In Theaters

Planes Review

Planes is an abomination wrapped inside a bullshit party. That’s
really all I want to write about this endless crap festival of a film
but since this is a review, I’m supposed to keep going. AND I SHALL.

The Way, Way Back Review

The Way, Way Back... is way way awesome!

Groundbreaking? Not exactly, but there’s a reason that certain stories are well-trodden: Because we want to see them again and again. Meatballs is one of my favorite movies. Vintage Bill Murray from 1979. The Way, Way Back is basically the same story: Awkward boy, who nobody appreciates, comes-of-age one summer when he meets the coolest guy in the world, who inexplicably sees something great in him, and brings it out.

The Conjuring Review

Rock & roll movies are my focus, but I made an exception for The Conjuring because the only thing that rivaled rock & roll for my earliest affections was horror films. I was just as likely to be found reading Famous Monsters Of Filmland magazine as Hit Parader. And I loved the rockers who recognized a market at that particular intersection–Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, and later Alice Cooper and KISS. I was delighted to get a “two-for-one.”

R.I.P.D. Review

This is what Comic-Con has begat. This scenario: Some producer with a three picture deal with some studio rushes down to San Diego one summer in a panic, trolling the booths, looking for a “hot property” to license to get all these dressed up nerds into a movie theatre. Over there, in the Dark Horse booth, is one that is about a police department made up of dead cops who have to come back to earth to capture escaped dead people, or dead-o’s as they are called. “Awesome, I’ll take it!” says the producer. Armed with a stack of these newly found comic books, he slams them down on the desk Monday morning in the  L.A. production office. “This is the movie we’re making, and the good news is, it’s already storyboarded!!”

The Heat Review

The Heat is both an excellent buddy movie and the most fun I’ve had at a sloppy physical comedy in years. Sandra Bullock has FINALLY found someone who wants to do physical comedy with her and is really really good at it. She’s been trying to do it, in her comedies, forever, and has never had the right foil. Melissa McCarthy is a physical wonder. She is hilarious. I’ve enjoyed her since her, lovely, non-physical dramedy work in The Gilmore Girls.

The Wolverine Review

I was SO looking forward to The Wolverine. Expectations, meet being met. And I have to say, it was an amazingly good time at the movies.

Monsters University Review

It makes me shake my head and sigh when I read reviews about kid’s movies written by reviewers that have no children. I imagine them writing their review from a city loft filled with white furniture while sipping a rare chardonnay.

Sound City Review

Sound City was a Los Angeles studio where over a hundred certified gold and platinum albums were recorded during the 70’s and 80’s. It’s also the subject of a documentary of the famed analog studio and its fabled soundboard, which includes an in-studio jam with director Dave Grohl and some of his former bandmates.

Dean Haglund interviews Tom Hanks and Halle Berry for Cloud Atlas

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Comedy Film Nerds sends Dean Haglund to talk to Tom Hanks and Halle Berry about Cloud Atlas, conventions, action figures, Mazes and Monsters, and reincarnation.

Dean Haglunds interviews Tom Cruise & Halle Berry for Cloud Atlas