In his diary, revolutionary dancer and choreographer Vaslav Nijinsky complained, “Critics are selfish – they write about their own opinion and not the opinion of the audience.” Even though the man was mad as a hatter when he wrote it (he also griped, “I looked at a star, which did not say good evening”), I … Continue reading
Don’t look for Varla Jean, Hedda, or Brini in Nine Queens; if you’re expecting any gender bending antics within this Argentinean import, you’ll be sorely disappointed. The queens here are pictured on postage stamps which may (or may not) be worth half a million bucks to a pair of small time swindlers. The fun is … Continue reading
If you’ve ever bought one of the bootleg videos or DVDs sold on every corner in New York City – and admit it, you have – then you already have a pretty accurate idea of the production values you’ll find in Margaret Cho’s new concert film, Notorious C.H.O. Bad lighting, weird angles, erratic sound – … Continue reading
Margaret Cho returns to the screen in The Notorious C.H.O., a film that opened the New Festival here a few weeks ago. The title, an allusion to the powerful women of hip-hop, seems at first to be somewhat of a misnomer, since Cho never really references ‘Lil Kim, Eve or Mary J or their awe-inspiring … Continue reading
Even if film adaptations of literary classics make you edgy, there’s nothing to fear in O Brother, Where Art Thou, a rousing joyride that’s sure to entertain even those who have never read The Odyssey, on which it’s loosely based. For those who may have “forgotten” it, The Odyssey tells of King Odysseus (also called … Continue reading
“If grown men living out their every adolescent fantasy constitutes a happy ending, then Old School is an absolute fairy tale.” School Dazed In Old School, laughs come at the expense of taste Perhaps the reason Saturday Night Live alum Will Ferrell has found more success in Hollywood than most of his fellow SNL graduates is that … Continue reading
Facing eviction from their university-owned residence, Mitch (Luke Wilson), Beanie (Vince Vaughn) and Frank (Will Ferrell) find a legal loophole allowing them to keep their place by starting a fraternity – even though they’re not college students. Before long, they’ve established a veritable Animal House, raising the ire of the malevolent college dean (Jeremy Piven), … Continue reading
It seems just about every British film washing up on American shores these days is heralded by somebody (usually an overly enthusiastic P.R. flack) as “The Next ‘Full Monty’!!!” So it should come as no surprise that people are saying precisely that about Once Upon A Time In The Midlands, especially since this latest English … Continue reading
I hate Robin Williams. I always have. I thought he was obnoxious on Mork and Mindy, and he’s gone downhill from there. I find his comedy spastic and grating and his dramatic efforts earnest and maudlin. His movies have made me physically ill; I developed such a severe headache watching Mrs. Doubtfire I almost walked … Continue reading
If you’ve already seen the trailer for Orange County, do everything you can to forget what you’ve witnessed. In a world where even the most dreadful of movies can be made to seem appealing by a three minute clip, Orange County is an anomaly: it’s actually much better than its preview would lead you to … Continue reading
Mike Rucker Writes 