'Food, Inc.': Facts aren’t sugarcoated in documentary
There comes a point early on in “Food, Inc.” where you have to decide if you want to know. (Updated: 07/03/09 8:46 AM )
'Whatever Works': David-Allen combo doesn’t produce much enthusiasm
There’s a legendary story about Larry David when he was just a stand-up comic — long before, that is, he cocreated “Seinfeld” and bequeathed “Curb Your Enthusiasm” to a needful world. (Updated: 07/03/09 8:46 AM )
'Public Enemies': Johnny Depp is magnetic as legendary bank robber
‘‘Public Enemies” is a good movie about one of the truly great American subjects. So split the difference and slap a “very good” label on what’s opening today in your friendly neighborhood megaplex, for those micro-attentioned span folks who like movie reviews in two words or less. (Updated: 07/02/09 6:23 PM )
'Ice Age 3': A hilarious frozen treat
‘‘Listen!” says one poetic prehistoric critter to another in his ragtag band. “The wind! It’s speaking to us.” (Updated: 07/02/09 6:23 PM )
‘My Sister’s Keeper’: An intelligent film that earns each tear
It has been a long time since Hollywood has produced a movie like “My Sister’s Keeper,” that is, a tear fest that doesn’t rely on heavy-handed manipulation or stunt casting to hit its mark. (Updated: 06/26/09 8:04 AM )
'Cheri': Pfeiffer finally gets a starring role as a wealthy cougar
How is it that an actress as smart, charming and lovely as Michelle Pfeiffer has been onscreen so rarely in recent years? And why has it taken so long for a good director to realize how wonderful and welcome she can be on the big screen? (Updated: 06/26/09 8:01 AM )
'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen': A barrage of violent graphics at ear-splitting volume
I’m with Anthony. He’s a large prepubescent boy who walked out of the screening of “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” in front of me. I’m calling him Anthony because that’s what it read on the back of the basketball jersey he wore (though the best guess is it referred directly to Denver Nugget Carmelo Anthony). (Updated: 06/26/09 8:00 AM )
'Away We Go': Lovable comedy sends couple on a mission
"Away We Go” is so much better than its critical reception thus far that it can’t help but make me wonder if the demographics of current movie smarty-pants preclude the ability to respond to genuine lovability. (Updated: 06/26/09 8:07 AM )
'Easy Virtue': Firth is fine, but Biel fails in adaptation of Coward piece
During the critics’ screening of director Stephan Elliott’s adaptation of playwright Noel Coward’s “Easy Virtue,” the film’s opening sequence — newsreel-style black-and-white footage of a jazz-era female race-car driver crossing the finish line at the Grand Prix meeting the eyes of a younger, clearly smitten man — was askew, with the images tilted and elongated only enough to make one wonder if maybe it was supposed to be that way. (Updated: 06/22/09 6:14 PM )
'Adoration': Atom Egoyan crafts haunting meditation on fear and love
There’s an absolutely amazing moment in Atom Egoyan’s new film “Adoration.” It’s nighttime in the Toronto suburbs. A young man and the orphaned teen nephew he has been a virtual father to are setting up their annual Christmas creche on the front lawn. (Updated: 06/19/09 10:43 AM )
'Year One': Black, Cera rely on crude humor for laughs
It’s tempting to undersell Harold Ramis’ “Year One,” to dismiss it as the latest so-so flick starring a member of the wildly popular Frat Pack. (Updated: 06/19/09 7:37 AM )
‘The Proposal’: Sandra Bullock romance sticks to formula
When a movie is enjoyable but not impressive, my mother says, “That was cute.” She means that it provided a nice distraction, but she probably won’t watch it again unless she wants some background noise while she does her crossword puzzle. (Updated: 06/19/09 7:30 AM )
'My Life in Ruins': Nia Vardolos follows up ‘Wedding’ with a weaker effort
As she demonstrated in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” Nia Vardalos has eyes like black olives and humor twice as salty. In “My Life in Ruins,” a salt-free Vardalos is Georgia, an unemployed classics scholar working as a tour guide in Greece on the Acropolis-to-Temple of Apollo circuit. (Updated: 06/17/09 11:01 PM )
'Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian': After slow start, a pleasant sequel
Just wait for Hank Azaria. (Updated: 06/17/09 11:02 PM )
‘Drag Me to Hell’: Raimi's return to horror doesn't work
“You handled that pretty well,” says the bank branch manager (David Paymer) to his ambitious loan officer in “Drag Me to Hell.” (Updated: 06/17/09 11:02 PM )
