With the success of "Monster's Ball" (2001) and "Finding Neverland" (2004) behind him, director Marc Forster has established himself as a critic's and awards darling, if not necessarily a major cinematic artist. Thus, in [...]
Thomas Kinkade is well known to many as a commercial artist. His colorful paintings of idyllic countryscapes, lush gardens, and houses lit warmly by sunshine have found their way into thousands of American homes, but they have also drawn criticism from [...]
It has been seven years since Ben Stiller made his last directorial effort, "Zoolander, " a high-concept Hollywood satire of the world of male fashion models. In "Tropic Thunder, " Stiller once again turns to satire, but this time he [...]
It has become cliché to say that truth is stranger than fiction. The Showtime series "This American Life" does not make this trite claim. It demonstratively proves it. According to the blurb on the back of the DVD package, the show is [...]
What happens when you run out of story ideas for popular cartoon characters? Either you spin off a new baby version of them or you introduce their kids. The latter was the choice for "Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, " the latest installment [...]
Although never a major star, actress Shelley Duvall carved a niche for herself throughout the 1970s as a minor icon of the counterculture. Tall and gangly, with large eyes and toothy smile, Duvall's quirky looks alternated between clownish and oddly [...]
In 1977, Dario Argento directed "Suspiria, " the first film in what became known as the "Three Mothers" trilogy that continued with "Inferno" in 1980, leaving fans waiting nearly 30 years for the final chapter. That chapter [...]
Well, here is a colossal fiasco. "Virgin Territory" is the egregious title of many that were considered for this adaptation of "The Decameron, " a novel by 14th century Italian writer Giovanni Boccaccio that featured 100 bawdy tales of [...]
Each year over the past few years has produced its own "little movie that could, " a quasi-independent comedy-drama that usually follows a dysfunctional family as they come to terms with their quirks and find peace in their disorganized lives. [...]
André Téchiné is most likely a name few mainstream American moviegoers are familiar with. I myself was unfamiliar with his work until now, but I am pleased to have been introduced to it. A former critic for the French film journal Cahiers [...]
