James Burns’ reckless youth and road to redemption are the subject of “Jamesy Boy,” a film with a message of inspiration, to be sure, but not much in terms of innovation. Newcomer Spencer Lofranco doesn’t seem quite ready for his first lead role opposite a strong supporting cast that includes...
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Reviews
What the Flick?! — Interior. Leather Bar.
James Franco “re-enacts” 40 minutes of cut footage from the 1980 drama “Cruising,” in which Al Pacino starred as an undercover cop exploring New York’s gay-bar scene, in his pseudo-documentary “Interior. Leather Bar.” Alonso and I appreciated this as an ambitious experiment....
Read moreRogerEbert.com — Some Velvet Morning
Stanley Tucci and Alice Eve tear each other apart in spectacularly verbal fashion in “Some Velvet Morning,” writer-director Neil LaBute’s return to the kind of blackheartedness with which he made his name. My RogerEbert.com review. Read the review here...
Read moreWhat the Flick?! — Some Velvet Morning
Alonso and I marvel at the verbal sparring of Stanley Tucci and Alice Eve in Neil LaBute’s biting and twisty “Some Velvet Morning.”...
Read moreWhat the Flick?! — Out of the Furnace
Alonso, Matt and I are mixed on “Out of the Furnace.” It’s a gritty, grimy genre picture about meth heads and backwoods criminals that’s elevated by an excellent cast including Christian Bale, Casey Affleck and Woody Harrelson....
Read moreRogerEbert.com — Nebraska
Alexander Payne rips the lid off the Midwestern mythology with his latest film, “Nebraska.” Bruce Dern gives the performance of his prolific career as a cantankerous drunk who believes he’s won a million dollars and insists on making the 900-mile trek to pick up the prize money personally. This is...
Read moreWhat the Flick?! — Parkland
I admired this movie for finding a different angle into an event that’s been depicted in so many ways — the JFK assassination — but ultimately the enormous (and enormously talented) cast just gets spread too thin....
Read moreWhat the Flick?! — Concussion
Alonso has been raving about this film so I’m really glad I checked it out. It’s a sensitive and insightful depiction not just of female sexuality but also of midlife longing....
Read moreWhat the Flick?! — Blue Caprice
Alonso, Ben and I all loved “Blue Caprice” and were blown away by Isaiah Washington’s chilling performance as the mastermind of the 2002 Beltway sniper shootings....
Read moreRogerEbert.com — A Single Shot
The backwoods neo-noir “A Single Shot” is an odd mix of beautifully bleak atmosphere and hammily mannered performances, which makes it simultaneously understated and overpowering. But it’s always good to see Sam Rockwell. My review for RogerEbert.com. Read the review here...
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