Lonesome Jim
September 11, 2006
With the underrated Gerry (2002) and now Lonesome Jim (2005), Casey Affleck makes another bid to get out from under his brother’s famous shadow and acquire some leading man credibility. And what better film than one directed by consummate character...
Ace Ventura Deluxe Double Feature
September 5, 2006
It’s safe to say that Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) launched Jim Carrey’s career into the stratosphere. It provided the ideal vehicle for the comedian’s cartoonish antics, most notably his incredibly expressive face and wildly exaggerated body...
Relative Strangers
August 28, 2006
Relative Strangers is such a perfect example of the importance of a good script. Not even the combined might of Danny DeVito, Kathy Burke and Neve (schwing) Campbell, can save this generic and mostly unfunny movie. Comedies about parents haven’t...
Desperate Housewives: Season 2
August 26, 2006
After the phenomenonal success of the first season of Desperate Housewives, would the creative powers behind the popular scenes be able to maintain the momentum for the next season? For the most part, yes, as the writers do little to alter their tried...
Kicking & Screaming
August 25, 2006
The early to mid-1990s was a great time for American independent cinema with the likes of Richard Linklater, Kevin Smith, Whit Stillman, Noah Baumbach and many others gaining prominence through film festivals and home video. Like the aforementioned filmmakers,...
The Simpsons: Season 8
August 22, 2006
The eighth season of The Simpsons saw the show maintain its consistent ability to satirize all aspects of popular culture while also tackling serious issues like homophobia in an entertaining and engaging way. As usual, a host of famous guest star voices...
Seduced and Abandoned
August 18, 2006
The impetus for Pietro Germi’s 1964 film Seduced and Abandoned came from his outrage at an old Italian civil code that allowed a man to avoid prison for raping a woman if he married her. The woman is effectively punished twice: she’s been violated...
Chappelle’s Show: The Lost Episodes Uncensored
August 2, 2006
Dave Chappelle produced two highly successful and very funny seasons of Chappelle’s Show, a sketch comedy show airing on Comedy Central. The series proved to be so popular that the powers that be offered Dave an extremely lucrative boost in salary....
Find Me Guilty
July 18, 2006
There is always a certain amount of anticipation when Sidney Lumet makes another New York City based movie about crime and corruption. Some of his best films – Dog Day Afternoon (1975), Prince of the City (1981) and the underrated Q & A (1990) –...
Imagine Me & You
July 14, 2006
Imagine Me & You (2005) is a British romantic comedy done in the tradition of a Richard Curtis film but not quite as in-your-face about it. This movie is much more subtle as its director Ol Parker demonstrates a deft touch for light comedy. Unlike...
