Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, March 1,2012

Simplistic Valor lacks the courage to face reality

Ostensibly a recruitment film as well as a flag-waving message of reassurance, Act of Valor is intent on delivering two very important messages - that the United States is constantly under the cloud o

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, March 1,2012

Rudd and Aniston shine in Wanderlust

By Chuck Koplinski

I’m sure we’ve all had fantasies of throwing caution to the wind, leaving all of our responsibilities behind and letting fate take us where it may. However, the onus of being an adult and

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, February 23,2012

Lack of focus ruins this War

By Chuck Koplinski

I’ve always thought that a neat film could be made based on the old Mad magazine feature Spy vs. Spy. There was always a devilish dark edge to the strip that would make for a perfect high-tech,

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, February 23,2012

Ghost Rider is mindless fun

By Chuck Koplinski

Some films are made with nothing but noble purposes. Their directors hope to comment on the human condition in such a way that viewers may leave the theater with keen insights about themselves or othe

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, February 16,2012

Actors overcome lapses in Safe House logic

By Chuck Koplinski

In Daniel Espinosa’s Safe House there is a lesson to be learned: Be careful what you wish for. That’s something wet-behind-the-ears agent Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds) learns the hard

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, February 9,2012

Big Miracle: Feel good for a change

By Chuck Koplinski

Ken Kwapis’ Big Miracle is the sort of film you need to see every once in a while. I wouldn’t recommend a steady diet of movies like this because a certain balance must be maintained betwe

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, February 9,2012

Chronicle: The Superhero Film as Cautionary Tale

By Chuck Koplinski

DC and Marvel Comics have never had a problem putting their stable of characters in “imaginary” stories in which the particulars of their origins are tweaked a tiny bit. While this is ofte

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, February 9,2012

Radcliffe Effective in Woman in Black

By Chuck Koplinski

Now comes the hard part for Daniel Radcliffe. With the Harry Potter series at the end, the young man is now faced with making the transition to successful adult actor. Choosing smart scripts that will

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, February 9,2012

Heigl Fresh in Sour Plum Adventure One for the Money (2 Stars)

By Chuck Koplinski

There’s nothing wrong with One for the Money that a firm hand behind the camera couldn’t fix. While this adaptation of Janet Evanovich’s first Stephanie Plum adventure lacks a distin

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, February 2,2012

Actor James Cromwell on The Artist and success

By Chuck Koplinski

Character actors are made, not born. Often circumstances steer performers towards a career consisting mostly of supporting roles. James Cromwell would agree with this sentiment as he’s fashioned