The Finest Hours—Action and Adventure on a Grand Scale
The Finest Hours—Action and Adventure on a Grand Scale
JAY KELLY
Watching the latest film from Noah Baumbach, which he wrote with the gifted actress Emily Mortimer, I couldn’t help…
Kung Pow!—Kung Fu Panda 3
Kung Pow!—Kung Fu Panda 3
The Finest Hours—Action and Adventure on a Grand Scale
Heroes don’t always wear capes or fly through the air. This Disney production tells the story of an ordinary guy who led three fellow Coast Guard men on a perilous mission in 1952 that is still considered a history-making event. The movie works because the leading character (well played by Chris Pine) doesn’t see himself as heroic. Neither does his counterpart, a dedicated engineer (nicely underplayed by Casey Affleck) who tries to find a way to keep his badly damaged oil tanker from sinking off the coast of Massachusetts in the midst of a ferocious storm. The Finest Hours could have easily taken the path of a stoic flag-waver. Instead, it adroitly weaves a personal, human story into the fabric of a massive action movie.…
Kung Pow!—Kung Fu Panda 3
Add Kung Fu Panda to the short list of films that have validated a third trip to the well. This stylish, enjoyable feature doesn’t require one to have seen parts 1 and 2 but manages to hold its own as an extension of the original story. That requires our lovable hero Po (the irresistibly likable Jack Black) to be put to yet another test of both martial arts and, even more important, inner strength. I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say that he succeeds in a highly satisfying way. To their great credit, the filmmakers have found an ingenious way to combine heart-tugging sentiment, humor, and action in equal measure. The unexpected arrival of Po’s panda father (Bryan Cranston) opens a new world to…
From Alfalfa to Rosie the Riveter: A New Way to Watch B Movies—For Free
From Alfalfa to Rosie the Riveter: A New Way to Watch B Movies—For Free
Never A Bad Time For A Good Western: Bone Tomahawk
I love Westerns, and while they have taken a dark turn in recent years I’m still attached to the genre…so when Doug Benson recommended that I see Bone Tomahawk with Kurt Russell to discuss on the latest episode of my podcast, I was happy to oblige. I respect and admire Quentin Tarantino, but this modest feature leaves The Hateful Eight in the dust. It’s provocative, original, extremely violent and extremely good. The film had a brief theatrical release last fall and is now available on Blu-ray and VOD; you can watch a behind-the-scenes featurette and a q&a from last year’s Fantastic Fest on iTunes. Even better, it’s been nominated for Best Screenplay at this year’s Independent Spirit Awards. It’s hard to believe that filmmaker S.…
Never A Bad Time For A Good Western: Bone Tomahawk
Never A Bad Time For A Good Western: Bone Tomahawk
