Tag: Alan Arkin

Movie Beat

Movie Beat – 05.16.14

Michael J. Casey

Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case – Reactionary and revolutionary Chinese artist, Ai Weiwei is out on bail. Apparently the Chinese government is taking cues from The Untouchables, because Weiwei was thrown in solitary confinement for 81 days due to Tax Evasion. Ai Weiwei tries his best to dismantle the system from the inside, but the battle is taking its toll. Andreas Johnsen directs the documentary that follows China’s infamous political activist. International Film Circuit gives it a limited release.   Chinese Puzzle – Marriage can sometimes be very complicated. Especially when you toss lesbian-lovers, green cards and psychotics into the … Continue reading Movie Beat – 05.16.14

Movie Beat

Movie Beat – 12.25.13

Michael J. Casey

47 Ronin – A ronin is a master-less samurai, a drifter, a wanderer who makes his way from village to village, performing meaningless tasks for room and board. Kai (Keanu Reeves) joins up with a bunch of other ronin, 46 to be exact, to defeat a bunch of evil spirits and demons plaguing the land. Kou Shibasaki, Rinko Kikuchi, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, and Min Tanaka co-star. Writers Hossein Amini and Chris Morgan retell the legendary tale with direction from Carl Rinsch. Out in wide release from Universal Pictures.   August: Osage County – Holidays mean family time. Some of … Continue reading Movie Beat – 12.25.13

Movie Beat

Movie Beat – 02.01.13

Michael J. Casey

As Luck Would Have It – With echoes of Billy Wilder’s Ace in the Hole, comes a very dark comedy from Spanish director Alex de la Iglesia about a man who will go to great lengths to take care of his family. Roberto (José Mota) is having a terrible time and his wife, Luisa (Salma Hayek), is trying to help out, but doesn’t have a clue how bad the situation is. Roberto has a terrible car accident, and finds himself with an opportunity on his hands. Because of the freak nature of the accident, Roberto becomes the center of a wild media … Continue reading Movie Beat – 02.01.13

Movie Beat

Movie Beat – 12.14.12

Michael J. Casey

Any Day Now – Inspired by a true story comes a tale of how you can make your own family. It’s the late 1970s and Rudy and Paul are a very in love gay couple living in an apartment complex in West Hollywood. Next door, a single mother is raising her son, Marco who suffers from Down syndrome, in the worst way possible. One night she leaves, and Rudy goes to check on Marco, and they begin to develop a relationship. Rudy and Paul decide to take in Marco and raise him like their son, and all is going in … Continue reading Movie Beat – 12.14.12

Movie Beat

Movie Beat – 10.12.12

Michael J. Casey

3,2,1… Frankie Go Boom – We kick this week’s list of releases with writer/director Jordan Roberts’ second feature.  Frankie (Charlie Hunnam) has a problem, and that problem is his brother (Chris O’Dowd), a recovering addict who loves to film Frankie’s every embarrassing and personal moment, including, Frankie and a girl (Lizzie Caplan) having sex. Now Frankie has to track the video down and keep it out of the hands of a notorious pornography producer (Chris Noth) who happens to be the girl’s father. This is one of those movies where nothing is easy.  You can’t even go and hire an old prison cellmate without some dramatic twist. … Continue reading Movie Beat – 10.12.12