Burn After Reading

By admin On September 23rd, 2008 in Mark's Review /

Nihilism has never been as laugh-out-loud funny as Burn After Reading, the Coen Brothers’ sublime new black comedy about how dumb people die even dumber deaths. And surprise surprise, Brad Pitt turns in one if the best comedic performances of any American actor in the last five years.

Grade: A

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The Women

By admin On September 16th, 2008 in Bill's Review /

Oddly, the best moments in this girls-night-out comedy come from the excellent performers in the supporting roles (Candice Bergan, Cloris Leachman, Bette Midler), while the leads (Meg Ryan, Annette Bening) are just OK. It’s an update of a 1939 classic, also with an all-female cast (Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell) and also with the theme that marital bliss is fleeting, but the bliss of shopping Saks Fifth Avenue is eternal.

Grade: C+
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Righteous Kill

By admin On September 15th, 2008 in Mark's Review /

Robert De Niro and Al Pacino may be two of our greatest actors, but they have absolutely ZERO chemistry in this lifeless dud of a cop drama. Half the blame goes to the ridiculous story, which features a whodunit so lame, it has to withhold the real names of the characters to sustain the mystery.

Grade: D

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College

By admin On September 6th, 2008 in Mark's Review /

This film is so loathsome, it shouldn’t go straight to video, it should go straight to a landfill. The viewer is literally splattered with the discharge from every conceivable human orifice — one of the most revolting movie experiences I’ve ever had.

Grade: F-

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Hamlet 2

By admin On September 2nd, 2008 in Bill's Review /

Steve Coogan stars in a subversive, cruel and very funny satire about an untalented high school drama teacher who creates a musical sequel to Shakespeare’s play. With plenty of campy kitsch and raunchy language, this movie is more in the spirit of John Waters (Hairspray) than of Christopher Guest (Waiting for Guffman).

Grade: B

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Vicky Cristina Barcelona

By admin On September 2nd, 2008 in Bill's Review /

Woody Allen’s latest movie is a sort of adult folk tale about bohemian love in a romantic locale. Just as a boy might picture himself as Jack climbing the beanstalk, many a male moviegoer will picture himself as Javier Bardem having adventures with Penélope Cruz, Rebecca Hall and Scarlett Johansson.

Grade: B

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