Hello and welcome to the latest edition of Box Office Beat, the column in which I hopelessly predict the weekend box office results. The new kids on the block this time around are “Rock of Ages,” the incessantly promoted Broadway musical adaptation headlined by Tom Cruise, and “That’s My Boy,” Adam Sandler’s first attempt at […]
Box Office Beat: Weekend of June 15 Read More »
“The Usual Suspects” scribe Christopher McQuarrie’s “The Way of the Gun” failed to catch on during its 2000 release. More than a decade later, little has changed, as the film has reached the edges of cult admiration yet remains generally unacknowledged, a work with admired elements and scenes that barely registers on the movie landscape
Streaming Pick: “The Way of the Gun” (2000) Read More »
We here at Critic Speak haven’t liked a single “Resident Evil” movie and we’re naturally unexcited for this one as a result, but when there’s a new trailer for a sure-to-be-popular film out, we’re always willing to pass it along. Get ready for more frantic editing, pointless 3-D effects, and loud-but-not-menacing sound effects. If that’s
New trailer: “Resident Evil: Retribution” Read More »
It’s high time that Ari Graynor get the lead role in a comedy, after scene-stealing supporting performances in “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” and “The Sitter,” among other movies. Thus, even though the redband trailer for the raunch-com “For a Good Time, Call…” isn’t exactly a laugh-riot, we’ll choose to believe they left the funniest
New redband trailer: “For a Good Time, Call…” Read More »
Last year, Ethan Hawke spilled the beans that he, director Richard Linklater, and actress Julie Delpy were considering making their masterful “Before Sunrise”/”Before Sunset” franchise into a trilogy. Today, nestled midway into an IndieWire interview covering a range of other topics, Hawke unveiled that they were definitely going to make the movie and the plan is
Ethan Hawke: “Before Sunset” follow-up will shoot this summer Read More »
With “Brave” hitting theaters in less than two weeks, a Pixar storyboard artist named Emma Coats has put up a series of Twitter posts designed to let fans further understand the beloved studio’s creative process. They are the 22 guidelines that Pixar follows for any story that they pursue. Given that Pixar is considered by
Pixar’s 22 rules for storytelling Read More »
An international trailer for Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming “Southern,” “Django Unchained,” has hit the web. This trailer is a bit different, with more explicit violence and better looks at the cast. The film stars Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, and Leonard DiCaprio. “Django Unchained” rides into theaters on Christmas Day.
New international trailer: “Django Unchained” Read More »
In today’s filmgoing climate, audiences are usually forced to choose between challenging works and brain-dead ones, because few productions exist in between the two extremes. This dichotomy is a shame, for it all too frequently results in Joe Schmoe knowingly watching mediocre Hollywood efforts, simply because the searing independent alternatives have a tendency to seem
Over the past decade, Showtime has really made made a name for its original programming, what with “Dexter,” “Homeland,” “Weeds,” “Nurse Jackie,” and “The Big C” all becoming big hits (by premium cable standards, that is). The network may not be able to compete with HBO just yet in the ratings, but it’s clearly on
Showtime picks up “Masters of Sex,” “Ray Donovan” for 2013 slate Read More »
Many of novelist Bret Easton Ellis’ works have been adapted into feature films, but up until now, he hasn’t been heavily involved in movie-making himself. Ellis worked to develop certain projects, like “American Psycho,” and co-wrote the screenplay for the critical and box office failure “The Informers,” based on his book, but he otherwise remained
