movies Tag

November and December are more than simple holiday months. This is the time in which the cinematic heavy-hitters step up to the plate. The 2014 movie scene got off to a relatively crappy start, but here are some well-done, indie-ish films that are worth checking out:   Birdman Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu Stars: Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton This movie just takes us on a whirlwind adventure. There is literally never a dull moment in this film. I am glad to see Keaton up and at ’em throughout this movie, andRead More

I still have yet to find the words to describe it, but Middle Earth is, in my humble opinion, an unrivaled fictional world. Tolkien immortalized his literary prowess with The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, which was only confirmed a decade ago with the popularity the film series put together by Peter Jackson. The release of The Hobbit films over the past three years has gotten me incredibly giddy, and I will start by saying that I am thrilled that this saga did not go the way ofRead More

Kudos to AMC for adding those leather (pleather?) recliners I have come to love in my movie theater-going experience. The ticket markup, though excessive to the uninformed visitor, is negligible. Just make sure you eat a cheap meal before you visit, and you’re all set. However, I feel like I truly threw my money away with the latest Hunger Games installment. Was it a terrible movie? Nah, but yikes there was a ton of unnecessary footage in there. After some extensive* research on the book series, I learned that the actualRead More

Twenty years removed from semi-cult glory, Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels return with a lukewarm revival of the iconic characters Harry and Lloyd. The sequel fell in between modest attempt and doomed from the start, but my love of the original carried me through the entirety of the film. Unfortunately, there were several key moments that simply proved Harry and Lloyd’s idyllic, moronic behavior lost its pizzazz.     1. Carrey and Daniels lost their chemistry. When living out the formative years of your life quoting every mannerism and facialRead More

Let’s be clear about one thing: Interstellar is a really good movie. I’ve heard the commentary from the naysayers out there, but from the laymen’s perspective, this is definitely a worthwhile watch. However, I have also noticed that there are some pretty strong sentiments towards certain qualities of this movie that are worth taking a look at, especially if you are still on the fence about checking this one out. The more “agrees” you side with, the more you should definitely go see Interstellar.     1. Christopher Nolan isRead More

1. Thou Shalt Have No Other Hobbies Before Me Although it is permissible to lie on your online dating profile, in an interview, or to impress an acquaintance.     2. Thou Shalt Not Take the Name of Lord Netflix in Vain Seriously.  Don’t insult or mock Netflix.  There are too many devout and loyal followers.  We are everywhere.     3. Remember to Keep Holy the Sabbath Day Which, in the instance of Lord Netflix, is every day.  Especially Friday nights and entire Saturdays.  But we can’t rule outRead More

John Wick is an action movie that would have been right at home twenty or thirty years ago. It’s a paper-thin revenge story about a retired hit man (Keanu Reaves) taking on the Russian mafia because they killed his puppy. That’s not a joke, it’s the real plot of the movie. The inciting incident of the film is that a Russian gangster (Alfie Allen) kills his puppy. It’s the kind of action film in which the story really only exists to justify the wanton violence on display and I canRead More

I’d been working for two weeks straight and it was my day off so I was a little apprehensive when my housemate suggested we go see a movie called Gone Girl. I was totally unaware of this movie, hadn’t seen any trailers. Somehow it was totally off my radar. “Gone Girl?” I thought, “Why are we going to see a chick flick?”   Looking ahead at a day of playing Borderlands and not wearing pants, I thought that I may as well schedule some time to stretch my legs andRead More

Independent films don’t get the attention they deserve. Sound familiar? It should. Indie directors, producers, writers, and aficionados have been shouting this since the Sundance Film Festival hit the scene back in the late ’70s, with the intention of showcasing and promoting independently made films. Sadly, aside from the few cinematic darlings that are fortunate enough to earn a theatrical release, many great independent work goes unnoticed, while Transformers 11 makes 9 billion dollars and furthers the great reign of vacuous thrills and bad 3D. Luckily for us, there areRead More

With Halloween fast approaching, it’s the time of year to curl up on the couch with a bowl of candy corn and watch a scary movie. There are the classics like The Exorcist, The Shining, The Amityville Horror, one of the 8,036 Saw movies…or you could go a less traditional route, you unique snowflake you, and watch one of these utterly horrifying non-horror movies.   Sex and the City 2 Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha are back and they’re…still complaining. After a decade of bitching, these wealthy, successful women whoRead More

Last weekend I attended the Mile High Horror Film Festival (MHHFF), Denver’s premier attraction for those looking to see the best and brightest in horror cinema. Luckily for me, this year boasted some significantly scary offerings. In its fifth year, Mile High Horror Film Festival has come into its own. Hosted by the Alamo Drafthouse, horror fans can have their fill of food and drinks while watching the screenings. There are also several opportunities to get done up in monster makeup, meet character actors—like this year’s Tony Todd of Candyman—andRead More

So, two nights ago, I saw a movie I’d been wanting to see for quite some time – Gone Girl. Having never previously read the book upon which the film is based, my enthusiasm came from my appreciation for director David Fincher and the enticing previews I had seen. First things first: the film was fantastic. I recommend that each and every one of you go see it ASAP. But now, a few days removed from roller coaster that is Gone Girl, I’ve found myself thinking a lot about the movie as a commentaryRead More

I have been complaining about the demise of Saturday Night Live for quite some time now. Many of my ilk will recall the “good old days,” when names like Will Ferrell, Cheri Oteri, Chris Kattan, and Tim Meadows (to name a few) became synonymous with laugh out loud humor. Today, unfortunately, the long-running show seems more occupied with making glaring political and social statements. Timid outrage aside, there were still some glimmers as the ship began to sink. Both Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader brought life to NBC’s floundering comedyRead More

Just prior to the third act in Lenny Abrahamson’s aggressively idiosyncratic ‘Frank’, the film’s mentally handicapped title character (Frank) announces to his band mates and devoted members of SORONPRFBS, an avant-grade rock ensemble begrudgingly prepped to take the stage at SXSW, that he has composed his “most likable song ever.” He’s done this, we learn, out of fear that the band’s experimental arrangements will alienate a virgin audience. Altogether hesitant, the mates listen as Frank, bent over a keyboard in a congested, Austin TX hotel room, plays a little dittyRead More

Even though “The Lizzie McGuire Movie” came out 11 years ago (wow, doesn’t that make you feel old?), here are some things I reflected on while watching the VHS with my best girlfriends.     1. Never dance around your bathroom in heels. As much as you love blasting music while you’re pre-gaming, or dancing around your bedroom after the shower (favorite hobby), beware of bathrooms, floor mats, and heels. I mean, seriously Lizzie, did you really think you weren’t going to slip and knockdown that shower curtain in thoseRead More