November 2010

CHICAGO – Edgar Wright’s “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” may have been (incorrectly) perceived as a box office bomb but a large cult grew around the film before it was even released and it’s a following that will only grow stronger with the fantastic Blu-ray release, a disc filled with more special features than even the most hardcore fan of the movie could have hoped for. The movie is still a bit flawed but it plays well at home and I can’t say enough about how wonderful it is when a top-notch studio like Universal treats a loyal film following with the respect they deserve.

CHICAGO – When we’re young, a relatively short distance can seem like a trip around the world. I vividly remember thinking my grandparents lived in another country when I was a kid when it was really just the other side of town. Naturally, when two kids run away from home and go from a rural nightmare into the big city, it’s going to feel not unlike Dorothy traveling to Oz. This sense of adventure, wonder, and magical reality infuses every frame of Lance Daly’s beautiful “Kisses,” a delightful Irish art film recently released on DVD.

CHICAGO – As “Contagion” continues to film in Chicago from director Steven Soderbergh with stars Matt Damon, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard, Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow and Laurence Fishburne, we have learned that a second open casting call is needed two months after the first from Rich King Casting.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

CHICAGO – “Unstoppable” plays perfectly to Tony Scott’s flashy strengths as a director. There’s no deep meaning or character-driven dialogue for him to clutter up with his style over substance aesthetic. And so the film truly works as a great slice of escapist entertainment as long as you know what to expect.

CHICAGO – What separates us during extreme danger? Why do some people collapse under the weight of likely death while others push forward and make it out alive? What fuels the will to survive to the point that it can do the unimaginable?

Rating: 3.5/5.0

CHICAGO – “He was going to be our first Jewish President.” This uncredited sound bite from the opening of “Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Elliot Spitzer” may sound like an exaggeration but the great Alex Gibney makes the case that it is not hyperbole and that the public pedestal-knocking that happened to the former Governor was more important than you probably think. Arguably the best year in the history of the documentary continues with another strong film from one of our best non-fiction filmmakers.

CHICAGO – If the objective of war is to drain the enemy of all humanity, then “Four Lions” is one of the best anti-war movies in recent years. Many people prefer thinking of terrorists in the same abstract terms that the terrorists themselves think of their victims. If war is all about demonizing “the other side,” how can we ever hope to come to a mutual understanding?

CHICAGO – Six strong female contenders are up for two leading female roles in “The Dark Knight” follow-up film “The Dark Knight Rises,” according to Deadline New York on Thursday.

CHICAGO – The first proper reveal of the new video game “L.A. Noire” from Rockstar Games was released on Thursday. The game, which is coming in 2011 to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, features TV stars Kevin Scott Allen and Aaron Staton.

CHICAGO – USA’s spy hit “Burn Notice” returns tonight, November 11th, 2010 with another solidly-entertaining mix of the cool, the comedy, and the crazy. The middle of season four ended with Michael Weston (Jeffrey Donovan) crossing paths with two lunatics (Michael Rooker & Robert Patrick), being given a list that was the key to destroying the people who burned him, getting into an intense shoot-out, and a horrible car accident. Yes, there are a lot of loose ends to tie up.

CHICAGO – There’s no better studio at repackaging already-available product than Warner Bros. and they have taken the truly-great “Elf” and given it the lavish Collector’s Edition treatment just in time for the 2010 holiday season. The Will Ferrell family comedy has held up remarkably well in the seven years since its release and makes a perfect selection for what could be called the WB space-killers of enormous Collector’s Editions that have also included “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” the “Harry Potter” movies, “A Christmas Story,” and more.

CHICAGO – Nowhere near as abysmal as some of Adam Sandler’s worst comedies and yet also not nearly as good as it could or should have been, “Grown Ups” might make a reasonable rental on a late fall evening but don’t get your expectations too high. Sandler may be trying to grow up with his comedy friends but a lazy script and horrendous direction by regular collaborator Dennis Dugan hold back what should have been one of the stronger comedy ensembles of the year.

CHICAGO – “Gone With the Wind” and “Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope” have reportedly sold more actual tickets than any other films in history. What’s in third place? The answer may surprise you: Arguably the most popular musical of all time, “The Sound of Music.” Fox has meticulously restored and remastered the bronze medal-winner of all time in a way that makes it look new even to those of you that know all of the words to the beloved soundtrack by heart.

CHICAGO – “Psych” returns tonight, November 10th, 2010 for the mid-season premiere of one of basic cable’s most likable programs. The show has legions of fans but has never quite broken out like pop culture smashes “Monk,” “The Closer,” or “Mad Men.” It’s a reliably-enjoyable mystery-comedy that thrives on the comic timing and perfect chemistry of its talented leads.