Recent Stories (view all stories)

A rote book report

Both hot sex and mass murder turn dull in The Reader

Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008

It’s hard to believe that a movie whose first half is all about passionate, semi-taboo sex featuring a frequently nude Kate Winslet, and whose second half is all about bitter recriminations during and following Nazi war-crimes trials, could be so dull.

The Vegas Oscars

Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008

The Las Vegas Film Critics Society (whose members include this writer) has announced the winners of this year’s Sierra Awards, representing its picks for the best in film in 2008. They're like the Oscars, only less people care.

2008 in movies: A critical dialogue between Mike D'Angelo and Josh Bell

Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008

Two Weekly critics discuss the year in films.

Calculated warmth

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is meticulous and affecting

Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is full of big Hollywood grandeur, with a movie-star lead performance from Brad Pitt, yet it’s also as controlled and painstakingly crafted as any of Fincher’s past efforts.

Valkyrie

Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008

The one major obstacle to getting completely wrapped up in Bryan Singer’s World War II thriller Valkyrie is, unfortunately, its star, the much-maligned (lately, at least) Tom Cruise

I've Loved You So Long

Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008

Sometimes a great performance can save a mediocre movie, and sometimes even the most accomplished bit of acting flounders in the face of awkward writing and direction. The latter is mostly the case in I’ve Loved You So Long.

Yes Man

Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008

Yes Man is far from a great movie, but it represents the first time that Jim Carrey has been likeable onscreen in years, following his last dismal attempt at comedy with 2005’s Fun With Dick and Jane and last year’s terrible thriller The Number 23.

Seven Pounds

Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008

Relentlessly tugging on your heartstrings like a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, Seven Pounds is manipulative treacle of the worst kind.

Reznor melds music and spectacle in Vegas

Nine Inch Nails, December 13 at Planet Hollywood

Monday, Dec. 15, 2008

“This is the last performance of this band,” Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor said ominously toward the end of NIN’s December 13 performance at Planet Hollywood’s Theatre for the Performing Arts. This was indeed the last performance for NIN’s mind-blowing visual set-up, a light show so technically advanced that it recently got a feature write-up in Wired magazine.

Miranda Lambert

December 5, Golden Nugget

Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008

It took a little longer for her to connect, but Miranda Lambert eventually had the older post-NFR crowd nearly as enthusiastic as the teen-girl fans who held up signs in Primm.