Yahoo! Movies now features a second trailer for the fourth installment in Dreamworks Animation’s Shrek series.
I quite enjoyed the first three films, but I’m not entirely sold on this one yet. Although I’m going to reserve judgment until I’ve actually seen the film. One thing’s for sure, the side characters, Donkey, Puss in Boots, and Gingy, will all steal the show. It opens in theatres on May 14th.
-John C.
Apple now has new trailers for both Iron Man 2 and Tron Legacy. Iron Man 2 is Jon Favreau’s much anticipated follow-up to his 2008 smash-hit, Iron Man. The new film looks to be another visually-arresting, incredibly entertaining superhero film. It opens on May 7th.
Tron Legacy is the much anticipated follow-up to the 1982 Disney cult-classic. The first Tron, though dated, is still cool and was groundbreaking at the time. The new film is a much updated version. I remember speaking to the producer of the film, Justin Springer, at last year’s Fan Expo - he seemed like a very cool guy. Tron Legacy opens on December 17th.
Both films look incredibly awesome.
-John C.
Up in the Air - A Paramount Pictures Release
http://www.theupintheairmovie.com/
Release Date: December 4th, 2009
Rated 14A for coarse language, mature themes
Running time: 109 minutes
Jason Reitman (dir.)
Jason Reitman (writer)
Sheldon Turner (writer)
Based on the book, Up in the Air, written by Walter Kirn
Rolphe Kent (music)
George Clooney as Ryan Bingham
Vera Fermiga as Alex Goran
Anna Kendrick as Natalie Keener
Jason Bateman as Craig Gregory
Amy Morton as Kara Bingham
Melenie Lynsky as Julie Bingham
Our reviews below:
_____________________________________________
Up in the Air Review By John C.
**** (out of 4)
After the brilliant satire Thank You For Smoking, and the wonderful teen-pregnancy dramady Juno, Up in the Air is Jason Reitman’s third, great triumph. It’s unquestionable to doubt the profound effects his films have had on audiences, and while Juno will always have a special place in my heart, Up in the Air may well just be his best yet.
George Clooney, in his best performance to date, plays Ryan Bingham. A corporate downsizer, who spends much of his life on the road and up in the air, collecting frequent flier miles, trying to reach the ten million mark.
Though his “perfect” world starts to get turned upside down when his company, run by Craig Gregory, (Reitman regular Jason Bateman), considers the idea of replacing him with Natalie Keener, (brilliantly played by Anna Kendrick). A young woman who wants to revolutionize the business of firing people for the internet age.
On his travels, he meets his match in Alex (Vera Fermiga), another frequent business traveler, who just might make him rethink what he wants from his life.
On the surface, audiences might see this film is an enjoyable romantic-comedy. The truth is, it is funny. On the flip side, though, it’s a thought provoking, powerful and moving meditation on our times.
Real people lose their jobs, and what may be harder to remember is that the people firing them are also human. They do what they do for a living, and shelter themselves from the real world perhaps because they aren’t proud of being the bearers of bad news. Ryan takes comfort in the world of loyalty programs and one night stands, almost afraid to connect, because he knows best of all that with one surprise trip to the office it can all be over. The false loyalty of the airports won’t go away, as long as he continues to fly. He’s constantly connecting with people, but never actually making connections.
He gives motivational speeches about how our relationships with people weigh us down. It’s almost a Fight Club mentality, except instead of saying you are not special, he says you are, especially if you have loyalty programs to prove it. But you’ll be happiest alone, and alone you’ll end up.
The song that plays over a key scene in the film, Help Yourself by Brad Smith, has sadly already been disqualified for the Oscar’s Best Song category. It’s one of the best, and one of my favourite film songs of the year. As with Jason Reitman’s other two films, all the musical choices in Up in the Air are excellent.
Whether or not it will is still up in the air, but this film really should win Best Picture. Up in the Air is one of the most important, and best, films of the year.
_____________________________________________
Up in the Air Review By Erin V.
**** (out of 4)
Ryan Bingham, (George Clooney), is comfortable with his routine life of traveling. He works for an agency that lends him out to companies that are downsizing, in order to break the news to their employees. Flying all over the country for the company, he has collected millions of air miles, traveled further than the distance to the moon, and only been home for 43 days in the past year. But all that is about to change. Just as he is so close to meeting his target of collecting 10 million miles, a new employee of the company, Natalie Keener, (Anna Kendrick), comes up with a plan that will revolutionize their workforce - firing people via webcam. She is paired up with him to go on the road and have him show her the ropes - much to his dismay. Along the way, he meets a woman, whom he believes is very much like him, also traveling and collecting miles, called Alex Goran (Vera Fermiga). The thing is though, that Ryan is very used to living life alone, barely ever stopping traveling long enough to care.
I loved the movie Up In The Air. It is a very powerful film that gives you something real and important to think about. It was nice to see that some of the people in the movie playing those who've lost their job are people that actually have gone through downsizing. All of the acting in the film is great, and the music fits well, as do the songs, (which are unfortunately not elegible for Best Song at the Oscars). All three of Jason Reitman's directed films thus far, (Thank You For Smoking, Juno, and Up In The Air), I have really liked. They all are shot in a quiet, subtle, and touching way.
Up In The Air is high up on my top 10 list of this year, and I hope to see it pick up some awards at the Oscars. I would guess nominations for Best Picture, Directing, Adapted Screenplay, and one of the acting categories. Everything about this movie makes it worth seeing. Try to catch it if you can, especially once it hits wide release on December 25th.
_____________________________________________
Up in the Air Review By Nicole
**** (out of 4)
Up in the Air is a funny and touching movie with a good message about relationships. George Clooney is perfect as Ryan Bingham, a man who spends most of his life traveling by air. He works as a corporate downsizer, a job that not only requires one to be some what emotionally detached from people, but also allows Bingham to pursue his quest to try to obtain 10 million frequent flyer miles. Bingham never settles down, but engages in a casual fling with his female counterpart, Alex.
Bingham's traveling days may be limited however, when Natalie (played by Twilight's Anna Kendrick), a young downsizer, creates a system of downsizing by webcam. Despite this new efficient way of firing people, Natalie is still aware of the various emotional responses of people who are laid off. Bingham too, realizes how detached he is from people, when he is invited to his sister's wedding. He has not seen his family in years.
I really liked Up in the Air. Everything about this movie worked for me. The acting, the score, the screenwriting, and the cinematography all fit together perfectly. The story is timely, in a world of recession, where greed and personal gain is rampant.
Although Up in the Air is not a Christmas movie, this movie is perfect this time of year. Don't miss it.
_____________________________________________
Up in the Air Review By Maureen
**** (out of 4)
Up in the Air is an intelligent and funny movie with a heart. The story focuses on corporate downsizer, Ryan Bingham (played perfectly by George Clooney), and his lifestyle of corporate air travel. His primary goal is to reach the 10 million mile mark in air miles flown. Bingham runs his life with the same efficiency that he shows when telling a client they are no longer employed.
The scenes where clients are being layed off are touching and believable. Having gone through a corporate downsizing many years ago, Up in the Air had meaning for me. What makes this film so likable is the witty dialogue and the excellent cast. George Clooney is at his best as Ryan Bingham. The two female leads, Vera Fermiga as ambitious fellow traveller, Alex and Anna Kendrick as Ryan Bingham's new co-worker, Natalie Keener are wonderful to watch.
Director Jason Reitman has taken a difficult and timely topic and brought it to our attention in a light-hearted yet serious manner. Up in the Air is one of the best movies I've seen so far this year. I hope it gets the attention it deserves come Oscar time. This is one worth seeing in theatres though it will also play well on DVD.
_____________________________________________
Up in the Air Review By Tony
**** (out of 4)
Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) flies around the country from his Omaha hub to fire people for companies reluctant to do it themselves. Like a good salesman, he tries to give a shred of hope and dignity to each client along with the bad news. However, the emotional detachment required has left him without a real home or commitments. He has mastered the art of living out of a suitcase and takes full advantage of premium cards and loyalty programs to move swiftly through airports and hotels, all the while accumulating frequent flier miles hoping to be only the seventh person to reach the privileged ten million mile status. His shedding of encumbrances is summarized in a motivational “Backpack” talk that he delivers at business conferences. A chance encounter with Alex (Vera Farmiga) who shares his lifestyle leads to a romance that flares up every time they find themselves in the same city. Suddenly, Ryan is threatened by the young aptly named Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) who has convinced Ryan’s boss Craig (Jason Bateman) that they would save lots of money by bringing agents in from the field and doing all firing by video conferencing. Ryan protests that a boiler room script and flowchart designed to remotely handle anticipated client responses is no substitute for human contact with an experienced professional. Before setting up the new system Craig gives Ryan a last chance to prove himself by sending him into the field with Natalie to show her how it’s done. When Ryan takes Alex to his younger sister’s wedding in small town Wisconsin, he begins to consider settling down himself.
Up In The Air is Jason Reitman’s third and best film to date. Like his other movies, it handles a dark subject with great wit and charm, exemplified by George Clooney and the rest of the cast. So many brilliant elements make it a strong contender for the year’s best film. I will only mention a few here. Attention to fine detail in production design always give us a sense of place. Fast-paced editing in the travel scenes mirrors the efficiency with which Ryan handles everything from packing to swiping his premium cards without missing a step. Even the cinematography has a subtle role, going from pristine at the well-controlled beginning to slightly shaky at the less-certain end, and from film to videotape in the wedding scenes. A good choice of songs provides a fine accompaniment to the action. Finally the inspired decision in the firing scenes to enrich the scripted professional cast with a number of really fired people improvising their actual responses provided some of the most moving moments in the film.
_____________________________________________
Consensus: **** (Out of 4)
This summer’s Star Trek franchise re-boot is “warp-speeding” onto DVD today. We reviewed the film when it opened on May 8th, you can read our reviews here. Our consensus was:
“The acting, music, and special effects, are all great. You can expect a classic, (albeit slightly confusing), time-travel storyline that both fans of the show and those new to Star Trek can enjoy. With just the right mix of humour and action, this new installment of Star Trek is definitely one to see in theatres. **** (Out of four.)”
The film is available to buy in 1, 2 & 3-disc formats that come packed with bonus materials. Whichever one you buy, this would make a great Christmas present.
-John C.
Apple now has the full theatrical trailer for Jason Reitman’s third film Up In The Air. The teaser was brilliant, and this trailer is even better. The film looks like a masterpiece, and could easily end up being Jason Reitman’s best film yet. And that’s really saying something considering his first two films were Thank You For Smoking and Juno.
-John C.
Today, September 29th, Paramount Home Entertainment is releasing Monsters vs. Aliens on DVD. We reviewed the film when it came out in theatres last March. You can read our reviews here. As our consensus read:
“ Monsters vs. Aliens is fun, entertaining movie, with a great voice cast, visuals, and music. Go see this in a theatre, and if possible, in 3-D. This is fun that the whole family, (around 6 and up), can enjoy. *** (Out of 4) ”
With that said, it’s still worth seeing on DVD. You can get it in a two-disc set, which includes the all-new short film B.O.B.’s Big Break, which is presented in anaglyph 3D.
-John C.
Today, August 4th, Paramount home entertainment is releasing The Soloist on DVD. We reviewed the film when it came out in theatres last April 24th. Read our reviews here. As our consensus read:
“ Although the book The Soloist, by Steve Lopez, is more well rounded, this movie is still worth seeing, especially for those into music. If you haven’t already, you should definitely read the book as well. *** ”
I found it to be a very inspiring and thought-provoking film, that I think is definitely worth at least a rental on DVD.
-John C.
You can now watch the trailer for the upcoming Martin Scorsese film Shutter Island. The movie opens October 2nd and could easily score quite a few Oscar nominations. It looks really creepy and really good. Watch it on Apple Movie Trailers, here.
-John C.
Star Trek - A Paramount Release
Opens: May 8th, 2009
Rated PG for sci-fi action and violence, and brief sexual content.
Running time: 126 minutes
J.J. Abrams (dir.)
Roberto Orci (writer)
Alex Kurtzman (writer)
Michael Giacchino (music)
Christopher Pine as James T. Kirk
Zachary Quinto as Spock
Leonard Nimoy as Spock Prime
Eric Bana as Nero
Bruce Greenwood as Capt. Christopher Pike
Karl Urban as Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy
Zoe Saldana as Nyota Uhura
Simon Pegg as Scotty
John Cho as Hikaru Sulu
Anton Yelchin as Pavel Chekov
Ben Cross as Sarek
Winona Ryder as Amanda Grayson
Chris Hemsworth as George Kirk
Jennifer Morrison as Winona Kirk
Rachel Nichols as Gaila
All images courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
Zachary Quinto as Spock and Christopher Pine as Kirk onboard the Starship Enterprise.
Our reviews below:
_____________________________________________
Star Trek Review By John C.
**** (out of 4)
While the plot of this film is highly illogical, it’s blend of outstanding performances, an excellent musical score by Michael Giacchino and most importantly humor, make this film a winner. I admit to being skeptical about this at first, wondering if it would just turn out to be 127 minutes of over hyped mind-numbing action, that would not live up to expectations. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised by this character-driven film. Yes, that’s right. It’s a character-driven film.
Not only are Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto perfectly cast as Captain James T. Kirk and Spock, the stellar casting goes right down to the more minor characters. John Cho as Sulu is perfect. Anton Yelchin as Chekov is great and often hilarious. Simon Pegg makes an utterly perfect Montgomery Scott, stealing every scene he’s in. It’s little things like this that could have easily gone wrong, but here they are gotten right.
I did not find this quite as solid a franchise reboot as the brilliant Iron Man or The Dark Knight. I found the plot of the film to be one thing that could have been a bit better. It’s a bit hard to follow and doesn’t make much sense. But when you are failing to follow, just sit back and enjoy the acting.
There is one line that Kirk says to a Romulan, (the bad aliens that they have to stop), that I just know will become a classic. Another things that is gotten right about the Star Trek world is the humor. There are some very funny moments in this film, making it just a lot of fun to watch. This will not only be enjoyed by fans of the show, but also by people who have never seen Star Trek, and that is one of the reasons this film succeeds.
I am not giving this film four stars because it is a masterpiece, but because this is a near perfect Star Trek movie, with excellent acting by a stellar cast, humor and heart. Go out and see it at a theatre, the way it was meant to be seen.
_____________________________________________
Star Trek Review By Erin V.
**** (out of 4)
I had high expectations for this movie, and after seeing other reviews slowly trickling in, I was hopeful that it would be ***1/2, or at least *** stars. Once the movie started, I was glad to see that this movie was going to completely blow my expectations away. This is an amazingly fun movie!
Beginning with a flashback, we see a Federation vessel attacked by a Romulan ship. This scene is entense and quite sad, but is crucial to the rest of the story. This is where we meet James T. Kirk for the first time. We then flash forward to the future, and meet both Spock and Kirk as kids on their respective worlds. After this, we see where 25 year old Kirk is now, as Captain Pike, (Bruce Greenwood), puts it, ‘the only delinquent in Iowa with a genius level IQ’. Persuaded by Pike to join Starfleet, Kirk does, if only because he doesn’t have anything better to do.
It is at Starfleet that he first meets Spock, (Zachary Quinto), a concept first considered as early as 1968, and here, they immediately see each other as rivals. When the planet Vulcan sends out a distress call, all of the young Starfleet cadets are called to help, and the Enterprise launches into action.
The villian in this movie is Captain Nero, a Romulan, played perfectly by Eric Bana. Nero hates Spock for something that he hasn’t not done yet. He is from the future and it is for this reason that Star Trek fans must remember throughout this movie that due to his disrupting the space-time-contimuem, many things are changed. This plot element was actually smart on the writers parts, as it gives the filmmakers more freedom to stray from some of the original elements in the show. Since this takes place in a pararell universe, anything can happen. The time-travel story also allows us to see Leonard Nimoy play Spock again, as Spock from the future. This was a real treat!
This is the first movie where the orignal crew of the Enterprise was not played by the original actors. And the casting here was spot on. Christopher Pine plays a perfect young Kirk, without copying William Shatener, Zachary Quinto captures Spocks essense, again without being a copy actor. The rest of the crew, Karl Urban as Dr. McCoy, John Cho as Sulu, Anton Yelchin as Chekov, Zoe Saldana as Nyota Uhura, and Simon Pegg as Scotty, and all of the others, all nail their roles as well.
This is the perfect Star Trek movie. The acting is great, Michael Giacchino’s score works amazingly, the special effects are good, and the storyline is classically Star Trek. One of the things that I had hoped for and was glad to see was just the right mix of action and humour on screen. This is a fun movie all around. A great way to kick off the Summer blockbuster season, you should go out and see Star Trek. It is worth it in every way!
_____________________________________________
Star Trek Review By Nicole
**** (out of 4)
When I first saw the trailer for Star Trek, I really wanted to see it. The movie really did live up to my expectations.
The movie takes us through the younger years of the crew members of the Starship Enterprise. We see Kirk go from a young delinquent, who gets into bar fights, to becoming the captain of the Enterprise. We meet Spock’s parents, and see the conflict between Kirk and Spock. (I really liked seeing Zachary Quinto as young Spock meet Leonard Nimoy as Spock from the future.) Dr. McCoy is perfectly neurotic, and Scotty is hilarious, (with a strangely cute little companion that never speaks).
The crew have to stop an angry Romulan named Nero who comes from the future, and, due to a misunderstanding, has a grudge against Vulcans, and against Kirk. I don’t want to spoil too much, but fans of the original series will be pleased to know that any discrepancies from the original obviously have to do with time travel.
The acting is great, and there are a lot of funny scenes in the movie as well. The action scenes are fun, without becoming too violent, and the special effects are superb. Michael Giacchino’s score is exciting and fun, and I really want to get the soundtrack. Star Trek is a great summer blockbuster, that you should definitely go see, (preferably in IMAX if you can). This movie is nothing but pure fun.
_____________________________________________
Star Trek Review By Maureen
**** (out of 4)
This new Star Trek movie transported me back to the days when watching the original Star Trek show was a whole lot of fun. I was never the degree of fan that would have earned me the title Trekkie, or Trekker, so any plot line deviations in this movie went over my head.
What I really liked about this movie was the solid casting. Each of the actors captured the original characters brilliantly. Chris Pine as James T. Kirk, Zachary Quinto as young Spock worked extremely well as did the actors playing Dr. McCoy, Scotty, as Chekov, Sulu and Uhura.
My absolute favorite moment in this movie was having Leonard Nimoy appear as the wiser and older Spock. Live long and prosper, Mr. Nimoy. You were great.
The movie has lots of action and special effects to keep both long time fans and newcomers to the franchise happy. What makes this one special is the fun balance of action and humour. There were lots of wonderfully funny moments. Michael Giacchino’s score was a perfect finishing touch to a near flawless movie.
Long time fan or not, Star Trek is a must-see movie in theatres. The big screen, the applause at the end from the audience and the live long and prosper hand signs flashed at the screen all added to the movie going experience. Go out and see this one while you can.
_____________________________________________
Star Trek Review By Tony
***1/2 (out of 4)
Star Trek is a prequel to the classic 1960s series (unlike Enterprise, which was from a previous generation), ending with the familiar “Final Frontier” intro (voiced by Leonard Nimoy) before a version of the original theme under the closing credits. Younger versions of the familiar crewmenbers are all convincing, right down to the doomed red-clad fighter. Some diehard fans may be shocked however, to see that Kirk’s fling with a green-skinned partner isn’t the only romantic interest. Recalling the Tribbles episode where Klingons were identifiable mainly by their beatnik beards, the heavy alien face prosthetics of later generations were scaled back, at least for the Romulans, to tattoos reminiscent of Mike Tyson and the Inkheart heavies. As expected, the special effects over Michael Giacchino’s score are awesome, and everything moves along quickly–too quickly at times for me since, as only an occasional Star Trek watcher, I found the convoluted time travel and parallel universe storyline confusing at times, requiring some assisted reflection afterwards. Though these plot devices are always tricky, they are used here to allow for inconsistencies from the original series, with the added benefit of watching Leonard Nimoy as the future aged Spock. Sequels are sure to follow.
_____________________________________________
Kirk, (Christopher Pine), shows up at the docking port for the Starship Enterprise.
_____________________________________________
Consensus: The acting, music, and special effects, are all great. You can expect a classic, (albeit slightly confusing), time-travel storyline that both fans of the show and those new to Star Trek can enjoy. With just the right mix of humour and action, this new installment of Star Trek is definitely one to see in theatres. **** (Out of 4)
You can now watch the full length theatrical trailer for the much anticipated follow-up to 2007’s Transformers. Click Here to watch it on Yahoo!. The film looks really good, and is sure to be a huge hit. It will likely be especially eye-popping in IMAX. Leave your thoughts in the comments section.
-John C.
The Soloist - A Paramount Release
http://www.soloistmovie.com/
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lopez-skidrow-nathaniel-series,0,1456093.special
Opens: April 24th, 2009
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, some drug use, and language.
Running time: 109 minutes
Joe Wright (dir.)
Jamie Foxx as Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Jr.
Robert Downey Jr. as Steve Lopez
Catherine Keener as Mary Weston
Tom Hollander as Graham Claydon
Lisagay Hamilton as Jennifer Ayers-Moore
Our reviews below:
_____________________________________________
The Soloist Review By John C.
***1/4 (out of 4)
The Soloist is the story of Steve Lopez, a journalist for the LA Times, who goes out to look for a story. What he finds is someone in need of a friend. Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Jr. is a mentally ill homeless man, who sits on the streets playing a two-stringed Violin. The film is based on a book, which is based on a true story. I have been told that the movie serves as a much condensed version of the story compared to the book. Having not read the book, I thoroughly enjoyed the film. Now I look forward to reading the book.
The acting by Jamie Foxx, as Nathaniel, is superb. Convincingly playing him, saying things that seem to just pop into his head and sometimes just losing it. Foxx is very believable playing someone with a mental illness, never going over the top. The film was originally going to be released in November, presumably for Oscar consideration. I honestly don’t think it would have been nominated for Best Picture, but some acting noms could have been in the mix.
Although it is at times heartbreaking with it’s images of some of the 90,000 homeless people in LA, it is also uplifting with it’s message that sometimes all people need is a friend. While the film has some minor flaws and it leaves out a lot of the events that happened in real life, sometimes due to timing, sometimes due to it being to hard to film. Problems aside, the characters are unique and believable, if not always likable and the acting is excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed this film and it is quite worth seeing. Go out and see it, it will make you think and lift you up.
I liked this film a lot, but not quite enough to warrant a rating of 3 and a half stars, so I am giving it a strong rating of 3 and a quarter.
On a side note, whoever had the idea to play the Angels & Demons trailer before the film should be fired. Angels & Demons is a totally contradictory film to The Soloist, and audiences seeing a human drama may not like being welcomed by a trailer for a violent and disturbing thriller. The two films don’t even share a studio, The Soloist is Paramount and Angels & Demons is Sony.
_____________________________________________
The Soloist Review By Erin V.
*** (out of 4)
The Soloist is the story of LA Times columnist Steve Lopez who, while on the look out for a new column idea, hears music in the park. Following the sound, he finds a homeless man, playing a two-stringed violin. When the piece stops, he introduces himself, and finds out that this man, who’s name is Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Jr., claims that he was formally a Juilliard School of Music student. Intrigued to know if this is true, Mr. Lopez rushes back to the LA Times building to call Juilliard to confirm. As he gets to know Nathaniel more, he finds out that the instrument he was trained on was cello, not violin. A column develops and finally goes to print called, “Violinist Has the World on 2 Strings”. The column soon catches the attention of many, and a cello is donated for Mr. Ayers. Anxious to get him off the streets, and afraid that the cello will make him a target for theft, Mr. Lopez says that he can play the cello, but only at a shelter called LAMP. For Mr. Ayers, a talented musician, music is his life, and soon the lure of the cello brings him towards shelter.
The Soloist is a true story, the book being written by Steve Lopez himself. (We have included a link to his original articles as well, underneath the movie website address at the top.) Before seeing the movie adaptation of The Soloist, I had read the first 8-10 chapters or so of the book it is based on, (also called The Soloist). The movie is fairly similar to the book, or at least the parts that I have read so far. Unfortunately, the book seems fuller. In the movie, du to time constraints, it seems rushed. For example, it seems as though Mr. Lopez has only known Mr. Ayers for a few weeks by the time he gives him the donated cello that he can only play at LAMP, thus he comes across as more blunt and bossy. In the book, it didn’t seem so much this way, as they had already established a relationship by that point, having known each other for months rather than a mere few weeks.
I would definitely recommend going to see The Soloist. I think those who have not read the book will probably enjoy it slightly more, but should definitely read the book afterwards. Although it could have been done better, possibly by better choices of what to include and what to not, this is a good movie that anyone interested in music will want to see.
_____________________________________________
The Soloist Review By Nicole
*** (out of 4)
Based on the nonfiction book by Steve Lopez. The Soloist tells the story of an unlikely friendship between journalist Steve Lopez and homeless prodigy Nathaniel Ayers Jr. The movie begins when Steve Lopez is injured after falling off his bike. He is stressed out, and is looking for a fresh idea for his column in The Los Angeles Times. Just when he thinks he is out of ideas, Steve Lopez stumbles across a mysterious homeless man playing a a violin with only 2 strings. The man introduces himself as Nathaniel Ayers Jr., and tells Steve Lopez that he went to Juilliard: He also tells Steve Lopez that he used to play a cello, but now plays a violin, as it is easier to carry. Steve Lopez now has a story, which he entitles “Man has the world on 2 strings”.
Nathaniel’s story touches readers, and one elderly woman donates her cello to Nathaniel. Steve Lopez gives Nathaniel the cello, but only allows him to play it at LAMP, a drop-in/transitional housing unit for homeless people. Nathaniel at first refuses, but later reluctantly follows when bribed with lessons from a cello instructor. Nathaniel’s many struggles, as well as triumphs, make for a thought provoking and uplifting story. We hear of Nathaniel's childhood through flashbacks, and find out what led him to the street. But what struck me the most was how Nathaniel, when he would play music, would become lost in the music. As a musician myself, I found this to be very believable. I really liked the scene where Nathaniel gets so enraptured in listening to a concert, he closes his eyes, and experiences the music synaesthstetacally. (There is no mention to Nathaniel experiencing synaesthsesia in the book.)
I really enjoyed this movie, as the music was beautiful, as was Nathaniel’s devotion to music, particularly Beethoven music. That being said, however, I could only give this movie 3 stars out of 4, because the book was better. In the movie, Steve Lopez is a rather bossy man, who is estranged from his wife and son. In the book, however, Steve Lopez is a happily married man who lives with his 2 year old daughter. He is strict with Nathaniel, but more in a friendly, and parental way. In the movie, we don’t really get a sense of the heartwarming friendship between Steve Lopez and Nathaniel Ayers Jr., because the story is really condensed. That being said, this film really brings to light the often forgotten realities of mental illness, and homelessness that affect people in our cities. Watch the movie, and when you have seen it, read the book.
_____________________________________________
The Soloist Review By Maureen
*** (out of 4)
I enjoyed watching ‘The Soloist’. Having read the original book ‘The Soloist’ I was a little disappointed that the movie couldn’t do more to give the viewer a sense of the depth of the friendship between Steve Lopez and Nathaniel Ayers, Jr. The disadvantage of a movie portrayal is that due to time constraints a movie can’t fill in the background and little details the way a book can. None the less, this is a really nice story.
The Soloist is based on Los Angeles Times journalist Steve Lopez’ articles about a homeless, schizophrenic man, Nathaniel Ayers, Jr. who was a gifted cellist. Steve Lopez discovers Nathaniel among L.A.’s homeless community and is fascinated by Nathaniel playing a two-stringed violin beautifully. Lopez writes the articles, public support floods in and he is able to provide Nathaniel with a cello to play. Over time Nathaniel grows to trust Steve Lopez and a mutual friendship evolves. Steve Lopez helps Nathaniel get into LAMP, a supportive housing unit for individuals struggling with mental illness.
The movie does well showing the difficulties of living with a mental illness and the lack of adequate support for the homeless population in a big city. The movie doesn’t try to come up with pat answers to the issues of mental illness or homelessness. Rather, you come away with the understanding that friendship is what moves us all forward in this life.
I found Jamie Foxx’s portrayal of Nathaniel very believable and very moving. Robert Downey Jr. also gave a good performance as Steve Lopez. I’m glad I saw ‘The Soloist’. It moved me and made me think. This movie is worth checking out as is the book.
_____________________________________________
The Soloist Review By Tony
*** (out of 4)
Nathaniel A. Ayers (Jamie Foxx) is a busker in Los Angeles who has been written about in the L.A. Times columns and book of Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.) upon which The Soloist is more or less based. The columns Lopez wrote, about how the homeless Ayers had dropped out of Juilliard due to schizophrenia and moved to L.A. because it was warmer than his hometown Cleveland, were well received. The cello sent to Ayers by an old woman in the film was only one of a number of donated instruments that replaced the two-string fiddle he was found with. Lopez introduced Ayers to the L.A. Philharmonic conductor E.P. Salonen (seen in the film) and he was invited as a fellow musician to attend concert rehearsals and eventually concerts when he was ready. The evangelical cellist played by British actor Tom Hollander is a fictional counterpart to the real mentor, Ben Hong, that Lopez introduced to Ayers. Hong recorded the cello music for the film, and coached Jamie Foxx (a trained classical pianist) to appear authentic on the cello. Lopez also arranged supported housing for Ayers with the Lamp Community and reunited him with his sister. A major conflict arose when Lopez questioned the gentle group counseling approach of Lamp to its people’s mental problems, insisting that aggressive drug therapy was the answer. Fortunately Lopez lost that battle, since despite his challenges Ayers is now doing reasonably well.
The Soloist is the first American film by the British realist director Joe Wright, supported by a largely British creative team. Like Danny Boyle in India, Wright insisted on spending time on Skid Row and a number of its people appear in the film. The Skid Row of 2005 was recreated on an empty lot and the mayor’s “Safer City” attempt to clean it up was reenacted, as it must have seemed to the inhabitants, as a sort of pogrom. Both Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. spent time with their real-life counterparts to get the essence of their characters without trying to impersonate them. The music by Dario Marianelli consists mostly of arrangements of Beethoven, from his 3rd & 9th symphonies, the triple concerto, and the late quartets, where the cello is prominent.
As a lifetime music listener, I really enjoyed this film. Without falling into sentimentality, it celebrates the transcendent power of music despite the real challenges faced by both principal characters. One of my favorite scenes, excerpted on Apple Trailers, shows the donated cello filmed from a camera mounted on a mail cart as it moves through the (actual) L.A. Times editorial offices. Then, when Ayers first takes the cello in his hands, he plays an excerpt from a late quartet that resonates brilliantly in the underpass as pigeons fly up, their flapping wings like applause, as the camera (on a 100 foot crane) soars up with the music through an opening into the air above the birds.
_____________________________________________
Consensus: Although the book The Soloist, by Steve Lopez, is more well rounded, this movie is still worth seeing, especially for those into music. If you haven’t already, you should definitely read the book as well. *** (Out of 4)
November 7th, 2008
Rated PG for mild crude humor.
Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath (dir.)
Hans Zimmer (music)
Ben Stiller as Alex (voice)
Chris Rock as Marty / Additional Zebras (voice)
David Schwimmer as Melman (voice)
Jada Pinkett Smith as Gloria (voice)
Sacha Baron Cohen as Julien (voice)
Cedric the Entertainer as Maurice (voice)
Bernie Mac as Zuba (voice)
Alec Baldwin as Makunga (voice)
Tom McGrath as Skipper / Lemur #1 (voice)
Chris Miller as Kowalski (voice)
Christopher Knights as Private (voice)
Our reviews below:
_____________________________________________
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Review By John C.
***1/2 (out of four)
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa is funnier, and actually, a lot more fun then the original. It also tells a better, and more interesting story, that is more serious, but still never loses the comedic tone. And it is funny. Very funny. Some of the best scenes come from the penguins (as usual), and the hilarious King Julien (voiced to perfection by the hilarious Sacha Baron-Cohen). The animation is also better and brighter, trading in more cartooney landscapes for very realistic shots of Africa.
Dreamwork's has surprisingly never made a bad sequel, and in most cases actually makes one that's better then the original. All the actors from the first one reprise their roles, and this one also introduces Bernie Mac (may he rest in peace) as Alex’s father. It’s a role that I think will be greatly missed in the upcoming third film. There is more action in this one too, including a few set pieces involving the old plane that takes them to Africa, a scene at a volcano, and one of the funniest, and best dance scenes I have ever seen. There is also a whole herd of zebras, all voiced by Chris Rock.
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa is funnier and more action packed then the original, but it also adds more heart to the story of four friends trying to get back home to the New York Central Park zoo. Kids will probably like it, but they are definitely not the only audience for it. Most of the humor is high level, and contains many smart references to other movies including Flight of the Phoenix, Twilight Zone and Indiana Jones.
I really hope you go see it, trust me, you won’t regret it. It is easily one of the funniest movies of the year, and really shouldn’t be missed. It will also get you looking forward to seeing Madagascar 3, in 2011.
_____________________________________________
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Review By Erin V.
***1/2 (out of four)
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa starts a little bit after the last movie left off. Still on Madagascar, Alex, Marty, Melman, and Gloria decide to leave in broken plane that was seen in the first movie. King Julien, and Maurice decide to come along for a vacation in New York City. They manage to get the plane up in the air and head for New York, but end up crash landing - in Africa. Don’t worry, the Penguins are in this movie too, even more then the last one, which was great. In fact, they are the ones flying the plane, under the name ‘Air Penguin’. Once they crash land in Africa, the zoo animals all meet members of there own species, with Alex finding his family. They end up going off in different directions, each to there own kind, but the problem is, they don’t know how to act in the wild. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot line, since it is really well done, and it was really enjoyable to watch it come together.
This is a sequel that is slightly better then the first movie, which I actually really liked. The story line is good, and follows the penguins, the lemurs, and each of the other characters as they discover Africa. It is interesting to watch as each of the characters stories come together throughout the movie, and then all tie together really nicely at the end. This movie is probably one of the funniest movies out right now, and I only wish that I had seen it in IMAX.
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa will probably be enjoyed by older kids, and adults, in some ways, slightly more then younger kids. This is in part due to the fact that a lot of the dialogue has jokes that you would have to be slightly older to get, and also, references to other movies. Another cool thing* is that both of the directors lend there voices to characters. Eric Darnell does a couple of additional voices, and Tom McGrath, does both additional voices, and the penguin Skipper as he did in the first movie.
This is a fast paced, fun adventure that is definitely worth seeing in theatres. Way better then you might think it would be. Go see it.
*One more little note, is that in a flashback at the beginning, a newspaper reads Wednesday, April 8, 1972. Interestingly, this would mean that the movie would be set in the 1980’s if you take into account Marty's age in the first movie - (even though Alex says in the film that he broke Marty's iPod). This newspaper also contains an error. 1972 was a Saturday leap year, which actually makes April 8th in that year a Saturday as well, since normally the 9th of April falls on the same day as the start of the year, except in a leap year when it is April 8th which does this. Anyway, that will not be noticed by most people. I actually didn’t notice it until I was watching an HD clip at home afterwards, trying to zoom in and read the newspaper. And it’s good that I didn’t, since I would have hated to have been distracted in the movie figuring out that date. Anyway, this is still a great movie. Have fun, and go see it.
_____________________________________________
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Review By Nicole
***1/2 (out of four)
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa is one of those sequels that exceeds the original, (which I also really enjoyed). It begins with a flashback scene to when Alex the Lion is a little cub back in Africa. His father, Zuba, is teaching Alex how to wrestle, but Alex isn’t interested. Interference from rival animals, and ultimately humans, cause Alex to lose his freedom. The movie, then through news footage by humans, recaps what happened in the last movie from a human point of view.
Now, picking up from the last movie, the penguins have ‘fixed up’ the plane, and the zoo friends, eager to get back to New York, hop on. Of course, the plan fails, and the friends land on mainland Africa. The animals find their own kind, and most importantly, Alex finds his parents. This is where the movie really takes off. Along with the original characters, new characters are introduced, including a narcissist rival lion named Makunga. Some of the lesser characters from the first film, such as the chimpanzees, and the old lady, have returned in bigger, and even funnier roles. This movie also has a surprise romance between two characters, as well as a strong emphasis on family values, and some environmental undertones.
This movie is funny, exciting, full of action, and has no more violence than a Bugs Bunny cartoon. The casting is perfect, bringing the film to life. This movie is nothing but pure fun for the whole family.
_____________________________________________
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Review By Maureen
*** (out of four)
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa picks up where the original left off with the zoo pack of Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo, Melman the Giraffe and of course the penguins stuck in Madagascar. Except this time they have hatched a plan to leave the island and return to New York via a crashed plane the penguins have fixed up. As the title suggests, they don’t make it to New York. They end up in Africa instead and the story begins. And it’s a good story.
When a movie has a sequel you half expect to be disappointed. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa did not disappoint. The story line in this movie is stronger than the first one and the dialogue is way funnier. The penguins are great to watch in every scene and the old lady character, (Nana), from the first movie has a bigger and funnier role in this one. The animation has also improved with very realistic scenes of water and African landscape.
Overall, this is a very funny movie. It even has some romance, (I won’t say which two characters). I watched this movie in a theater packed to capacity with adults and children of all ages. There was laughter all around and applause at the end. So get up and move it, move it to the theater and go see this one. And when it’s released, get the DVD.
_____________________________________________
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Review By Tony
*** (out of four)
If you enjoyed Madagascar 1, the sequel is even better. Courtesy of “Air Penguin” the crashed WWII aircraft has been salvaged but in an attempt to return home the main characters only make it as far as Africa. Alex the lion (Ben Stiller) finds his parents. Marty the zebra joins a herd where everyone looks alike and sounds like Chris Rock. Gloria the hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith) is charmed by the seductive bass voice of the supersized Moto Moto (will.i.am). Hypochondriac giraffe Melman (David Schwimmer) is welcomed into his herd as a witch doctor. The lemur king (Sasha Baron Cohen) and his minion Maurice (Cedric the Entertainer) attempt to hang onto their regal lifestyles. The penguins and chimps set to work to rebuild the plane, with spare parts from two vehicles stolen from New Yorkers on safari, led by the Ninja bubbie from Grand Central Station. Consistent with our website no spoilers policy, suffice it to say that the plot thickens as these various characters interact in unexpected ways. Given such a rich cast, more sequels are sure to follow.
With the addition of the late Bernie Mac as the alpha lion and Alec Baldwin as his rival, the voice acting is excellent throughout. As with the best of these animated features, the actors’ well-known facial expressions and mannerisms are reflected in the non-human characters. The musical score by Hans Zimmer & will.i.am is also fine, borrowing from the best where appropriate. Two obvious references: while the tourists’ will to survive is inspired by a chorus of New York New York, Alex’s finger-snapping West Side Story gang dance moves just don’t cut it in a trial of combat to establish his status in the pride. More obscurely: when the baby stowaway Mort washes up on shore, the suddenly interrupted tune that he sings appears to the same one that bookends Monster House.
_____________________________________________
Consensus: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa is great fun, and entertaining for all ages. Older kids and adults won’t feel left out, this is a movie that will be enjoyed by the whole family. ***1/2 (out of four)
Here are two of our reviewers thoughts on the first Madagascar movie, which opened May 27th, 2005. Our reviews of Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa will be available Monday.
May 27th, 2005
Rated PG for mild language, crude humor and some thematic elements.
Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath (dir.)
Ben Stiller as Alex (voice)
Chris Rock as Marty (voice)
David Schwimmer as Melman (voice)
Jada Pinkett Smith as Gloria (voice)
Sacha Baron Cohen as Julien (voice)
Cedric the Entertainer as Maurice (voice)
Andy Richter as Mort (voice)
Tom McGrath as Skipper / Fossa / Panicky Man on Subway (voice)
Christopher Knights as Private (voice)
Chris Miller as Kowalski (voice)
Our reviews below:
_____________________________________________
Madagascar Review By John C.
*** (out of four)
Madagascar is the zany, off the wall story of a zebra named Marty (Chris Rock) who lives in a zoo, but wishes he could go to the wild. When he escapes for wide open spaces, his friends Gloria the hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith), Melman the giraffe (David Schwimmer), and Alex the lion (Ben Stiller), chase after him, and in a twist of fate, all end up shipwrecked on the island of Madagascar. Alex, who misses his home life at the zoo, and the delicious steaks that they feed him, badly wants to go back, and starts to become crazy from his lack of food. Their you have it, the plot.
The story is not complex, but the ride is funny and a lot of fun. The story is rounded out by a clan of very funny singing lemurs, and the hands down best characters in the movie, a group of hilarious gangster-esque penguins (there is one scene involving the penguins that is so simple, yet priceless). While Madagascar is no where near the top as far as animated films go, it is still light hearted fun, and a definite good time. All the voice actors get in their share of jokes, especially Sacha Baron-Cohen as King Julien leader of the lemurs, who I am sure made up a lot of it as he went along. While it is not up there with anything from Pixar, it is still worth seeing for what it is, and I am sure the whole family will have a good time.
_____________________________________________
Madagascar Review By Erin V.
*** (out of four)
Madagascar is the story of Alex the Lion, (Ben Stiller), Marty the Zebra, (Chris Rock), Melman the Giraffe, (David Schwimmer), and Gloria the Hippo, (Jada Pinkett Smith). They all live in the Central Park Zoo. It starts out on Marty’s birthday, and he, turning 10, thinks that there has to be more to life. After talking to the penguins, (who Alex calls psychotic), they tell him that they don’t belong here, and they are breaking out to go to Antarctica. Hearing this, Marty wants to go and see the wild too. Alex tries to talk him out of it, since they have everything that they already need. After they escape from the zoo, they are caught, and shipped off to be sent to a wildlife reserve in Africa, but end up stranded in Madagascar.
Back in 2005, I saw Madagascar after I had won tickets to it. To be able to see the movie before it was reviewed, and review it myself was a lot more fun than judging whether or not to see it by what others had said. And for the movie Madagascar in particular, it was really great, because despite what was said in a lot of reviews of the first movie, I actually really liked it. The movie was fun, and I found the story to be entertaining enough to keep it going. I admit that this is not an amazing movie in terms of filmmaking, but in my opinion, I liked it - especially the penguins. This movie is worth seeing, especially now on DVD, if you are going to see the second one.
_____________________________________________
Consensus: This is a fun movie for the whole family. It is worth seeing, especially before the second one which opens this weekend, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. *** (out of four)
September 19th, 2008
Rated PG-13 for some strong language, sexual humor and drug references.
David Koepp (dir.)
Ricky Gervais as Bertram Pincus D.D.S.
Téa Leoni as Gwen
Greg Kinnear as Frank Herlihy
Billy Campbell as Richard
Kristen Wiig as Surgeon
Aasif Mandvi as Dr. Prashar
Our reviews below:
_____________________________________________
Ghost Town Review By John C.
***1/2 (out of 4)
Ghost Town may not the funniest movie of the year, but it is one of the most likable. There are some big laughs in the first and second act, but by the third act it becomes surprisingly moving. It does not make up most of its comedy from sight gags, but most of the laughs come from the smart and witty dialogue of Ricky Gervais. A few scenes into the movie we see Gervais’ character Bertram Pincus, a dentist who, be it his patients or his colleagues, does not like people. When he goes for a routine colonoscopy, something terrible happens, he dies. But only for a few minutes. Now he is stuck with the ability to see ghosts, and they all want something. But the one that wants the most is the recently deceased Frank Herlihy, (Greg Kinnear) who asks him to break up the engagement of his widow Gwen, (Téa Leoni) to a humanitarian lawyer, who he does not think is good enough for her. All of the the actors get good lines, but the best ones come from Ricky Gervais, who is pretty much unknown outside of England, and Greg Kinnear, who achieved comic brilliance in Little Miss Sunshine, but also shines brightly in the upcoming drama Flash of Genius. Go see Ghost Town, and you will have a good time.
_____________________________________________
Ghost Town Review By Erin V.
***1/2 (out of 4)
In Ghost Town, Ricky Gervais plays Dr. Betram Pincus, a dentist, who after a brush with death, can now see ghosts. These aren’t scary ghosts, instead, they are best described as people that only he can see and hear. Delighted that someone can finally communicate with them, they turn to him to help them. They start to follow him around, although, at first, he believes that he is hallucinating. The ghosts are still here because they have some unfinished business to deal with, and he is the only one that can help them. The main ghost Frank, played by Greg Kinnear, is one ghost in particular that won’t leave him alone, since his widow Gwen, played by Téa Leoni, is going to marry a ‘bad man’, and he needs Dr. Pincus to intervene. Unfortunately, Dr. Pincus is no good with people, (or ghosts for that matter).
What follows plays out nicely, as the whole story is very well written and acted. Although not all that complicated a story, it is funny to watch, and very entertaining. The comic timing worked very well, and towards the end of the movie, I found myself enjoying it even more than expected. From the opening scene to the movie’s conclusion, the story plays out perfectly. Thoroughly enjoyable, and unlike some other movies that I have seen, there are not really any parts that I would have preferred to see done differently. An entertaining romance-comedy that actually really works. This being said, Ghost Town is definitely worth seeing.
_____________________________________________
Ghost Town Review By Nicole
***1/2 (out of 4)
Ghost Town is a funny movie about a self-centered dentist named Dr. Bertram Pincus, who, during a routine medical procedure, is accidentally over sedated, and briefly dies and comes back to life. When he wakes up, he realizes he has a new, (but unwanted), ability, that is, to be able to see and hear ghosts! Pretty soon, he meets a ghost named Frank, who is jealous of his widow Gwen’s new boyfriend, Richard, so he gets Dr. Pincus to hook up with her. Dr. Pincus meets Gwen, an Egyptologist, by pointing out the dental problems in a museum mummy. He starts to question Frank’s motives when he meets Gwen’s boyfriend, a human rights lawyer for Amnesty International. Dr. Pincus’ relationship with Gwen and his encounters with Frank and the other ghosts, cause Dr. Pincus to slowly begin to look beyond himself, and care for others.
This movie is funny, clever, and heartwarming. Despite some adult language, this movie does not rely on gross out gags to be funny. Instead, it relies on good lines, and good comedic timing to make you laugh. This movie is nothing but fun.
_____________________________________________
Ghost Town Review By Maureen
***1/2 (out of 4)
Ghost Town is a thoroughly enjoyable romantic-comedy. What made it so enjoyable for me was the smartly written dialogue and the impeccable comic timing of actors Ricky Gervais and Greg Kinnear. The main character, dentist Bertram Pincus, (Ricky Gervais), has a brief death experience that would lead most characters to take stock of their lives and change how the deal with others. But Dr. Pincus continues to be self-absorbed, abrupt and rude to all who come in contact with him, including the ghosts who come to him for help in getting a message out to those they’ve left behind. It is through Dr. Pincus’ reluctantly helping ghost Frank Herlihy, (Greg Kinnear), try to break up the engagement of Frank’s wife to a human rights lawyer, that Bertram Pincus starts to change. As unlikable as Bertram Pincus is, there is something about this jerk that you want to like and root for him to find happiness. The encounters with the various ghosts, including Frank, are funny without going over the top with slapstick or cheap laughs. The movie also has it’s tender side when Dr. Pincus finally decides to help the various ghosts complete their unfinished business and move on to the next world.
Overall, I laughed and I cried, and left the theater with a smile on my face. I really can’t find any faults with this movie other than a caution about some language for younger viewers. This would make a good date movie. Go see this one.
_____________________________________________
Ghost Town Review By Tony
*** (out of 4)
Whether or not you believe in an afterlife, ghosts have always been popular, from tragedies like Macbeth to comedies like Topper and even soaps, where veteran actors in semi-retirement can reprise their roles beyond the grave to spook wayward offspring (e.g. Y.& R.)
In Ghost Town, the dentist Dr. Pincus (Ricky Gervais) has a near-death experience leaving him with the ability to see dead people–the ghosts of those who died with unfinished business. They soon mob him with requests to fix on earth whatever is keeping them from their final rest. Unfortunately, he is as misanthropic as Scrooge and wants nothing to do with them. A phantom adulterer (Greg Kinnear) forever stuck in the tuxedo he had on when the bus ran over him, promises to shield Pincus from the other spirits if his widow (Téa Leoni) can be prevented from marrying a lawyer that does not meet his approval. Despite his obnoxious personality, Pincus gradually endears himself to the widow, coached by the ghost in scenes reminiscent of Play it Again Sam. It doesn’t hurt that as a dentist he can provide valuable insight into the lives and probable causes of death of the Egyptian mummies that she is studying. With a few twists along the way the film moves at a leisurely pace toward a satisfactory ending.
Though not a masterpiece, Ghost Town is a charming comedy, with fine acting by the three principals and a good supporting cast of minor characters.
_____________________________________________
Consensus: Enjoyable romatic-comedy with likable characters. Ghost Town is a charming, fun movie. ***1/2 (out of 4)
Posts
All Comments
