Category: Movies
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Cliches cause pacing fumble for ‘Concussion’
‘Concussion’ has the potential to address a controversial issue, but rather than blowing the lid off the scandal surrounding NFL head injuries, this Will Smith starrer gets sidetracked by schmaltzy cliches.
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’99 Homes’ offers grim reminder of the recent past
Because everyone was negatively affected by the recession, ’99 Homes’ is filled with tension and desparation that should resonate with most Americans.
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‘The Force Awakens’ gives new hope to ‘Star Wars’ franchise
The Force Awakens is first and foremost a film for Star Wars fans. Even the heroes themselves are fans, well-versed in the legends of Luke Skywalker and General Leia. With great performances from the new stars and a director who understands how to deliver a film worthy of its source material, The Force Awakens gives…
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Depp dazzles as Whitey Bulger in ‘Black Mass’
While ‘Black Mass’ might be more grounded in fiction than the reality of Whitey Bulger, Johnny Depp and Joel Edgerton turn out great performances that make this a very enjoyable gangster movie.
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Struggles of ‘Suffragette’ still relevant today
Suffragette is an important historical British period piece based on the struggles of the women’s movement in Britain during the mid-1800’s. Their struggle is real, but many of the characters are fictional. This doesn’t lessen the value of this film and it’s ongoing significance in the world we live in today.
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‘Amy’ a haunting cautionary tale
I wish a documentary like Amy was shocking because we didn’t see talented people self-destruct on the regular, but sadly, Amy Winehouse’s story is all too commonplace. Unlike your average Behind the Music rock doc, Amy doesn’t flower things up for a made-for-TV package. Instead, it shows us the stark reality of such a talented…
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‘Rock the Kasbah’ misses the mark
Rock the Kasbah is a movie with so much potential. It stars Bill Murray, features Zooey Deschanel, Bruce Willis, Kate Hudson, Scott Caan, and Danny McBride. Murray even promoted the movie by showing up at Comic Con for the first time to do a genuinely funny panel and answer fan questions. With all that going…
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‘Fargo’ explores what happens when regular people break bad
With smart writing, excellent visuals, and stellar performances, it was easy to get completely absorbed in Fargo, in part because it reminded me a lot of another one of my favorite binge-watching shows: Breaking Bad.
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Story and science make ‘The Martian’ compelling sci-fi
Great sci-fi films combine visual effects, plausible science, and engaging characters who feel like real people. It’s a difficult balancing act between explosions and action, math and engineering, and an engrossing emotional journey. This is why great sci-fi films are so few and far between, and why The Martian gives me hope that this kind…
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‘Straight Outta Compton’ does justice to hip hop legends
The first CD I ever bought was Snoop Dogg’s “Doggystyle”, which was quickly followed by Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic”, and thus began my love of 1990s gangsta rap. I was a little too young to know the story of N.W.A., so naturally, I was beyond excited for Straight Outta Compton. Thankfully, the movie more than…
