Anyone dumb enough to go to a movie starring drag queens hoping to find a first-rate story or award-winning dramatic performances deserves whatever disappointment he or she is certain to experience. Sure, there are the occasional pathos-infused drag flicks (Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and, to a … Continue reading →

Poor, poor Mariah.  First, after a string of chart-topping singles, she releases a song that can only claw its way to #1 by having its price slashed to 49 cents.  Now, a movie guaranteed to get reviews that just might send her right back to her padded room in that undisclosed hospital. To be clear:  … Continue reading →

In Gosford Park, director Robert Altman packs up his bag of tricks and heads across the pond for the first time in his career.  Utilizing the techniques he’s famous for, including multiple storylines, overlapping dialogue and a huge ensemble cast, he’s created an old-fashioned whodunit, only in this case, we witness everything from the servants’ … Continue reading →

Most of the “suspense” in Haiku Tunnel hinges on whether or not newly hired secretary Josh (Josh Kornbluth) will manage to mail 17 important letters for his boss.  What was probably once a perfectly amusing cocktail party anecdote has somehow made its way to the big screen, losing most of its punch along the way. Kornbluth co-wrote … Continue reading →

Ignoring the ominous warnings of a well meaning but misguided elf, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) returns for a second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry only to discover that someone – or something – aims to harm him. With the fate of the entire school hanging in the balance, Harry and his faithful … Continue reading →

I shouldn’t have to tell you that Hedwig and the Angry Inch is based on the brilliant Off-Broadway show of the same name, which was written by and starred John Cameron Mitchell as a transsexual rock wannabe on a journey of self-discovery.  You should know this because you should have seen the show.  If you … Continue reading →

Woody Allen isn’t exactly a hot name in Hollywood these days.  Still, there’s something about a Woody Allen film that incites eager anticipation, especially in New York.  Not many directors can fill a weekday afternoon screening, but the first presentation of Hollywood Ending had critics sitting in the aisles. Unlike the inspired films of his … Continue reading →

“If heaven is such a wonderful place, why is getting crucified such a big fucking sacrifice,” asks Igby (Kieran Culkin), the rebel without a clue at the center of Igby Goes Down.  Questions like this, which Igby hurls at any authority figure he encounters, are supposed to set him up as some sort of angst-filled … Continue reading →

I always thought those legends about movies making audiences faint or throw up in the aisles were just P.R. bullshit. I didn’t believe a film could cause that type of physical reaction in someone. I was wrong. Irréversible had me – literally – on the verge of tossing my cookies…twice. A brutal examination of revenge … Continue reading →

Take nine idiots, give them some money, remove their clothes and put them in front of a camera, and you’ll have something pretty close to jackass the movie. Fans of the short-lived but extremely popular MTV series already know what to expect, but for the uninitiated, here’s the lowdown: led by hunkalicious “non-host” Johnny Knoxville, … Continue reading →