03 Jul 2014

Four-of-July Weekday - Notes on a Quadruple Feature: "Deliver Us from Evil," "Tammy," "America: Imagine the World Without Her," and "Earth to Echo"

By Mike Schulz

July 2, 10:40 a.m.-ish: My screenings begin with the demonic-possession thriller Deliver Us from Evil, and I notice, during the "found footage" prelude, that the action begins on the Fourth of July. So, clearly, the film is being released at the right time. Ninety minutes later, I notice, during the climactic exorcism, that the action ends on 4/20. So, clearly, the filmmakers were high.

12 Jun 2011

Oui, Oui!: "Midnight in Paris" and "Judy Moody & the Not Bummer Summer"

By Mike Schulz

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

The overall experience of Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris, at least for me, can be effectively visualized in one sequence - one shot, really - in this jubilant, intoxicating comedy.

15 Feb 2010

Sparks, and No Sparks: "Dear John," "Valentine's Day," and "The Wolfman"

By Mike Schulz

DEAR JOHN

Since no one's been pressing a gun to my head, I haven't read Nicholas Sparks' Dear John, which concerns a pair of star-crossed lovers whose romance is derailed by the young man's Army tenure. I have, however, seen director Lasse Hallström's screen version, which apparently follows the novel's blueprint faithfully (albeit with an altered ending), so permit me a question: Does Sparks have absolutely no shame?

22 Nov 2009

Not to My Lycan: "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" and "The Blind Side"

By Mike Schulz

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON

Like last November's film version of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight, this November's follow-up, the helpfully titled The Twilight Saga: New Moon, is a mostly dour affair, a vampire tale less concerned with blood-letting than with the pain of teenage heartache, romantic longing, chastity, and maudlin acoustic ballads. That's why, despite some occasional levity, it's a shock to find director Chris Weitz's movie boasting not one but two absolutely outstanding jokes.

04 Oct 2009

Moore and More: "Capitalism: A Love Story," "Pandorum," and "Zombieland"

By Mike Schulz

CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY

Watching the early scenes of Capitalism: A Love Story, I found myself thinking, none too happily, that the bloom was finally off the rose, and that my fondness for Michael Moore documentaries had, at last, reached its end.

26 Jan 2009

Scenes from a Marriage: "Revolutionary Road"

By Mike Schulz

REVOLUTIONARY ROAD

Set in 1955, Revolutionary Road finds Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet portraying Frank and April Wheeler, a young, affluent couple who realize they're miserable with their well-ordered lives in the suburbs - beautiful home, adorable kids, friendly neighbors - and it would be perfectly understandable if audiences watched the pair's suffering and listened to their frequent fits of rage and asked, "What's the freaking problem here?"

17 Dec 2008

When Worlds Collide: "The Day the Earth Stood Still," "Nothing Like the Holidays," and "Delgo"

By Mike Schulz

This past Friday, larger movie markets saw the debuts of John Patrick Shanley's Doubt, Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino, and Steven Soderbergh's Argentinia epic Che.

Our market, meanwhile, only got The Day the Earth Stood Still, Nothing Like the Holidays, and Delgo.

Sigh. Let's dive in, then.

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Four-of-July Weekday - Notes on a Quadruple Feature: "Deliver Us from Evil," "Tammy," "America: Imagine the World Without Her," and "Earth to Echo"

Oui, Oui!: "Midnight in Paris" and "Judy Moody & the Not Bummer Summer"

Sparks, and No Sparks: "Dear John," "Valentine's Day," and "The Wolfman"

Not to My Lycan: "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" and "The Blind Side"

Moore and More: "Capitalism: A Love Story," "Pandorum," and "Zombieland"

Scenes from a Marriage: "Revolutionary Road"

When Worlds Collide: "The Day the Earth Stood Still," "Nothing Like the Holidays," and "Delgo"

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

Tagged Content

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Click this link to Subscribe now.