Jon Favreau is a man of many talents. Three of those talents, of course, are his directing, writing, and acting abilities. Known the world over for helming the first two Iron Man films and for his comedic roles in films like Swingers, Made (also as writer & director), and for playing one of Monica’s boyfriends on TV’s Friends. Favreau’s latest film Chef, has the man pulling triple duty and this fun, original film may be his best work to date.
Category Archives: Review
Stage Fright
In the last decade or so, the horror film genre has faltered in many ways. The classic slasher formula has diminished and the only genuine scares come from loud crashes caused by malevolent spirits. The Paranormal Activity franchise has dominated the horror film market and originality and freshness has sadly gone out the window. However, there is hope with schlocky little satires like Stage Fright, a unique hybrid of the horror and musical genres. This film seemed to come out of nowhere and if you want some mindless entertainment that will scare as well as amuse, then this is the film for you.
Joe
Hey, remember Nicolas Cage? That eccentric Academy Award-winning actor who has enjoyed a career full of many ups and downs. It’s very difficult to predict the thespian’s next move, wether his next film is going to be a flop or hit. His latest project Joe, fortunately manages to overcome mediocrity and thankfully, entertains and attracts audiences for its 117-minute run time.
Primeval: New World – The Complete Series
In recent years, television has basically replaced feature films. Gripping storytelling and excellent acting is seen more often on the small screen than on the big. Shows manage to hook viewers and keep them glued to the screen for the duration of their beloved shows. Primeval: New World tries to attempt this trend but doesn’t quite pull it off. It tries hard, that’s for sure but it just ends up as mediocre television at best.
Just Like a Woman
Friendship and female bonding are fascinating themes film tends to explore on occasion. Girl power as it were, can be a a truly entertaining and meaningful topic to elevate a movie. Just Like a Woman is one such movie and it feels like a watered down, less chaotic Thelma & Louise. The women of this adventure are sexy, smart and ready to face challenges head on.
Best Man Down
Dramedies are pretty commonplace this day and age. They are perhaps, the best genre to imitate real life since life is usually a crazy blend of drama and comedy. The two genres can mesh either beautifully or tragically. Best Man Down is a perfect example of this phenomenon and while it doesn’t really know whether it’s comedy or drama, that is just the point and the results are actually pretty solid.
Monsters University
In 2001, audiences young and old were treated to a visual and artistic masterpiece. That masterpiece of course was Pixar’s Monsters, Inc., one of the film studio’s greatest computer-animated achievements. Not only did it feature some of the most gorgeous animation work ever put on screen but it told a story that was heartwarming, hilarious and action-packed. Monsters University is a prequel do the 2001 animation juggernaut and the results are actually surprisingly somewhat mixed.
Latino Americans
When it comes to documentary programming, PBS is among the industry’s leading channels. They continually explore interesting and important topics in meaningful and engaging ways. Latino Americans is yet another example of why PBS is king when it comes to documentary filmmaking. With six episodes spread out over two discs, Latino Americans certainly manages to educate and enlighten its viewers.
Scenic Route
Josh Duhamel has made a career playing studly leading men. From Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! to Las Vegas to the Transformers films, the man certainly knows how to own the screen and make women and sometimes men swoon. His latest film Scenic Route is actually a major detour from his standard beefy hero roles. It is a psychological thriller which tests the actor’s abilities in a truly powerful way.
Unfinished Song
Romantic dramedies featuring older leading actors are not very commonplace. Usually, younger actors star in such lighthearted vehicles. Well, Unfinished Song goes a bit against the norm and stars Terence Stamp and Vanessa Redgrave, two thespians in their mid-seventies. It is a film about love, hope and the power of song.
Unger the Radar 