Film – Chuck Koplinski

Many documentaries focus on social issues, rather than politics, although peripherally they are political. Social documentaries sometimes strike closer to home, making their subjects much more identifiable to many filmgoers. • Capturing the Friedmans (2003). The Friedmans were a seemingly typical Long Island family until their lives were shattered one night in 1988 when police […]

Paul McGuigan’s Wicker Park is the sort of film that doesn’t really entertain as much as frustrate its audience. A remake of the 1996 French film L’Appartement, this movie aspires to be a tale of obsessive love in the tradition of Vertigo. However, Wicker Park occupies a cinematic level many rungs below Hitchcock’s masterpiece, and […]

Lush adaptation of Vanity Fair succeeds despite a few discordant notes Mira Nair’s adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray’s Vanity Fair generally adheres to the novel’s theme and plot and even survives Nair’s decision to inject a touch of modern feminism. For those who haven’t read the book or seen earlier film adaptations, Vanity Fair tells […]

Cat-and-mouse with a tantalizing twist A man bursts through the door of a remote highway diner on a dark and rainy night and plops down before a customer, a salesman reading a newspaper. Clearly unhinged, the intruder taunts the salesman and tosses some photographs (their significance is made apparent later) onto the table. The salesman […]

It may be impossible to accurately determine what effect Fahrenheit 9/11 will have on the 2004 presidential race, but one thing is certain: Michael Moore has revitalized the documentary form. Not only has Fahrenheit 9/11 ignited an intense political debate, it has also given rise to the discussion of the movie form itself. Because Moore […]

The paddle isn’t the only thing missing Jerry, Dan, and Tom are friends who reunite at the funeral of their adventurous comrade Billy. Each is searching for a purpose in his life, as well as an excuse to get away. They find that excuse with the discovery of a map Billy left behind. The map […]

Beware the sharp-dressed man To say that Max (Jamie Foxx) is having a bad night is like saying that the Titanic ran into a little trouble at sea. It’s bad enough that the LA cab driver has let a beautiful woman slip through his fingers; now he’s got a fare he can’t shake, a sharp-dressed […]

Here’s a vote for the new and improved Candidate Remakes are a tricky proposition, particularly when the original is highly regarded. In that sense, director Jonathan Demme has performed a cinematic miracle: His revamped version of the 1962 film The Manchurian Candidate is a superb and well-thought-out political thriller, superior to the creaky original in […]

McDiet proves hard to digest Morgan Spurlock is about to embark on a most dangerous adventure. His girlfriend is frightened of the consequences; his doctors warn of the potential hazards. Spurlock’s crazy quest doesn’t involve parachuting or mountain climbing, but the risks may be just as great. Like an athlete readying himself for the big […]

Stripped of myth, this Arthur seems more heroic King Arthur departs from tales of swords in stones, mad wizards, and crazy love. Instead, relying on recently discovered archaeological evidence, director Antoine Fuqua gives us “historical Arthur”: A beleaguered Roman commander is forced to engage hordes of advancing Saxons as the empire loosens its grip on […]