Archive for the Drama Category

‘Time Traveler’s Wife’: Genetic Wardrobe Malfunction Meets Melodrama

Posted in At Box Office, Drama, Film Genre, Film Rating, Film Release, Film Review, PG-13 with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 29, 2009 by Laura J. Bagby

timetravelerswifeRachel McAdams and Eric Bana star as two destined lovers, Clare Abshire and Henry DeTamble, who try desperately to nurture a relationship constantly complicated by Henry’s uncontrollable time traveling tendencies.

Henry has learned to live with this genetic disorder since childhood that not only strips him of his present reality, but literally of his clothes as he travels through time. (Can we say constant ‘wardrobe malfunction’?)

But the faithful Clare is becoming increasingly tired of Henry’s sudden and unpredictable disappearances that have caused him to disappear into thin air at the worst of moments. (I say ditto to that.) Read more »

‘Julie and Julia’ Sizzles on Screen

Posted in At Box Office, Comedy, Drama, Film Genre, Film Rating, Film Release, Film Review, PG-13, Romantic Comedy with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 14, 2009 by Laura J. Bagby

JulieJuliaHere’s one movie idea that isn’t half-baked. Julie & Julia, starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams, is scrumptious on-screen entertainment!

Writer/Director Nora Ephron (You’ve Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle) dishes up a great plot that interweaves two true stories – one about a New York woman named Julie Powell (Amy Adams), who, while working at a dead-end job, gets the crazy idea of cooking up 365 days of Julia Child’s famous recipes and then blogging about them, and the other about how Julia Child (Meryl Streep) went from bored housewife living in Paris to culinary star and American icon. Read more »

Sandler’s New Low: ‘Funny People’

Posted in At Box Office, Comedy, Drama, Film Genre, Film Rating, Film Release, Film Review, Rated R with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 3, 2009 by Laura J. Bagby

FunnyPeopleI attempted a viewing of Adam Sandler’s Funny People today but had to leave the theatre within the first 30 minutes because it was an assault on my values. I had hoped to get a proper review of this new release that just came out at the box office on July 31st, but staying in my seat voluntarily watch

ing and hearing the kind of filth spewing from the screen wasn’t an option for me.

The basic premise answers this question: If you get a second chance on life, would you be a better person? I think it’s a sensational concept, all about changing for the better. Sandler plays a famous comedian (hmm…is this autobiographical?) called George Simmons who finds out he has a very aggressive form of leukemia. He handles the news by deciding to do even more crude stand-up comedy and enlist a fan and budding comedian, Ira Wright (Seth Rogen), to help write funny, crass material. Ira and George become friends who eventually help each other out: George helps Ira step into the career of stand-up comedy; Ira helps George deal with his terminal illness. But when George’s illness goes into remission and he gets a second chance on life and love, George begins to evaluate how he has been living.

Perhaps this Judd Apatow film does get better and even cleaner if you stay for the rest. I truly hope so, but honestly I doubt it. I heard more references to male body parts, sexual acts, and potty-mouthed cursing in the first quarter of the film than I cared to ever hear.

I left the movie feeling really depressed. Ironic when the title of this comedy is about people that are supposed to make me laugh.

– Laura J. Bagby

‘The Bill Collector’ Sneak Screening

Posted in Comedy, Drama, Film Genre, Film News with tags , , , , , , , , , , on July 10, 2009 by Laura J. Bagby

I just got an invite to the screening for an upcoming movie called The Bill Collector, a Moonlit Pictures dramedy written and directed by Cristobal Krusen of Messenger Films. Cris is a talented and humble guy with a really big heart. The film stars Danny Trejo of Disney’s Spy Kids and singer Ron Kenoly. Release date is later this fall.

Watch the trailer

What is great about this film is that it was shot in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, using many locals. Cast and crew were pulled from my church, New Life Providence. If you have heard of Fireproof or Facing the Giants, this is the kind what New Life hopes to do with The Bill Collector.

I am just bummed I wasn’t able to help out with the film back when they shot it in October and November 2008. I was chosen to be an extra and very excited about the prospect. But unforeseen circumstances meant I had to back out. I am sure the experience would have been a blast.

Kudos to you, Cris and crew!

Depp Shines in ‘Public Enemies’

Posted in At Box Office, Crime, Drama, Film Genre, Film Rating, Film Release, Film Review, Rated R with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 1, 2009 by Laura J. Bagby

PublicEnemies_movieposterRecently escaped from prison, infamous criminal mastermind John Dillinger (Johnny Depp) goes on the rampage, robbing banks across the Midwest during the Depression-riddled 1930s with his gaggle of gun-toting ex-cons like “Baby Face” Nelson (Stephen Graham).

Eventually, however, Dillinger meets his overdue fate when faced with the law-enforcing Bureau of Investigation (later to be named the FBI), headed by Director J. Edgar Hoover (Billy Crudup). Special Agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) and the other G-men who have been trailing Dillinger for the past 14 months finally bring justice. Read more »

Full ‘Public Enemies’ Review Tomorrow

Posted in At Box Office, Crime, Drama, Film Genre, Film Rating, Film Release, Rated R with tags , , , , , , , , , , on June 30, 2009 by Laura J. Bagby

Hey, Everyone,

Look for the review of Public Enemies right here on the Celluloid Critic tomorrow. My review will also be featured on Preview Online.

I am talking to radio personality Liz Lane of Positive Hit Radio The Current tomorrow morning all about this new gangster crime drama starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale. You will hear that full radio review on Friday.

I can tell you now that I really enjoyed the film. It’s not the kind of movie I would typically go see. But Johnny Depp rules the silver screen as the sympathetic John Dillinger.

More about it tomorrow!

For now, enjoy the trailer on the Public Enemies official movie site.

Laura

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