Seemingly timed to coincide with a U.S. invasion in Iraq, this jingoistic ode to military machismo from director Antoine Fuqua often feels like little more than pro-war propaganda. Bruce Willis plays Lt. A.K. Waters, a laughably stoic Navy SEAL sent to “extract” bosomy American doctor Lena Kendricks (Monica Bellucci) from a war-torn area of Nigeria, … Continue reading
In his impassioned lectures on Greek and Roman emperors, venerated professor William Hundert (a sublime Kevin Kline) expounds on how a man’s character, above all, determines his success. Hundert, who lives by his own lessons, teaches at St. Benedict’s Academy, an idyllic sanctuary of eager students and equally enthusiastic instructors, where every pupil’s primary goal … Continue reading
Honor System Inspirational boys-school drama makes the grade Despite a superficial similarity between Dead Poets Society and The Emperor’s Club (including their markedly comparable titles), this morality tale set at an all-boys school presents quite a different story than Robin Williams’ inspirational weeper. Less concerned with seizing the day than pursuing integrity, it focuses on … Continue reading
“I love movie scenes where characters enter a bathroom armed only with a pair of scissors and emerge with a new look José Eber would be proud of…” I’ve always loved the scenes in movies where characters enter a bathroom armed with only a pair of scissors or a bottle of Clairol and emerge with … Continue reading
“The Claim isn’t an unpleasant movie, just a boring one…” Inspired by the novel “The Mayor of Casterbridge” by Thomas Hardy, The Claim is an epic morality tale that takes place in Kingdom Come, a snowy Sierra Nevada claim town, twenty years after the Gold Rush of 1849. Although the setting is somewhat unique, the … Continue reading
“Make no mistake: The Closet is silly, silly, silly…” Once a year, all over America, thousands of otherwise “ordinary” men and women dress up in flamboyant clothing of the opposite gender, consume excessive amounts of drugs, flout the values of civilized society, and conduct themselves in intentionally shocking, offensive and totally self-indulgent behavior. All of … Continue reading
“The Crimson Rivers has almost everything it takes to be a first-rate thriller…all it lacks is a satisfying ending.” The Crimson Rivers has almost everything it takes to be a first-rate thriller. It takes place in a suitably eerie, remote valley. Plenty of creepy shadows permeate its otherwise lush cinematography. It features a goosebump-inducing score. … Continue reading
“Parker directs with a nimble touch that never weighs down the effervescent plot…” Oscar Wilde described his last play, The Importance of Being Earnest, as a “delicate bubble of fancy.” Director Oliver Parker clearly kept this in mind while adapting it for the screen. As with his previous film, An Ideal Husband, Parker directs … Continue reading
“If Baz Luhrman made a documentary, it would look an awful lot like The Kid Stays in the Picture…” If Baz Lurhmann made a documentary, it would look an awful lot like The Kid Stays in the Picture. That said, even if you’re not a fan of documentaries, even if you’ve never heard of Robert … Continue reading
“What’s amazing is how little has changed in porn over the years. Naughty’s shorts feature nearly all the hallmarks of today’s hardcore videos: Bad lighting, horrible sets, terrible acting, and ridiculous story lines…” It’s easy to think that, here in the 21st Century, we’re pushing sexual boundaries as never before. Au contraire, mon frere! Lest … Continue reading
Mike Rucker Writes 