Jun 20, 2011
(rated PG-13, 101 mins.)
With Woody Allen it’s hit or miss. This one is hit. A satire on Hollywood, Allen directs and stars in a story of a character that must make a new movie or his career is over. He’s Val Waxman, a neurotic, two-time Oscar winner turned washed up. His ex-wife Ellie (Tea Leoni) dumped him for the studio head (Treat Williams) that’s not only her fiancée but also the man bankrolling the picture. As though things couldn’t be worse, literally and figuratively, the proof is in the picture. “Hollywood Ending” is clearly a new beginning for Allen (and his character) with its expert comic timing and a lot of autobiographical references. Debra Messing does a great job at the role of his airhead girlfriend.
Jun 20, 2011
(Not rated)
Six degrees of Kevin Bacon goes to a new level in this sci-fi flick from wild, raunchy director Paul “Showgirls” Verhoeven. Flirty, voyeuristic, perverse and all those boundaries Verhoeven crosses when this time a group of brilliant scientists have just unlocked the secret of invisibility at a military top secret lab. The team’s arrogant leader, Sebastian Caine (Bacon), ignores the risks and decides to try it out on himself. Two scientists (Elisabeth Shue and Josh Brolin) try under a ticking clock to desperately bring him back, but the problem is Caine wants to stay in the void. This one has “Ghost” qualities on an intoxicating level (Bacon does things Swayze wouldn’t have), as Caine realizes his very colleagues may be a threat to his existence. Great special effects including a real Pentagon scene (only two movies allowed to film there in the past decade.)
Jun 20, 2011
(rated PG, 111 mins.)
A coming-of-age adventure based on the award-winning book by Louis Sacher about a boy, Stanley Yelnats (Shia LaBeouf) cursed by an ancient family curse. Perpetually in the wrong place at the wrong time, Stanley is sentenced to a stern detention camp where he meets campmates Squid, Armpit, ZigZag, Magnet, and Zero. Forced by menacing warden (Sigourney Weaver) and her right-hand man Mr. Sir (Jon Voight), the boys are ordered to dig holes in order to build character. While the story is kid-friendly with a ‘life-learning-lesson’ that will interest parents, the Wild West flashback is unnecessarily confusing and the storyline seems predictable, while at the same time not sure where it’s headed. Too bad, as the young actors deliver peak performances even for a bunch of hole-digging delinquents.
Jun 20, 2011
Will Smith steps into his first romantic comedy with an air of sexy, star power that is pure unstoppable. A real charmer, Smith’s character, the date doctor, Alex Hitchens gives advice to nerds and geeks hoping to find true love. His favorite girls to fixate his employees on – those recently targeted and used by the evil, albeit hot, one- night-stand male. Hitch’s newest client, Albert (Kevin James) is smitten over Paris-Hilton-knockoff-socialite, Allegra (Amber Valetta). While one can’t help wonder why this woman would even date a pudgy hot-dog-mustard-spilling-geek in the first place (date counseling or not) the movie is romantic and fun flying, solo on the mileage of Smiths’ likeability. It’s no cinematic genius but Smith’s true movie star quality and chemistry against his lover-rival (Eva Mendez) a Gossip reporter, makes us feel sympathetic toward him, as Mendez attempts to get the scoop on Hitch’s own love life past. A warm-up-your-toes-and-heart February comedy, that can replace any old cup of hot cocoa.
Jun 20, 2011
(rated R, 105 mins)
Alex (Michael Parducci), is an Italian stallion restaurant manager by day and a screenwriting student by night. A really bad one, unless you ask the wallflower with thick glasses named Gwen (Judy Prescott) who adores his writing. But Gwen lacks the wrong cup size to get Alex’s attention. Finally Alex has the chance to get his “big break” when a friend of a friend who knows Jagger Stevens (Hoyt Richards) a Brad Pitt type. Enter Elliot (Peter Jacobson), a whining, little Jew. If Ben Stiller and Woody Allen birthed a child he would be it. Elliot and Alex collaborate because Alex employs the hot waiter Joey (Dawson’s Creek’s Kerr Smith) that gay Elliot hungers for. It’s disaster in the making for the most unlikely writing team. Alex says to Elliot, “Helpless is not a word in my vocabulary” and Elliot says “I’m sure there are a lot of words not in your vocabulary. Some loose ends, some unnecessary Act three scenes, about 15 minutes too long, but overall worth the price of admission and very entertaining.
