Jack Nicholson stars as Warren Schmidt, a sad-sack senior citizen who’s just learning to cope with life after retirement when his wife (June Squibb) dies unexpectedly. With nothing to do but write weepy letters to Ndugu, the unseen African boy he recently sponsored through a children’s charity, Schmidt hops into his Winnebago and embarks on … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Q Syndicate
Adaptation (Q Syndicate)
Hired to adapt a plotless, nonfiction book by real-life author Susan Orleans (Meryl Streep) about a fanatic horticulturist (Chris Cooper), neurotic screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (Nicolas Cage) struggles to craft a story out of its deeply layered, esoteric musings without relying on overused Hollywood conventions. Meanwhile, after attending a screenwriting seminar, his jocular twin brother Douglas … Continue reading
All the Queen’s Men
Loosely based on actual events, this mildly entertaining WWII flick concerns a team of Allied soldiers who don drag in order to infiltrate a Nazi factory that only employs women. Led by fearless special agent Steven O’Rourke (Matt LeBlanc), the so-called “Poof Patrol” includes a bookish codebreaker (David Birkin), a persnickety clerk (James Cosmo), and … Continue reading
All the Real Girls (Q Syndicate)
Unfolding in languid, espisodic scenes that feel startlingly real, this poignant film examines the thrill of first love and the tangle of emotions that often accompany it. At the center of the story is 22-year-old Paul (Paul Schneider), an unambitious mechanic in a small rural town whose pattern of casual sexual conquests is disrupted when … Continue reading
Antwone Fisher
Denzel Washington makes his directorial debut with the true story of Antwone Fisher (Derek Luke), a sullen sailor with a heart of gold whose exceptionally harsh life has left him severely lacking in both self-esteem and self-control. When his temper lands him an appointment with a Navy psychiatrist (Washington), Fisher is forced to confront the … Continue reading
Auto Focus
This fascinating bio-pic traces Hogan’s Heroes star Bob Crane’s curious transformation from mild-mannered family man to sex-crazed amateur porn producer. With his creepy pal John (Willem Dafoe) in perpetual tow, Crane (Greg Kinnear) uses his fame to lure women to wild orgies he captures on tape. Ultimately, his refusal to acknowledge the serious conflict between … Continue reading
Catch Me If You Can
After running away from home at age 16, Frank Abagnale (Leonardo DiCaprio) successfully poses as an airplane pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer, all the while cashing millions of dollars in forged checks. When a tenacious FBI agent (Tom Hanks) picks up his trail, a lively game of cat-and-mouse ensues. Buoyed by spirited performances from … Continue reading
Chicago (Q Syndicate)
Bob Fosse’s shrewd satire of crime as entertainment makes a stunning transition from the stage to the multiplex in a big-screen version overflowing with razzle-dazzle. Director-choreographer Rob Marshall doesn’t attempt to reinvent the movie-musical genre; instead, he wisely allows the cunning story and sizzling score to thrill viewers. When mousy chorine Roxy (Renee Zellweger) lands … Continue reading
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
In a truly inspired performance, Sam Rockwell plays Chuck Barris, the eccentric creator and host of _The Gong Show_, who stumbles into a career as a contract assassin for the CIA just as he finds success as a TV game show producer. Finding he enjoys both jobs, he assumes a bizarre double life, juggling risky … Continue reading
Cradle 2 the Grave
Martial arts dynamo Jet Li teams with rapper DMX in this exceptionally convoluted urban kung fu caper. Li, whose dramatic range includes exactly one facial expression, plays Su, a Taiwanese government agent looking for the precious “black diamonds” recently pilfered by professional thief Tony (DMX), which are now in the hands of a powerful crime … Continue reading
Mike Rucker Writes 