“An American Affair” contains so many Christian themes and settings, that it could just as easily be called; “A Catholic Affair.” Being sent to see it is a lot like being sent to Catholic School; if you sit down, shut up, and face the right direction, no one gets hurt. The flick is pretty standard…
“Cadillac Records” sounds like a film about a fictional record label, but it’s the story of Chicago’s Chess Records …sort of. The misleading title refers to co-founder Leonard Chess’ habit of buying cars for his artists. In reality, there were TWO Chess brothers, but in the film they’ve been rolled into one man, played by…
“The Girl Can’t Help It” is to rock and roll movies what “Cool Hand Luke” is to prison flicks. Simply put, it rocks, like a nymphomaniac’s trailer. Shot in 1956, when TV was still broadcast in black and white, it contains the only color footage of legendary rock and rollers Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran…
If ever there was a film that I wanted to love, it is perhaps this one. And what amazing possibilities there are for a remake of The Wolfman, yes? In this time of incredible practical effects and improving CGI, this is a great opportunity to show those off while creating a moody, atmospheric horror film…
Relax. Valentine’s Day is not just another hackneyed rom-com. It’s, well, EVERY hackneyed rom-com. It’s 8,000 different stories, all centered around the Big Day and set in Los Angeles. It’s the Crash of romantic comedy. But, as I recall, Crash had some genuine funny moments. Valentine’s Day is full of, “OMG, I can’t believe…
The Beatles’ second film, “HELP!” is more enjoyable than it probably should be. It was a commercial success, like everything they did around 1965, but the band wasn’t happy with how it turned out. It was the first indication that the incredible run The Beatles were on couldn’t last forever. John Lennon said that the…
IT MIGHT GET LOUD is a documentary in which Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, The White Stripes’ Jack White, and U2’s The Edge jam together, and discuss what they love about guitars. “It might get loud,” is something The Edge mutters as he plugs his guitar into the wall of wires and effects pedals that he’s…
Of all The Beatles’ films, “Let It Be” is the hardest to watch, but it’s still worth seeing. Michael Lindsay-Hogg, the director, actually made two rock films that took their time growing to full potential: “The Rolling Stones’ Rock & Roll Circus,” which gathered dust for nearly thirty years, and “Let It Be,” which is…
Nicolas Roeg’s “The Man Who Fell to Earth” is the kind of film you’d expect from a cinematographer-turned-director. Every shot could be slipped undetected into a Taschen photography book. Like a book of photographs, TMWFTE has vivid colors and good use of lens flare and shadow. It’s never boring, but randomly linear. It would be…
“Reform School Girls” is a parody of women-in-prison movies that delivers what it promises–lots of girls in reform school. It’s a good thing the “girls” are twenty-something starlets playing teenagers, because they’re very clean reform school girls. Otherwise, the shower scenes would be creepy. Aside from soapy breasts, big 80’s hair, and chick-fights every twenty…