On January 16, the Denver Film Critics Society—16 writers and broadcasters working in and around the Mile High City, of which I am one—announced their picks for the year’s best. Leading the way was Lady Bird with two wins (Best … Continue reading And the winners are…
Rachel (Emily Blunt) has problems. As she rides the train from Manhattan out to White Plains, NY, she gazes wistfully out her window at all those pretty houses full of pretty people living their pretty lives. How nice it would be to be one of those pretty people, Rachel thinks as she takes another swig of vodka. Rachel used to be one of those pretty people, but that was before Rachel started slamming water bottle vodka on the train. Rachel turned to the bottle a few years ago when she found out that she couldn’t have children, and her husband, … Continue reading THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN
Tammy begins with the titular character (Melissa McCarthy) driving her rundown Toyota Corolla through the farmlands of Illinois. On the passenger seat, a CD boom box plays Classic Rock. Suddenly a deer jumps out of nowhere and smashes into the Corolla. Tammy gets out of the car, apologizes to the animal and tries to give it mouth-to-mouth resuscitation (by blowing on it from a distance). Miraculously, the deer springs to life and gallops off into the woods. Sadly, Tammy does not. Tammy’s tough day continues as the deer incident results in her being late for work at her fast-food job. The … Continue reading TAMMY
The Anonymous People – It would be safe to say that everyone knows someone who either is or has been an addict. Two out of every three families deal with someone who has a destructive and crippling addiction, and as a nation we turn a blind eye to it. Far too often we assume that the addict could simply decide to take control and wake-up, or that they are make a conscious decision to continue the addiction. It’s a shameful cross these Anonymous People carry, but they are doing what they can to get the message out and spread the … Continue reading Movie Beat – 03.14.14
300: Rise of an Empire – The Greeks and Persians are at war again in Frank Miller’s latest graphic novel, Xerese. The battle has moved from land to the sea, and the warriors have increased from 300 to a hell of a lot more. Themistokles (Sullivan Stapleton) is leading the Greek army against mortal turned God, Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) and the fierce general of the Persian Army, Artemisia (Eva Green) who has a score to settle. Supporting cast includes, Lena Headey, David Wenham, Andrew Tiernan and a horde of digital fodder all moving in varying speeds of dramatic slow motion. … Continue reading Movie Beat – 03.07.14
Adore – Freud was sorta right. He thought that every son had a weird fixation with his mother. Turns out that every son has a weird fixation with his mother’s friend. Close, but no cigar. Yes, most teenage boys have fantasies about Mommy’s friends, and most get over it. Some act on it, fewer yet get away with it, but none of them some how find themselves with their Mom’s best friend while her son is banging around with his Mom. Two Moms go on holiday and end up swapping sons for sex. Apparently those who have everything will do … Continue reading Movie Beat – 09.06.13
Absence – Liz (Erin Way) is near full-term when she suddenly looses the baby. Actually looses it, disappears, good-bye, nice knowing you. That’s fairly strange and the doctors have no medical explanation for it. Liz’s brother, Evan (Ryan Smale) is a film student and wants to get her side of the story on camera, and maybe get to the bottom of the mystery. Evan and husband Rick (Eric Matheny) decide to get Liz a little rest and relaxation by taking her up into the woods. Things go all right for a while, then as you can imagine, all hell breaks … Continue reading Movie Beat – 07.05.13
The biggest movie news of the week are the Oscar nominations, but just because there are a bunch of movies from last year that you need to catch up on, doesn’t mean that there is some fresh fun out there today. Take a look and judge for yourself. $ellebrity – Kevin Mazur, who has made his living as a rock n’ roll photographer, puts together a collection of interviews, clips, and Cinema Verité style footage into a documentary about fame, celebrity, and most importantly, the voracity at which the public consumes it. This isn’t a documentary that provides an answer to the problem, because … Continue reading Movie Beat – 01.11.13
Butter – It was Julia Child’s favorite ingredient, it is the best thing to use when sauteing, and everyone is terrified of what it does to our arteries: butter. Here I was spreading it on my toast all this time! I had no idea that butter sculptures were a thing, but that is why we go to the movies, to learn something new. Butter is about a local butter sculpting contest, dominated by the local housewives, and a youngster who discovers her hidden talent. How wonderful it is to realize one’s true potential. Stars Jennifer Gardner, Ty Burrell, Oliva Wilde, … Continue reading Movie Beat – 10.05.12
