It's the voice. Charles Portis created Mattie Ross in his novel "True Grit," first published in 1968, and it's the authentic voice of Mattie -- righteous, forceful, Scripture-quoting, judgmental -- that gives the story such a distinctive flavor. She's an old woman in 1928, writing about the events that occurred after her father was shot... Continue Reading →
Opening Wide: 'Little Fockers'
The poster for "Little Fockers" that we saw at AMC Northpark last night proudly displays pictures of the stars: Robert DeNiro, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo, Jessica Alba, Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand, with two young children in the lower left. The all-star cast is a big selling point of the third film... Continue Reading →
'TRON: Legacy' Serves Up Rocket-Fueled Eye Candy (Review)
Rocket-fueled eye candy is a good thing in my book. "TRON: Legacy" delivers visual spectacle in abundance. Director Joseph Kosinski, making his feature debut, creates a universe of beautifully-etched stained glass windows. Is it thin on plot, characterization, and common sense? Yes. Do I care? No. In a perfect world, of course, "TRON: Legacy" would... Continue Reading →
'How Do You Know': The Pleasures of Neurotic Comedy (Review)
The push-pull of relationships has always been at the heart of films written and directed by James L. Brooks. He's never been a particularly visual artist, preferring to allow his words and characters to carry the weight of the drama and deliver the comic relief of his neurotic humor. From "Terms of Endearment" through "Broadcast... Continue Reading →
Review: The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Falling into the vast middle ground between 'OK' and 'not bad,' The Sorcerer's Apprentice provides plenty of whiz without much bang. Oh, sure, many things go "Blam!" and other things go "Kablooey!" Hundreds, if not thousands, of objects fly through the air with the greatest of ease, and the heroic Nicolas Cage (as ages-old Balthazar)... Continue Reading →
Review: 'Despicable Me'
Delightful and droll, Despicable Me is also refreshingly modest. And it's fun. All animated films fall under the shadow of mighty Pixar, which has set the gold standard. But that doesn't mean that every animated film must follow the same pattern. Directed by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud, Despicable Me is less story-driven and more... Continue Reading →
Dallas IFF: Sunday (4/18) – 'Casino Jack,' The Big Wrap-Up!
Ah, the runner stumbles even in film review. After what had been an almost perfect week of movie choices at the 2010 Dallas International Film Festival, I found myself wondering what had happened in those final moments, as I closed out my experience with one of the biggest (and most surprising) failures of the fest.... Continue Reading →
Dallas IFF: Thursday (4/15) – 'Obselidia'
"With new things becoming old in months instead of years, I just want to slow things down a bit." George's speech and manner make him seem like someone from a different era; that he works as a librarian but spends his days cataloging things that are obsolete might make him seem like a kook. George... Continue Reading →
Dallas IFF: Wednesday (4/14) – 'Lemmy'
DIFF begins down the final stretch, and it just gets better every day. "I'm not qualified to do anything else." Greg Olliver and Wes Orshoski's documentary on Motorhead front man Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister is not so much a fully-realized personal history or detailed portrait as much as an intense love fest. Lemmy takes a tour... Continue Reading →
Dallas IFF: Tuesday (4/13) – 'Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child'
Director Tamra Davis' early works may have included music videos and films like Billy Madison and Half-Baked, but it turns out her passion project was always nearby, tucked away in a drawer: a feature-length interview with her friend, artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Just months before his death, Davis filmed the painter in a casual setting, talking... Continue Reading →
Dallas Film Weekly 