Typically silly Robert Ludlum thriller, the full silliness of which does not come to light till the end: something about a coalition of neo-Fascists and Third World terrorists, organized and financed by a long-dead Nazi who still wants to conquer the world and, at the same time, avenge himself on …
Thirty years ago, Michael Caine and Steve Martin mugged their way through the slapstick guesswork of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Frank Oz’s lead-footed remake of Brando’s nadir, Bedtime Story. Lower your expectations - gosh only knows the filmmakers did when they set Anne Hathaway (the actress Nikki Swift dubbed “Hollywood’s most …
Remember when your high school teacher would wheel out a 16mm projector and proceed to put the class to sleep with hopelessly unengaging educational films? That at least offered students a vacation from science class, which is more than can be said for the fate of audiences attending Christopher Nolan’s …
Retirement-home pablum about the warming relationship between an inquisitive eleven-year-old (interested in ghosts, interested in “what happens”) and the old crank, formerly The Amazing Clarence, who takes over the boy’s room. Vibrant color photography by Rob Hardy, and a vibrant performance by Michael Caine, perhaps too vibrant for the role. …
Thoroughly preposterous, and almost as thoroughly appealing, story idea about an investigative reporter who drags along his twelve-year-old son on a probe of fishing-boat disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle, and falls prey to a ragtag band of island outcasts carrying on in the glorious tradition of the buccaneers, or as …
High-tech tale of betrayal and revenge, lighthearted to the point of self-contradictory and callous (Charlize Theron does, at least, haul off and sock the man who murdered her father: that sure felt good), mechanically directed by F. Gary Gray. As remakes go, it has the advantage of coming from an …
"One of the great names in espionage history", we are told, is Philip Kimberley, not to be confused with Kim Philby, although he followed the same ignominious route from England to the Soviet Union. The Soviets have now sent him back in the other direction, with a new face and …
Indiana Jones meets Jurassic Park in a sequel that will amuse children and cause parents to wonder why they dropped the extra money for 3-D glasses. Josh Hutcherson returns, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson plays the role of father figure inexplicably vacated by Brendan Fraser. Much ado is made over …
An elegy on an entire generation -- the one that came of age during the Second World War -- but narrowly focussed on four East London drinking buddies, and most particularly on the two whose friendship dates to the North African theater of the war. The title, from the Booker …
Surprising Vin Diesel vehicle: first, for the initial switcheroo from supernatural action-adventure to supernatural whodunit; second, for a sturdily built storyline; third, for a somewhat lively and lighthearted turn from its often somnolent star. (Those widened, puppy-dog eyes!) Sadly, the more expected elements do much to dull the pleasure of …
Mark Herman's transplant to the screen, minus the first five words of the original title (The Rise and Fall of...), of Jim Cartwright's London stage piece, conceived as a showcase for the unsuspected talents of Jane Horrocks. Some of her abundant talents had of course been well known, from Mike …
John Huston at long last realizes his plan to adapt the Rudyard Kipling story, which he first took up, twenty years earlier, as a project to star Clark Gable and Humphrey Bogart. Whether it's because of the new age, or Huston's old age, or simply the increased distance from the …
Inspired by the true story of fifteenth century Czech icon and warlord Jan Zizka, who defeated armies of the Teutonic Order and the Holy Roman Empire. Feuding brothers King Wenceslas of Czech and King Sigismund of Hungary battle for control of the empty Holy Roman Empire throne. To prevent Rosenberg's …
Miss Ingratiation, for sure. Sandra Bullock (who produced, too) plays a one-of-the-guys FBI agent who goes undercover as a beauty contestant. The character howls in protest; it's the actress who worms and wheedles. Michael Caine has his moments as the gay Pygmalion who makes her over. So does William Shatner …