Fri 17 Jun 2011
Posted by Ethan under Film Review, TWoP
Comments Off on By the Power of Oa
My second week at Television Without Pity brings two reviews (including one of this week’s big blockbuster, Green Lantern), a couple blog posts and a photo gallery. Follow the links below:
Green Lantern review
The Art of Getting By review
I Want My VOD
I Want My DVD
Famed Movie Underachievers
Memo to Hollywood
Worst Superhero Movie Costumes
Sat 11 Jun 2011
Posted by Ethan under Film Review, General, TWoP
Comments Off on A Brief Station Identification Announcement
As of this week, your trusty NYC Film Critic became the lead movies writer and general editor for the snark-tastic website Television Without Pity. I’ll be posting daily reviews, interviews and other posts to the site, so drop by early and often. My first batch of posts include a review of Super 8, the new J.J. Abrams small-town sci-fi picture, a piece about which reveals of alien monsters are the most effective and finally, a round-up listing which digital tweaks we’d make to recent movies in the wake of The Hangover Part II tattoo incident.
So what does this mean for this particular site? Well, less original content for starters. I may still post a few reviews now and then, but the bulk of my posting will be over at TWoP going forward. I’ll make sure to provide regular links to that content here though, so it won’t be going entirely dormant. But go ahead and update your bookmarks to include TWoP’s The Moviefile blog. Look forward to seeing you all in my new digs!
Thu 2 Jun 2011
Posted by Ethan under Film Review, NYC Film Critic
Comments Off on Head of the Class
X-Men: First Class
Directed by Matthew Vaughn
Screenplay by Ashley Miller, Zack Stentz, Jane Goldman, Matthew Vaughn
Starring James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Kevin Bacon, January Jones, Jennifer Lawrence
***
Fifth in production order but technically second in terms of continuity, X-Men: First Class, the latest feature starring Marvel Comics’ not-so-merry band of mutants, acts as a prequel to the first three X-pictures while running vaguely parallel to that Wolverine movie that stunk up theaters two summers ago.
Tue 31 May 2011
Posted by Ethan under Features, Film Journal International
Comments Off on Teach Your Children Well
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.
Fri 27 May 2011
Posted by Ethan under Film Review, NYC Film Critic
[3] Comments
The Tree of Life
Written and Directed by Terrence Malick
Starring Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain, Hunter McCracken, Sean Penn
****
Terrence Malick’s reclusive nature coupled with his infrequent forays into filmmaking guarantees that when he does make a movie, the anticipation level amongst his modest, but devoted fanbase will run high. Even by Malick’s standards though, the excitement surrounding the director’s fifth feature The Tree of Life has been particularly intense.
Thu 26 May 2011
Posted by Ethan under Film Journal International, Film Review
Comments Off on Fit To Be Tied
The Michael Bergmann-directed indie comedy Tied To a Chair offers an interesting set-up, but suffers mightily from a lack of follow through. Read my review over at Film Journal.
Wed 25 May 2011
Posted by Ethan under Film Review, NYC Film Critic
Comments Off on Street Fighting Panda
Kung Fu Panda 2
Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson
Written by Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger
Starring Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan
***
When they first opened their doors in the late ‘90s, DreamWorks Animation initially tried to match Disney and the newly ascendant Pixar prestige picture for prestige picture. Than a little blockbuster called Shrek came along and the studio promptly developed a new M.O.: creating pop-culture savvy comedies packed with big-name vocal talent. 2008’s Kung Fu Panda was one of the more successful of their post-Shrek efforts, a fleet-footed and cheerful send-up of chopsocky martial arts movies starring a menagerie of cute animals led by the titular kung fu fighting panda, Po (voiced by Jack Black).
Thu 19 May 2011
Posted by Ethan under Film Journal International, Film Review
Comments Off on Fool’s Gold
The fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film On Stranger Tides is intended to launch a new series of high-seas adventures with Captain Jack Sparrow at its center. But mostly this leaden blockbuster just shows why the franchise has run its course. Read my review over at Film Journal and try to resist the lure of Johnny Depp’s pirate mascara if you can. Your wallet will thank you.
Mon 16 May 2011
Posted by Ethan under Features, Interviews
Comments Off on Anyone for Cricket?
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.
Fri 13 May 2011
Posted by Ethan under Film Review, NYC Film Critic
Comments Off on Love and Marriage
Bridesmaids
Directed by Paul Feig
Written by Kristen Wiig and Anne Mumolo
Starring Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy
***1/2
There’s no way to say this without sounding hyperbolic, but the new Judd Apatow-produced, Paul Feig-directed comedy Bridesmaids is the closest I’ve seen a studio comedy come to channeling the Marx Brothers in some time. Now mind you, I don’t mean to place Bridesmaids in rarefied company of such classics as Duck Soup, A Night at the Opera or Animal Crackers. But what this movie has in common with those classics is the skillful way it escalates its comic set-pieces, upping the ante as the scene unfolds. Take the immortal stateroom sequence from A Night at the Opera, which opens in a perfectly ordinary way, with Groucho, Chico and Harpo crammed into a tiny cabin aboard a big ocean liner. Gradually, more and more people start entering the space (maids, janitors, manicurists) and attempt to go about their tasks despite the lack of room. The energy and choreographed chaos of the scene continues to build until it reaches its final punchline—Margaret Dumont opening the door—and the audience erupts in laughter.
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