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‘Killing Them Softly’ has more style, less substance

By Andrew Younger

With nary a mention of Roberta Flack or the miseducation of Lauryn Hill, the ironically titled “Killing Them Softly” boasts enough violent outbursts to make the beatdown in Martin Scorcese’s “Casino” look like a grade school fight at the bike racks. And the comparison to Scorcese, with his ostentious Steadicam shots and punched-up mobster dialogue, [...]

‘Red Dawn’ is a sloppy, stupid, jingoistic mess of a film

By Andrew Younger

When Cold War fetishist John Milius wrote and directed the original “Red Dawn” in 1984, his fantasy of high school students using misplaced machismo to repel a Soviet invasion possessed enough testicular fortitude to make Russkies the enemy.

Spielberg’s ‘Lincoln’ delivers

By Kenneth Leonard

There was a time when Steven Spielberg’s movies were the biggest entertainment events of the year.

though not a shoe-in, ‘Argo’ aims for Oscar

By Andrew Younger

Courtesy Claire Folger and Warner Bros
Director Ben Affleck’s Oscar-baiting new film “Argo” combines period piece prestige with displays of self-congratulatory Hollywood mythologizing.

‘Seven Psychopaths’ is all kinds of crazy

By Isabella Place

“Do you feel any friendly competition between your brother, who wrote ‘The Guard?’” Laughing, he responded, “No, no, I know I’m the best, so there’s no competition.” McDonagh’s response, though certainly good-natured, reflected his brilliant work.

‘End of Watch’ brings realism to tired police procedural genre

By Cody Franklin

When I first heard about “End of Watch,” I wasn’t very excited. “Oh look, another cop drama,” I said to myself.

Great cast checks into ‘Hotel’

By David Dixon

Dracula loves his daughter but is very overprotective, because he fears humans will treat her harshly. The vampire is shocked when an average guy, Jonathan (Andy Samberg), finds himself inside Dracula’s hotel and falls in love with Mavis.

Heartfelt ‘Arts’ offers honest human interaction

By Isabella Place

Be prepared to observe outdated techniques of communication that would otherwise be known as impractical; but for this movie, they somehow work.

Eastwood’s career goes to extra innings, finds some ‘Trouble’

By Andrew Younger

“You always want to quit while you’re ahead,” Eastwood listed as his reason for bowing out gracefully from the silver screen. “You don’t want to be like a fighter who stays too long in the ring until you’re not performing at your best.” Eastwood would have done well to take his own advice.