NYC Film Critic

Kick off your Sunday shoes–Footloose is back in theaters in a brand spanking new version. Directed by Craig Brewer and starring to very attractive professional dancers/amateur actors, this remake largely follows the same beat as its predecessor, but is entertaining (if not particularly profound) in its own right. And as remakes go, it’s a damn sight better than the remake of The Thing that’s opening today as well.  Read my reviews of both films, along with the rest of my TWoP content from the week, by following the links below.

Footloose and The Thing: A Tale of Two Remakes
Indie Snapshot: The Skin I Live In and Father of Invention
I Want My VOD
Remake Do’s and Don’ts
That Avengers Trailer
I Want My DVD
TV on DVD
American Horror Story Recap
Community Recap
Remaking ’80s Action Movies with Female Leads
Biggest Years of the Stars of The Big Year

The fall’s first big Oscar hopeful, Moneyball, arrives in theaters today.  Originally set to be directed by Steven Soderbergh, the movie instead bears the imprint of Bennett Miller, best known as the director of Capote.  I’m sad that we’ll never get a chance to see what Soderbergh planned to do with the material, but the movie Miller produced is pretty good on its own terms.  Read my review at TWoP as well as the rest of this week’s content, including my detailed analysis of the Prime Suspect pilot.

Moneyball: How To Succeed In Baseball Without Really Trying
Killer Elite: Why It Disappoints
Puncture: Captain America, Attorney-At-Law
Seven Movie Characters Whose Pasts Are a Lie
Using Sabermetrics to Analyze the Moneyball Movie
I Want My DVD
Prime Suspect Recap
TV on DVD
Six Degrees of Jason Statham
Building a Real All Star Team

If you’re in the mood for a good movie and aren’t in the path of Hurricane Irene this weekend, the Guillermo Del Toro-produced haunted house tale Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark should top your list of must-sees.  Less of a non-stop frightfest than a family drama that happens to have some horror elements, Dark is one of this summer’s most stylish and involving films.  Read my full review at TWoP and also check out some of the other content I posted there this week, including my Best & Worst of Summer Wrap-Up.

Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark: Leave the Lights On
Colombiana: Good Girl Gone Bad
The Family Tree: Not An American Beauty
Flip This (Haunted) House
D23 Movie News
Summer Movies 2011: Best, Worst and Beyond
The Deadliest Female Assassins
I Want My DVD
TV on DVD

Okay, so the new Fright Night isn’t that bad.  But it’s still a disappointingly generic horror programmer that wastes some good actors and potentially interesting creative choices in its inexplicable quest to be as bland as possible.  Check out my full review and the rest of this week’s TWoP content at the links below.

Fright Night: Warning!  This Movie Bites
One Day: Meet the New Notebook
Spy Kids 4: When New Faces Take Over Old Franchises
Other Fantasy Franchises Jason Momoa Should Remake
5 Ways to Ensure the New Blade Runner Doesn’t Suck
VOD Round-Up: August 2011
I Want My DVD
TV on DVD
Anne Hathaway’s Best & Worst Movie Romances
Colin Farrell’s Rise and Fall and Rise Again

But is Captain America that hero?  Find out in my just-posted review over at TWoP.  Links to the rest of the week’s content — including reviews of <i>A Little Help</i> and <i>Another Earth</i> — are below.

Captain America: A Real American Hero
Another Earth: Crisis on Infinite (Okay, Just One) Earths
A Little Help: Jenna Fischer Gets Out of <i>The Office</i>
Retro Comic Book Movies
A Guide to Marvel Studio’s Easter Eggs
I Want My DVD
TV on DVD
Who’s Who in Marvel’s World War II
The Most Successful Singers-Turned-Actors

Much like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 will dominate the box office this weekend, the movie was the main subject of my TWoP posts this week, culminating in my review of the final chapter in the eight-film franchise.  Follow the links below to indulge in Pottermania for one last time.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2: This Is The End, My Only Friend
Winnie the Pooh: A Welcome Return to the Hundred Acre Wood
Beyond Winnie the Pooh: Other Classic Disney Characters That Deserve a Comeback
Harry Potter: The Best & Worst of the Franchise
Harry Potter: Spin-Offs We’d Like to See
Harry Potter: A Farewell Tour of Hogwarts
San Diego Comic-Con 2011: A Movie Geek’s Guide to What’s Worth Waiting in Line For
I Want My DVD
I Want My VOD
TV on DVD
Eureka: Chicken Soup for the SyFy Soul

This summer’s final comic book-inspired movie is Captain America: The First Avenger, arriving in theaters July 22nd from Marvel Studios.  It’s both a World War II-era period piece and the final piece of the puzzle in what will become next year’s big superhero extravaganza, The Avengers, an all-star team-up movie featuring Iron Man, Thor and The Hulk among others.  I spoke with Kevin Feige, the head of Marvel Studios, and Joe Johnston, the director of Captain America for the July issue of Film Journal.  Follow the links to read both pieces.

More Marvels: Kevin Feige Guides Resurgence of an Iconic Comic-Book Brand

Avenger Auteur: Joe Johnston Shapes a Muscular Captain America

Cameron Diaz plays a bad teacher in…uh, Bad Teacher, the new comedy from writer/director Jake Kasdan.  I spoke with Kasdan for a feature that went live today over at Film Journal.  Read the piece and see the movie on June 24th.

During the Tribeca Film Festival last month, I had the opportunity to sit down with Stevan Riley, director of the documentary Fire in Babylon, which tells the fascinating story of the world’s winningest cricket team.  That Q&A was just posted over at Life + Times.  Check it out and, if you’re in England, you’ll be able to see the film for yourself in theaters starting May 20.  The rest of the world will have to wait…at least for now.

Kristen Wiig makes the leap from Saturday Night Live performer to leading lady with Bridesmaids, a new marital-themed comedy she co-wrote and stars in.  I interviewed the movie’s director Paul Feig, who does a nice job escalating the various comic hijinks the occur throughout.  Read the story over at Film Journal.