“Porn Theatre is an erotically charged film, but also a thoughtful one. The sex within it is not sensationalized; if anything, it’s downright dismal. Are gay audiences really so single-minded that they’ll only go to a movie if it offers the possibility of full-frontal nudity? Apparently, Strand is counting on it.” Much twittering has occurred … Continue reading
“Part Nancy Drew mystery, part Indiana Jones swashbuckler, part Merchant-Ivory bodice ripper, this latest film from LaBute seems, at first glance, about as different from his previous films as it possibly could be. But closer inspection reveals that beneath the corsets and carriages and Harlequin romances, Possession centers around sexual politics, just as his other … Continue reading
“We’re always waiting for Ricci’s trademark sneer to materialize, but it never does. Too bad; it might have given Pumpkin a much-needed edge…” First-time directors often struggle to find the right tone for their films. And directing teams – even experienced ones – most likely have a harder time agreeing on a singular voice for … Continue reading
Although it stars funnyman Adam Sandler, this subversive romantic comedy from writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson is no Happy Gilmore. In a riveting performance, Sandler plays Barry, a doleful entrepreneur who falls for Lena (Emily Watson), a straight-shooting divorcee. As the two fragile loners form a hesitant bond, Barry’s numerous idiosyncrasies – including a tendency toward … Continue reading
“When Sade said ‘It is not the opinions or vices of private individuals that are harmful to the state, but rather the behavior of public figures,’ how could he have known what would be happening in the Oval Office in 1998 – a full 184 years after his death?” The Marquis de Sade once wrote … Continue reading
Pleased to Eat You Hannibal the Cannibal returns Director Michael Mann’s 1986 film Manhunter marked the first screen appearance by cannibalizing serial killer Hannibal Lecter (played then by actor Brian Cox). It’s an exceedingly intense thriller, but like Mann’s other hit of the era, TV’s Miami Vice, it suffers in retrospect from terribly dated art … Continue reading
Based on the memoir of the same name by Beverly Donofrio, Riding in Cars With Boys is a genuinely compelling story fashioned into a merely competent film. With her first movie in five years, director Penny Marshall pushes all the usual buttons, deftly triggering both laughter and tears, a testament to her technical ability, if … Continue reading
Smug ad man Roger (Campbell Scott) is happy to oblige when Nick (Jesse Eisenberg), his 16-year-old nephew, asks for advice on matters of the opposite sex. Trouble is, Roger’s an acid-tongued cynic who alienates every woman he encounters. So, like a wolf instructing a lamb in the ways of the world, Roger subjects Nick to … Continue reading
The Secretary set Sundance audiences atwitter with its hyperkinky story of a sadistic lawyer and his young, subservient typist. Now, if more of the festival-goers had been familiar with the HX personals, they wouldn’t have been nearly as scandalized. That isn’t to say the movie’s not packed with demented, erotic acts, it’s just that you’re … Continue reading
“A sympathetic testament to the importance of recognizing inner beauty…” There’s an incredibly tender scene near the end of Shallow Hal, a moment of honest-to-goodness poignancy guaranteed to conjure a sizable lump in your throat. That it comes completely unexpected only increases its impact, ensuring a glistening in the eyes of even the most jaded … Continue reading
Mike Rucker Writes 