Notorious

CHICAGO – In honor of the recently deceased Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Magnolia Pictures has re-released her documentary “RBG” in a limited theatrical run … and will also donate their net proceeds to the ACLU Women’s Rights Project, which was co-founded by Ginsburg.

CHICAGO – Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the notorious “RBG,” has been a steady and abiding voice on that high court since 1993. But how much do we really know about this unassuming and highly admired jurist? Co-directors Betsy West and Julie Cohen answer this question in their documentary “RBG.” The film is one of five nominees competing for gold in the Feature Documentary category, to be given on Sunday at the 91st Academy Awards.

CHICAGO – Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the notorious “RBG,” has been a steady and abiding voice on that high court since 1993. But how much do we really know about this unassuming and highly admired jurist? Co-directors Betsy West and Julie Cohen answer this question in their documentary “RBG.”

CHICAGO – I’ve long said that one of the main reasons that Blu-ray didn’t take off as quickly as people thought it would is because too many of movie lover’s favorite movies weren’t available on the format. It took years to get “Alien,” “Star Wars,” and even “Back to the Future.” “Jaws” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark” still aren’t in HD. Well, a wave of catalog releases last week that included some of my personal favorite films ever made should help the format overall. With several Oscar winners and some of the most influential filmmaking of all time, this is an amazing catalog wave. Buy all six.

CHICAGO – In just ten years, the resume of actor Anthony Mackie reveals an impressive career so far. The young actor has had major roles in “The Hurt Locker,” “Half Nelson,” “Notorious,” “Million Dollar Baby” and will be featured in the upcoming “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.”

CHICAGO – Angela Bassett has a quiet sophistication, when combined with her movie star presence only enhances her unique beauty. She is also a superior actor, taking on an intriguing role as a matriarch in the upcoming film “Jumping the Broom.”

Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0

CHICAGO – Biggie Smalls deserves better than ‘Notorious’. It’s not that there’s anything drastically wrong with this reasonably well-made and very well-performed biopic but it’s a by-the-numbers, predictable film about an icon who was simply one of the best that ever lived. The ‘Big Poppa’ who could ‘Hypnotize’ with his rhymes should have more than an average biopic.

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Derek Luke and Jamal Woolard.

CHICAGO – This 11-image slideshow contains official press images for Fox Searchlight’s “Notorious,” which stars Jamal Woolard, Derek Luke, Anthony Mackie, Antonique Smith, Naturi Naughton, and Angela Bassett, from writers Reggie Rock Bythewood and Cheo Hodari Coker and director George Tillman Jr.. The film opens on Jan. 16, 2009.