Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, September 22,2005

Stone's epic failure

Alexander was an aberration for controversial director

Watching the rare failure of a great director is disheartening, but, considering Oliver Stone’s track record, he can afford a dud such as Alexander. Stone has made many great films, bu

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, September 15,2005

Sex sells, again

Once, Hollywood dared to break new ground

By Marc Sigoloff

The surprise success of Wedding Crashers and The 40-Year-Old Virgin may revive the sex-comedy genre, but we are still a long way from its glory days. Today the genre is dominated b

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, September 8,2005

Gilliam's fairy tales

Normal doesn't describe the American Python's directorial efforts

By Marc Sigoloff

Terry Gilliam was the least visible member of the comedy troupe Monty Python’s Flying Circus, but he has made the greatest impression in the cinema. In fact, he has reached such a high

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, September 1,2005

Comedy crasher

The funniest actor in movies today isn’t a comedian

By Marc Sigoloff

Vince Vaughn may be the reigning king of comedy, yet he really isn’t a comedian. Normally that moniker is bestowed on an actor who began either as a standup comedian or a sketch-comedy

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, August 25,2005

Grimm's phony tales

Did Terry Gilliam direct this fantasy in his sleep?

By Marc Sigoloff

Fairy tales can come true — just ask Will (Matt Damon) and Jacob (Heath Ledger) Grimm. Terry Gilliam’s fictional rendering of the famed brothers presents them as traveling con ar

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, August 25,2005

Craven more

Why the king of horror doesn't deserve his crown

By Marc Sigoloff

Why would Wes Craven, who has been called the “king of horror,” fail so miserably with the werewolf film Cursed (2005)? Perhaps his reputation is a little overstated. Craven achi

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, August 11,2005

The mighty John Wayne

The Duke makes it to DVD, finally

By Marc Sigoloff

Nothing enhances a movie’s image more than unavailability. The High and the Mighty (1954), starring John Wayne, is finally out on DVD after being out of circulation for many years, but

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, August 4,2005

Celebrity romance

Flicks about falling for famous people

By Marc Sigoloff

Why is the public so obsessed with the private lives of celebrities? Is it really important that Katie Holmes had Tom Cruise jumping on a couch? Is it a big deal that Colin Farrell is trying

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, July 28,2005

Sweet and sour notes

Red hot Chili Palmer

By Marc Sigoloff

Chili Palmer (John Travolta), the mobster who infiltrated the movie business in Get Shorty (1995), has moved on to the music industry in the sequel, Be Cool (2005), Palmer is the epitome of

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, July 21,2005

flicks

By Marc Sigoloff

When a director finds the perfect actor to personify his vision, it can lead to an interesting collaborative history. The most prominent ongoing director/actor relationship right now is that