Tag Archives: Romance

The Temptations (1998)

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One of the highlights of growing up with parents that loved classic soul and R&B, was listening to some of the greatest bands of all time. My favorite of them all was The Temptations, a wonderful group of singers with one of the more compelling back stories of all time. Though I’m usually not a fan of biography films about bands or musicians in general, “The Temptations” garners an immense cast of strong actors, all of whom help fuel what is a tale about fame, greed, and clashing egos. It’s just a shame that the movie breezes through some crucial details.

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A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014)

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I bet Seth McFarlane would love to fancy himself this generation’s Bob Hope, or perhaps even Mel Brooks. With the hollow smile of a car salesman, and the appeal of a commercial pitch man, in reality, McFarlane comes off as just another really desperate fan boy whose love for music, dancing, and comedy doesn’t equate to entertainment. The end result is a movie that holds our hands through every joke, and then holds our hand through the expected reaction. I imagine if McFarlane directed a remake to “Blazing Saddles” eventually someone would point to Sheriff Bart, look at the audience breaking the fourth wall, and mutter “But he’s a black man! And this is the old west!”

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The LEGO Movie: Everything is Awesome Edition (2014) (Blu-ray/DVD/UV Digital HD)

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If you told me two years ago that one of the best movies of 2014 would be “The Lego Movie,” then I would never have believed you and probably would have scoffed derisively. I’m so smug. That said, “The Lego Movie” surprisingly didn’t just turn out to be a fantastic movie, but one of the best movies of 2014. It’s an animated adventure filled with heart, laugh out loud comedy, and very relevant commentary about individuality, and the inherent magic and beauty behind collecting and creating. First and foremost, though, it’s an excellent animated adventure for all ages.

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All Cheerleaders Die (2013)

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Directors Lucky McKee and Chris Siverston backtrack over their 2001 indie horror film “All Cheerleaders Die” and remakes it in to a classic rape revenge horror film where hormonal jocks get their comeuppance. Director McKee and Siverston seem to have a lot of fun with the premise, channeling the likes of “Jawbreaker,” and “Satan’s Cheerleaders” in what is one of the more creative revenge horror films I’ve seen in a while. Maddy is an aspiring journalist who begins following around her friend Alexis during her tryouts for the cheerleading team. As well she learns about Alexis’ views on politics in high school not to mention the twisted social dynamic involved with dating and being a cheerleader.

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Zugzwang (2015)

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One of the bigger problems in “Zugzwang” is the intent behind the premise and concept. I was never sure if this short film was supposed to be a whimsically sweet tale of an underdog pursuing love, or a disturbing tale of a young boy out of touch with human dynamics who can’t take a hint. I found the ultimate resolution a bit uncomfortable and unsatisfying, but thankfully those caveats don’t bog down “Zugzwang,” completely. True it sounds like I’m down on the short film but despite its hazy intentions director Yolanda Centeno’s short film is charming and inventive.

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The Normal Heart (2014)

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Director Ryan Murphy’s adaptation of the acclaimed Larry Kramer stage play “The Normal Heart” is a stunning and often grueling drama that thankfully never sugarcoats the painful illness it touches upon. It’s a human drama about human beings stricken with a horrific disease that reached pandemic proportions in the 1980’s and was generally ignored by the media and the government for many years. “The Normal Heart” is a tough watch because it is also the first chapter in an ongoing war that continues to affect the world and is still generally ignored, and dismissed as hopeless by many to this day.

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Ghost World (2001)

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I know a lot of these coming of age dramedies about young people learning to move on with their lives is supposed to include bouts of self loathing, but “Ghost World” tends to play it a little too far, most times. Director Terry Zwigoff’s adaptation of the Daniel Clowes’ graphic novel is considered a cult classic, but for the life of me I can’t figure out what. It’s such a cloying, misleading, and obnoxious movie with trite ideas that, despite my repeated tries I can never get around to remotely enjoying this.

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