adam" pushes the crayons outside the lines with a colorful, heartfelt presentation of a complicated relationship.
"In The Loop" is comparable to Dr. Strangelove
Mon, Aug 24, 2009
War is hell, but first there's political hell to pay in the often profane comedy "In The Loop" when a lowly British cabinet minister opens a Pandora's box during an interview and endangers secretive efforts by America and the United Kingdom to launch a war.
Coppola is at his best with "Tetro"
Wed, Aug 12, 2009
Written, directed and produced by legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, "Tetro" is a captivating, brilliantly acted, half-English/half-Spanish drama that contains a heightened sense of mystery and intrigue thanks to being filmed almost entirely in black and white.
Don't surrender to the temptation of seeing Michelle Pfeiffer
Sun, Jul 05, 2009
Set during pre-World War I France, "Chéri" stars 3-time Oscar nominee Michelle Pfeiffer as Lea de Lonval, the equivalent of a modern-day cougar who has gone through a countless number of much younger men during her lifetime.