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Rick's Flicks Picks

  • BROTHERS (2009) (***1/2)

    I saw Susanne Bier's original 2005 Danish version of this story in 2007 after this version had been announced. It was a powerful experience. In my review of the original I worried that the redux would amp up the melodrama. The premise of a wayward brother falling for the wife [...]
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    Fetched: December 06, 2009, 7:54am EST

  • EDWARD SCISSORHANDS (1990) (****)

    A seminal film in the career of Tim Burton, it established the filmmaker as an auteur. The unique fable also made a movie star of Johnny Depp and established a filmmaker and actor collaboration that has been a creative windfall since. The title character has been a pop culture icon. A [...]
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    Fetched: December 04, 2009, 10:54am EST

  • This Weekend’s Film Festival – Kidnapped!

    Tales of kidnapping take This Weekend's Film Festival. Inspired by the underrated indie gem of 2009 JULIA, this lineup is ripe with intrigue, thrills and mystery. There are hapless kidnappers and sly criminals. The taken include the grandson of a rich man, a simple housewife, a famous writer, the wife [...]
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    Fetched: December 04, 2009, 10:54am EST

  • UP IN THE AIR (2009) (****)

    With three films under his belt, Jason Reitman has emerged as a director worth getting excited about seeing his latest. THANK YOU FOR SMOKING skewered the tobacco lobby. JUNO put a quirky spin on teen pregnancy. Now during the worst recession since the Great Depression, he brings us a story [...]
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    Fetched: December 04, 2009, 10:54am EST

  • TOUCH OF EVIL (1958) (****)

    How Orson Welles got involved in this production is up for debate. However, in all the stories, Welles was trying to make a Hollywood comeback after finding little success making films in Europe. But things didn't quite work out the way he wanted. Universal took the film from him and' [...]
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    Fetched: December 01, 2009, 4:52am EST

  • TENEBRE (1982) (***1/2)

    At his best Dario Argento weaves thrillers that not only keep us guessing with ingenious twists, they end leaving the audience thinking about the ramifications of what transpired. The director takes the signature ultra-violent death scenes of the Italian giallos and gives them artistic flare. In this outing, Argento comments [...]
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    Fetched: November 29, 2009, 4:51am EST

  • MISERY (1990) (****)

    Rob Reiner took on his second Stephen King story with this film, having made STAND BY ME, based on THE BODY, four years earlier. Unlike the previous coming of age tale, this one feels like a King story. Adapted brilliantly by legendary screenwriter William Goldman, the story is one that [...]
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    Fetched: November 28, 2009, 7:51am EST

  • JULIA (2009) (****)

    Each act of this unique thriller is like a different movie. It starts as a portrait of an alcoholic then becomes a kidnap drama and closes by flipping roles and dripping with dark irony. At 144 minutes long, the film doesn't move at the fast clip of a typical thriller,' [...]
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    Fetched: November 26, 2009, 1:53pm EST

  • This Weekend’s Film Festival – Disney Essentials

    With Disney's THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG opening in LA and NYC this Thanksgiving weekend, This Weekend's Film Festival turns its spotlight on essential Disney animated features. The lineup features vintage classics and a modern masterpiece. It doesn't matter if you love Disney animation or haven't seen the films in [...]
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    Fetched: November 26, 2009, 1:53pm EST

  • THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG (2009) (****)

    This thoughtful, joyous production has brought class back to Disney feature animation whether it's hand-drawn or CG. Directors Ron Clements and John Musker (THE LITTLE MERMAID) have gone back and captured the essence of the studio's past and made a new film that moves them into the future as well. Tiana [...]
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    Fetched: November 25, 2009, 1:56pm EST

  • KOBE DOIN’ WORK (2009) (***)

    This sports documentary is like watching the commentary track on a DVD, but for an NBA game. Director Spike Lee, a bona fide basketball nut, put 30 cameras on star Kobe Bryant for a key game against Lakers' rivals the San Antonio, Spurs at the end of the 2008 season.' [...]
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    Fetched: November 25, 2009, 1:56pm EST

  • THE ROAD (2009) (****)

    Many have been divided about the screen adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's award-winning novel. As a two hour production, the film doesn't capture the epic despair of the novel, but the film does capture the existential poetry of a parent's fear for their children. No film can capture the power of' [...]
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    Fetched: November 25, 2009, 1:56pm EST

  • BAMBI (1942) (****)

    In many ways, BAMBI is a redo of the themes Disney tackled in PINOCCHIO. At its simplest level this is a grand coming-of-age tale. It's also bold like PINOCCHIO in that it wasn't afraid to take its premise to emotionally challenging and deep levels. Bambi (Hardie Albright), as a newborn, is' [...]
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    Fetched: November 23, 2009, 7:54am EST

  • BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1991) (****)

    It's nomination for an Academy Award, the first time ever for an animated feature, was more than just a testament to the quality of the film, but also a celebration of the return of Disney animation. The 1990s were a new Golden Age and this was one of their new [...]
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    Fetched: November 23, 2009, 7:54am EST

  • FANTASIA (1940) (****)

    Walt Disney's musical epic started as a Mickey Mouse short and was transformed into a feature masterpiece. In seven segments, the Disney animators and artists make a truly cinematic experience setting gorgeous moving pictures to classical music. Nothing so bold or adult has come out from Disney animation since. Few [...]
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    Fetched: November 23, 2009, 7:54am EST

  • PRECIOUS (2009) (****)

    It has been said that the only person to fear is an unloved one. Precious Jones (Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe, film debut) is sixteen and is about to have the second child by her mother's boyfriend, who is also her father. She lives at home with her mother Mary (Mo'Nique, SOUL' [...]
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    Fetched: November 21, 2009, 7:52pm EST

  • THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON (2009) (**)

    I will say some things in this review that some readers might find blasphemous. Stephanie Meyer's book is unread by me and after this film production I have no desire to run out and read it. While TWILIGHT was a passable soap, the sequel is a mopey melodrama that drags [...]
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    Fetched: November 21, 2009, 7:52pm EST

  • RED CLIFF (2009) (***)

    John Woo attempts to bring the legendary Han Dynasty Battle of Red Cliff to the screen. It is the most expensive Asian produced film to date. For U.S. audiences, we receive an edited version of this four hour plus epic. Having not seen the longer version, I can't say if' [...]
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    Fetched: November 21, 2009, 7:52pm EST

  • This Weekend’s Film Festival – Five Best TV Series-to-Film Adaptations

    With STAR TREK arriving on DVD and Blu-ray, This Weekend's Film Festival run downs the five best TV series turned feature films. To keep things simple, I didn't include films based on TV characters fro sketch shows or miniseries. What are your favorites? Starting off the countdown is SOUTH PARK: BIGGER,' [...]
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    Fetched: November 21, 2009, 7:52pm EST

  • Blu-ray: CLERKS (1994)

    CLERKS Review Okay there is only so good a 16mm blown-up black & white film can look. For the 10th anniversary DVD, the film was restored and an HD version was made. Now we get the full extent of the restoration. It looks cleaner but most shots are still full of [...]
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    Fetched: November 21, 2009, 7:52pm EST

  • Blu-ray: CHASING AMY (1997)

    CHASING AMY Review Much like Kevin Smith's CLERKS, CHASING AMY has done on a limited budget and it shows on the screen. The picture is grainy and focus is not always sharp. For this new 1080p version, noise reduction has lessened the clarity of the picture. Details don't pop and sometimes' [...]
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    Fetched: November 21, 2009, 7:52pm EST

  • Blu-ray: JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK (2001)

    JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK Review JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK arrives on Blu-ray with little fan fare. Still Kevin Smith's most successful theatrical opening to date, this 1080p release in bare bones. For what amounts to one of the better shot films on Smith's resume the HD presentation [...]
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    Fetched: November 21, 2009, 7:52pm EST

  • THE EXILES (1961) (***1/2)

    Up until last year when UCLA restored it and Milestone Films released it, few people had seen Kent MacKenzie's THE EXILES since it played three film festivals in 1961. MacKenzie had recently graduated from the UCLA Film School and was hanging out in Los Angeles with a group of Native [...]
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    Fetched: November 16, 2009, 11:00am EST

  • THE CAT O’NINE TAILS (1971) (**1/2)

    Italian horror master Dario Argento followed up his classic debut film, THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE, with his thriller, starring Oscar-winner Karl Malden. This who-done-it throws a lot of characters at the audience to keep us guessing and gives use two protagonists to keep us wondering who the main [...]
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    Fetched: November 14, 2009, 1:54pm EST

  • THE MUPPET MOVIE (1979) (***1/2)

    This humorous road picture tells the tale of how the Muppets got into show business. And along the way it skewers show business as well. Through wonderful songs, well timed gags and puns and cameos galore, this movie captures the Muppet spirit on a big scale and serves as one [...]
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    Fetched: November 13, 2009, 1:59pm EST

  • FANTASTIC MR. FOX (2009) (***1/2)

    Director Wes Anderson brings his quirky style to the quirky world of children's writer Roald Dahl. Brought to life in stop-motion puppet animation, the raw feel is just right. The precise cast handles the eccentricities perfectly. The mix is pretty fantastic. Mr. Fox (George Clooney, THE MAN WHO STARE AT GOATS) [...]
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    Fetched: November 12, 2009, 4:59pm EST

  • 2012 (2009) (**)

    Earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, oh my! Roland Emmerich returns to his favorite filmic theme – blowing up the world. This apocalyptic story takes the end of the Mayan calendar conspiracy as it's launching point, but it ends up a highlight reel of so many other disaster stories – INDEPENDENCE DAY, THE [...]
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    Fetched: November 12, 2009, 4:59pm EST

  • This Weekend’s Film Festival – Young at Heart Again

    Back in May when UP arrived in theaters, This Weekend's Film Festival celebrated with a look at films featuring young at heart characters. Now with UP on DVD and Blu-ray, TWFF is revisiting the theme once again. Besides the balloon-filled adventures of Carl Fredricksen, we have a story of a [...]
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    Fetched: November 12, 2009, 4:59pm EST

  • Blu-ray: UP (2009)

    Up Review CG films particularly look great in 1080p, but there is something about Pixar films that's even more special. Their attention to detail simply pops in HD. For UP, when Carl and Russell head to South America, the richness of the jungle landscapes they created allows the audience to get [...]
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    Fetched: November 10, 2009, 7:54am EST

  • Blu-ray: MONSTERS, INC. (2001)

    Monsters, Inc. Review Pixar put a great deal of work into getting fur to work for this film and now we finally get to see the full extent of their effort at home. This Blu-ray captures the tiny hairs on Sulley and the tight fuzz of the Snowman perfectly. But it [...]
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    Fetched: November 10, 2009, 7:54am EST

  • THE SUNSHINE BOYS (1975) (***1/2)

    So often, professional partnerships are like marriages, they end in divorce. Director Herbert Ross (THE GOODBYE GIRL) and writer Neil Simon capture this dynamic so well in THE SUNSHINE BOYS. Little disagreements and the same petty arguments build into something dramatic. Eventually, the twosome can't even be in the same' [...]
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    Fetched: November 10, 2009, 7:54am EST

  • Getting Buzzed - Summer 2010 Heats Up

    This week sees new looks at some hot 2009 fall releases and the first looks at some big summer 2010 releases. What films for fall 2009 and summer 2010 are you excited about seeing? Getting Buzzed 8) How to Train Your Dragon (March 26, 2010) Trailer On paper this one looks so promising, but [...]
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    Fetched: November 07, 2009, 1:53pm EST

  • THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS (2009) (***1/2)

    Based on Jon Ronson's nonfiction book, this fictional account starts with a note that more of this is true than you would believe. In the hands of director Grant Heslov and writer Peter Straughan, the film tells the mind boggling history of the Army's history with training psychic spies. Reporter Bob [...]
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    Fetched: November 06, 2009, 7:55pm EST

  • THE BOX (2009) (**)

    A stranger comes to your door. He makes you an offer. You have 24 hours to decide whether to push a button inside a box. If you push the button, someone you do not know will die and you will receive one million dollars. What would you do? What would [...]
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    Fetched: November 06, 2009, 7:55pm EST

  • This Weekend’s Film Festival – The Power of Education 200

    This Weekend's Film Festival is a follow-up to the July 30, 2008 edition — The Power of Education. In this second course, we get another look at the power of language. There's a story of a white teacher trying to teach inner city kids. Then there's one where one of [...]
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    Fetched: November 06, 2009, 7:55pm EST

  • SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONGER & UNCUT (1999) (***1/2)

    The death of so many TV to film adaptations is that what works as a half hour on TV feels padded and drawn out as a feature film. Trey Parker and Matt Stone took the essence of their button pushing television series and expanded on it. Filled with hilarious songs, [...]
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    Fetched: November 04, 2009, 7:56am EST

  • AN EDUCATION (2009) (****)

    If you were a sixteen-year-old girl and a rich, handsome older man promised to take you away from your boring life and jet you off to Paris, buy you expensive clothes and expose you to a sophisticated world you only dreamed of experiencing, what would you do? That's the key [...]
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    Fetched: November 01, 2009, 10:56am EST

  • THE DIARY OF ELLEN RIMBAUER (2003) (**)

    In conjunction with the very good ROSE RED, Stephen King and Ridley Pearson concocted this gimmicky prequel story based on the backstory of the TV miniseries. The novel was published as "real life" diaries from Ellen Rambauer who lived in a haunted house. Two of the characters in ROSE RED [...]
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    Fetched: November 01, 2009, 10:56am EST

  • TRICK ‘R TREAT (2009) (***)

    X2 writer Michael Dougherty's anthology horror flick has been sitting on Warner Bros. shelves for years now. Through some midnight screenings, it has gained a bit of cult status. Quality is certainly not the reason why this fright fest has gone direct-to-DVD. While I have my theories on why WB [...]
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    Fetched: October 31, 2009, 10:54am EDT

  • DEMONS (1986) (**)

    Italian horror master Dario Argento teamed up with Lamberto Bava, the son of the Italian horror master Mario Bava, to craft what Bravo named one of the 100 scariest films of all time. With one single scary moment, this gore fest simply puts a new tag on zombies as an [...]
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    Fetched: October 31, 2009, 10:54am EDT

  • Getting Buzzed - Big Buzz Week

    After a slow week last week, this week the buzz meter is at 11. First trailers for big fall releases and new trailers for hotly anticipated 2010 film make this an exciting week for getting peeks at what is to come. Getting Buzzed 8) Collapse (Nov. 6, 2009) Trailer Former LAPD officer turned indie [...]
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    Fetched: October 31, 2009, 10:54am EDT

  • TO SIR, WITH LOVE (1967) (***1/2)

    Twelve years after he made his first big screen impression in BLACKBOARD JUNGLE as a cocky student, Sidney Poitier stepped behind the teacher's desk to educate a class full of cocky students. As he'd do many times in his career, Poitier takes good material and makes its so much better' [...]
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    Fetched: October 31, 2009, 10:54am EDT

  • THE CLASS (2008) (***1/2)

    This film began with a book written by French public school teacher Francois Begaudeau. He adapted the novel into the screenplay with director Laurent Cantet (TIME OUT) and writer Robin Campillo. Begaudeau even plays the teacher, Francois Marin. The children are all non-actors playing versions of themselves. For this documentary [...]
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    Fetched: October 29, 2009, 4:52am EDT

  • This Weekend’s Film Festival – Foreign Fright

    With Halloween nearly upon us, I took inspiration from the Eerie Books Blog's list of 50 Must-See French Horror Movies to dedicate This Weekend's Film Festival to foreign language horror films. We have a French, black & white, horror classic. From Austria, we have a frighteningly real story of mental [...]
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    Fetched: October 28, 2009, 11:00am EDT

  • RINGU (1998) (***1/2)

    Hideo Nakata's RINGU changed horror. Having been stagnant for years, the genre in Asia was electrified via this simple, creepy ghost story. This trickled over to the States. It launched the very popular curse subgenre of horror where a violent death leaves a curse on something and that curse jumps [...]
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    Fetched: October 28, 2009, 11:00am EDT

  • ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS (2009) (**1/2)

    The popular ICE AGE films have fallen into a comfortable formula -- mix tired SHREK pop culture references with some sitcom plot devices and add in a dash of LOONEY TUNES gaggery. Young kids might find the concoction palatable, but teens and adults who have more refined tastes will be [...]
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    Fetched: October 27, 2009, 2:01am EDT

  • SUNSHINE CLEANING (2009) (***)

    Biohazard and crime scene clean-up is a growing niche industry, says Amy Adams' character Rose in SYLVIA director Christine Jeffs' dramedy about just that subject. For a single mother, the pay is good and she gets to tell former classmates that she's a business owner instead of a plain old [...]
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    Fetched: October 26, 2009, 4:55am EDT

  • Getting Buzzed - Hear the Call of the Wolfman

    It was a light week for trailer buzz. THE WOLFMAN was the biggest thing to hit the Net, unless you count the bootleg versions of the new three minute-plus AVATAR trailer, which was gone in 60 seconds. Other than the big spring horror flick, there were a few of interesting [...]
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    Fetched: October 26, 2009, 4:55am EDT

  • ASTRO BOY (2009) (***)

    Osamu Tezuka is considered the godfather of anime. Astro Boy is one of his legendary creations. Now Imagi Studios, who brought the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to CG animation, attempt to bring this classic to a new generation. This of course is a film that different audience members will bring [...]
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    Fetched: October 26, 2009, 4:55am EDT

  • CIRQUE DU FREAK: THE VAMPIRE’S ASSISTANT (2009) (***1/2)

    Vampires are hot these days. Family friendly fantasy is hot these days too. So Darren Shan's THE SAGA OF DARREN SHAN series seems like a good choice to make the jump to the big screen. In the hands of director/co-writer Paul Weitz and L.A. CONFIDENTIAL writer Brian Helgeland it becomes [...]
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    Fetched: October 26, 2009, 4:55am EDT
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