The translation of animated properties to live-action movies has a mixed past. I still cringe when I think of Speed Racer and The Flintstones and its sequel. I was not impressed when I heard that there was going to be a live-action version of Cinderella. After all, the original Disney classic is one of the […]
A troubled former mob hit man comes to his estranged son’s rescue in Run All Night. Jimmy Conlon (Liam Neeson) has seen better days. He and his longtime best friend, Shawn Maguire (Ed Harris), grew up together and have an enduring promise to always stick together. Shawn’s seedier talents led him to become a top […]
Six different stories of tension and release come together in Wild Tales. It’s the stuff of campfire legend. Everyone sidles up next to the fire, wraps themselves in a warm blanket and settles in as each participant regales the group with one incredibly tense story after another. This time around, the fire is the big […]
The owner and tenants of a retirement community in India look to expand in The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. 2012’s The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel followed the travels of Sonny Kapoor (Dev Patel) as he struggled to turn his run-down Indian hotel into a profitable retirement option for European seniors looking to stretch their […]
A team of highly-skilled grifters takes on a new member in Focus. Expert con artists ply their trade in a myriad of ways with more than a few relying heavily on misdirection and sleight of hand. In many ways, they are misguided magicians of the street. Nicky (Will Smith) is one of the best. He’s […]
A down-on-his-luck high school football coach gets a second chance in McFarland, USA. Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner) found himself on the outside looking in when his high school coaching career suddenly, unceremoniously came to a grinding halt. Left with no other options, White took the only opportunity available to him — a low-paying assistant coaching […]
A wide-eyed introvert is captivated by a powerful, enigmatic millionaire with a hypnotic personality in Fifty Shades of Grey. Ana Steele (Dakota Johnson) is the living embodiment of “vanilla.” She’s the type who has never once had to worry about being the subject of gossip, unlike her more outgoing journalist roommate Kate (Eloise Mumford). Ana […]
This is epic storytelling at its best — heartwarming, funny, touching and tragic.
A group of disillusioned high school outcasts enters a prestigious underwater robotics competition in Spare Parts. The life of an undocumented immigrant student isn’t quite the same as it is for their naturally born counterparts. They live in a world that can feel like a demented version of the popular crane game. Players manipulate a […]
A renowned hacker is freed from federal prison to help track down a cybercriminal in Blackhat. Cybercriminals seem to always be one step ahead of technology. They have a knack for cracking any system regardless of how secure it might seem. Their latest successful attack includes hacking a Chinese nuclear power plant and the Chicago […]
A patriotic Navy SEAL becomes the country’s most lethal shot while struggling to cope with his own reality in American Sniper. Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper) grew up as a God-fearing, America-loving Texas cowboy. His father taught him how to handle a rifle, how to handle bullies and, most importantly, how to handle himself. As soon […]
A mild-mannered but highly-talented unknown artist falls for a charming schemer in Big Eyes. In the early 1950s, Margaret Ulbrich (Amy Adams) found herself in a bad marriage with a young daughter in a world that left her few options. Against common convention, she took matters into her own hands, separating from her husband and moving out […]