Thu 22 Jul 2010
Posted by Ethan under Film Review, NYC Film Critic
Comments Off on From Russia With Love
Salt
Directed by Phillip Noyce
Written by Kurt Wimmer
Starring Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chewitel Ejiofor
**1/2
Between The A-Team, The Karate Kid and Predators the summer of 2010 has been looking a whole lot like the summer of 1988. And here’s one more ‘80s throwback for you, Salt, a new thriller about a squad of Soviet spies who launch a mission to destroy America from within.
Thu 22 Jul 2010
Posted by Ethan under Features, Film Journal International
Comments Off on A Pilgrim’s Tale
One of the best things about this gig is the opportunity to speak with filmmakers whose work I admire and enjoy. Folks like Guillermo Del Toro, Terry Gilliam, Nick Park and now Edgar Wright, who directed the brilliant comedies Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz and is currently awaiting the release of his latest opus, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, based on the comic book of the same name. The movie has its coming out party at Comic-Con in San Diego this weekend and goes into general release on August 13. You can read all about the movie and its director in my just-published feature story over at Film Journal.
Thu 15 Jul 2010
Posted by Ethan under Film Review, NYC Film Critic
Comments Off on Mind Games

Inception
Written and Directed by Christopher Nolan
Starring Leonard DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe.
***
Heist movies are only as good as their climactic heist and in Inception, writer/director Chris Nolan comes up with an ingenious one. Seizing on the gimmick of dreams Nolan stages a heist that takes place across four different dreamscapes, including a rain-soaked city, a posh hotel, a remote mountain bunker and, last but not least, a crumbling metropolis that exists on a level of dreaming that’s referred to in grave tones as “limboâ€â€”a place from where few who venture ever return.
Wed 14 Jul 2010
Posted by Ethan under Film Review, NYC Film Critic
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The Kids Are All Right
Directed by Lisa Cholodenko
Written by Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg
Starring Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson
***
I wonder how many of the critics that are rushing to praise Lisa Cholodenko’s admittedly enjoyable comedy The Kids Are All Right as something fresh and different are also regular viewers of the popular ABC sitcom Modern Family.
Tue 13 Jul 2010
Posted by Ethan under Film Journal International, Film Review
Comments Off on Harry Potter He Ain’t
Nicolas Cage and Jay Baruchel headline Jerry Bruckheimer’s latest attempt to find the next Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Read my review over at Film Journal.
Fri 9 Jul 2010
Posted by Ethan under Film Review, NYC Film Critic
Comments Off on Fire Walk With Her
The Girl Who Played with Fire
Directed by Daniel Alfredson
Written by Jonas Frykberg
Starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Nyqvist, Annika Hallin, Per Oscarsson
**
At this point, I’ve more or less decided that I’ll be following along with Stieg Larsson’s blockbuster Millennium trilogy via the film adaptations rather than the bestselling books.
Thu 8 Jul 2010
Posted by Ethan under Film Review, NYC Film Critic
Comments Off on You’re Despicable!
Despicable Me
Directed by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud
Written by Ken Daurio and Sergio Pablos
Starring Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig
**1/2
This might sound strange, but the movie that came to mind while watching the new animated romp Despicable Me was Woody Allen’s “first” feature What’s Up Tiger Lily?
Thu 8 Jul 2010
Posted by Ethan under Film Journal International, Film Review
Comments Off on Predator Drones
Back after a lengthy hiatus caused by the recent holiday as well as a general lack of interest in last week’s big releases…I think they had something to do with an eclipse and an airbender. Kicking the weekend off is a review of Predators, the summer surprise I’ve been waiting for. This updating of the 1987 original isn’t a great action movie, but it is a consistently entertaining one. Read my review over at Film Journal.
Fri 25 Jun 2010
Posted by Ethan under Film Review, NYC Film Critic
Comments Off on Quick Picks
Wed 23 Jun 2010
Posted by Ethan under Film Review, NYC Film Critic
Comments Off on Diaz Takes Knight
Knight and Day
Directed by James Mangold
Written by Patrick O’Neill
Starring Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard and Viola Davis.
***
James Mangold’s new globe-trotting adventure/romance Knight and Day offers an interesting twist on The Bechdel Test, a three-step method of evaluating movies that often reveals just how sorely under-represented women are onscreen, particularly in big-budget Hollywood productions. For those unfamiliar with the test, which takes its name from a 1985 comic strip by Alice Bechdel, the three steps a movie has to meet in order to pass are:
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