Way late review: Soul Surfer

If my six year old daughter was reviewing Soul Surfer I think she’d give it two big thumbs up. She’s watching the movie again for the second night in a row. Some might think that’s quite sweet until they discover this is a movie based on the true story of Bethany Hamilton, a teenage surfing …

Way late review: Rabbit Hole

I hope I never have to experience what the couple of Rabbit Hole experience, the loss of a child. Becca (Nicole Kidman) and Howie (Aaron Eckhart) struggle with the death of their four year old son. The film is set about eight months after the accident that takes their son’s life. Not a happy time. …

Way late review: The Company Men

Let’s start with the synopsis to give an idea of why I spent nearly two hours of my life watching The Company Men. Written, directed and produced by John Wells (“The West Wing”), this indie drama stars Ben Affleck as a successful businessman who comes face-to-face with America’s downsizing epidemic when he loses his job …

Way late review: The Color of Money

It is hard to review this movie because I watched it on a HD screen while the movie (on DVD) was displayed in a tiny square box. Not only that, but the sound mix was even worse, with dialogue barely audible but the soundtrack was cranked to 11. A Martin Scorsese film has never looked …

Way late review: Searching for Bobby Fisher

I recall seeing Searching for Bobby Fischer in the theater when it came out in 1993. I also recall enjoying it, but if you asked me for any details about the film I would have been hard pressed to give you more than: chess, a kid savant, and Bobby Fischer wasn’t the focus of the …

Way late review: The King’s Speech

Period pieces that come out just in time for the Oscars don’t get me too excited. The King’s Speech was no exception. Even once I received the disc from Netflix, I had it for almost a month before I finally caved in and watched it. I’m happy I did. Colin Firth plays King George VI, …

Way late review: Chop Shop

As much as I’d like to deny it, the reality is that there are kids living in this world who have to take take on adult responsibilities. They never get to be kids. Chop Shop is a story about one of those kids, Alejandro (Alejandro Polanco), a pre-teen who lives in Queens, N.Y. and hustles …

Way late review: The Tree of Life

Amusement can be had by reading reviews of Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life. Some will tell you it’s a masterpiece while others will argue it’s pretentious garbage. Films that evoke such a reaction always peak my curiosity. I’ve only seen one other Terrence Malick film before this, The Thin Red Line. I thought that …