DEDICATION (2007) Starring Billy Crudup, Mandy Moore, Tom Wilkinson, Martin Freeman, Dianne Wiest, Bob Balaban, Bobby Cannavale, Amy Sedaris and Peter Bogdanovich. Screenplay by David Bromberg. Directed by Justin Theroux. Distributed by The Weinstein Company. 93 minutes. Rated R. 2007 has been a busy year for Mandy Moore – though not necessarily a great one. … Continue reading
MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY (2008) Starring Frances McDormand, Amy Adams, Lee Pace, Ciarán Hinds, Shirley Henderson, Mark Strong, Tom Payne, Christina Cole, Sarah Kants, Claire Clifford, Stephanie Cole, Tim Potter, Mo Zinal, Matt Ryan and Sally Leonard. Screenplay by David Magee and Simon Beaufoy. Directed by Bharat Nalluri. Distributed by Focus Features. 92 … Continue reading
I AM LEGEND (2008) Starring Will Smith, Alice Braga, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Joanna Numata and Emma Thompson. Screenplay by Mark Protosevich and Akiva Goldsman. Directed by Francis Lawrence. Distributed by Warner Brothers Pictures. 100 minutes. Rated PG-13. I Am Legend has a bit of a pedigree. The movie is based on … Continue reading
Breckin Meyer Blue Period by Jay S. Jacobs With interest in politics at a high-water mark in the United States due to an unusually intriguing race for President, perhaps it is a happy coincidence that the film Blue State positions a breezy romantic comedy in the midst of ancient history: the fallout of the Bush-Kerry election of 2004. … Continue reading
Martin McDonagh Going Back to Bruges by Jay S. Jacobs Irish playwright Martin McDonagh has never played by the rules in the theater, so it should be of no surprise that his feature film debut as a screenwriter and director would be a quirky, fascinating affair. In Bruges tells the slightly surreal, definitely funny and often … Continue reading
KING OF CALIFORNIA (2007) Starring Michael Douglas, Evan Rachel Wood, Willis Burks II, Laura Kachergus, Paul Lieber, Kathleen Wilhoite, Anne L. Nathan, Arthur Santiago, Ashley Greene, Ian Hopps, Anna Khaja, Will Rothhaar, Annie O’Donnell, Greg Davis Jr. and Jeanie Hackett. Screenplay by Mike Cahill. Directed by Mike Cahill. Distributed by First Look Pictures. 93 minutes. … Continue reading
27 DRESSES (2008) Starring Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Ed Burns, Malin Akerman, Judy Greer, Melora Hardin, Brian Kerwin, Maulik Pancholy, David Castro, Alexa Havens and Jennifer Lim. Screenplay by Aline Brosh McKenna. Directed by Anne Fletcher. Distributed by 20th Century Fox. 107 minutes. Rated PG-13. In 27 Dresses, Katherine Heigl makes the leap from promising talent … Continue reading
IN BRUGES (2008) Starring Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes, Clemence Poesy, Jeremie Renier, Thekla Reute, Jordan Prentice, Zeljko Ivanek, Eric Godon, Mark Donovan, Rudy Blomme, Theo Stevenson, Elizabeth Berrington and Cieran Hinds. Screenplay by Martin McDonagh. Directed by Martin McDonagh. Distributed by Focus Features. 107 minutes. Rated R. Beauty and ugliness, grandeur and seediness, … Continue reading
Jon Bernthal Countdown to Day Zero by Jay S. Jacobs With the ongoing conflict in the Middle East there have been rumblings that eventually the United States may have to reinstate the military draft. The film Day Zero takes this one step further – imagining what will happen after this occurs. Day Zero focuses on three New York-area friends who receive … Continue reading
THE BUCKET LIST (2008) Starring Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, Sean Hayes, Beverly Todd, Rob Morrow, Alfonso Freeman, Rowena King, Noel Gugliemi and Jennifer Defrancisco. Screenplay by Justin Zackham. Directed by Rob Reiner. Distributed by Warner Brothers. 98 minutes. Rated PG-13. Terminal cancer is usually not the catalyst for a buddy comedy. Chemo and spitting up … Continue reading
