Roland Emmerich tackles the contentious issue of who really penned the works of William Shakespeare in Anonymous, a sudsy bodice-ripping soap opera set during Elizabethan era London. The story embraces the Oxford theory of Shakespeare authorship; that the Earl of Oxford actually wrote the works we celebrate. William Shakespeare was but a dim-witted actor who...
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If you’re a bit old school, here’s some spooky old silent flicks to get you in the holiday mood! 1. Frankenstein (1910) directed by J. Searle Dawley. 2. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920) directed by John S. Robertson. 3. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) directed by Robert Weine. 4. Haxan (1922) directed...
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This is the time of year every movie lover worth his salt pops out their annual list of “best horror films” and such. I decided to put a twist on the list this year by offering up a smattering of films that will make any parent cower in the corner. Thankfully, this is not...
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One of the sweetest pleasures in the Shrek movie franchise is the Storybook creatures, who provide equal measures of cuteness, nostalgia and revisionist humor. There are Pinocchio and the Gingerbread Man, the Big Bag Wolf and the Three Little Pigs and the Three Bears and the Three Blind Mice. But the greatest and most charming...
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As The Rum Diary closes “Dedicated to Hunter S. Thompson 1937-2005″ fills the screen. While plenty films of honor loved ones that served as inspiration or support for a piece, few are as fueled with admiration as this. It is an ode written from pupil to mentor, a piece of fiction glorifying and building...
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Like director Andrew Niccol’s previous film Gattaca, In Time is devoted more to its concept than showing car chases, fist-fights, shoot-outs, and your basic action staples. All those things are in the movie, but mostly they provide breaks from exploring the film’s dystopian world. It’s a few hundred years in the future, and the...
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How refreshing. A trio of British actresses who are well-respected and beautiful, to boot, have formed a club of sorts. Kate Winslet (35), Rachel Weisz (41) and Emma Thompson (52) have joined in solidarity against succumbing to the lure of plastic surgery. Representing women in their 30’s, 40′s and 50′s, the actresses have made...
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Friends, not a day goes by when my email inbox isn’t flooded with requests for me to do a Top Shelf type story about my beauty products and regime. I get countless questions about my hair such as, ‘What have you done?’, and, ‘Holy crap, did you do that to yourself?’ and so on (My...
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I’m a little late to this party. My computer screen was lost in a freak whaling tragedy that left seven dead and my poor laptop in the shop down the road. So right now I’m writing this on my girlfriend’s computer while she’s at work and I don’t have anything better to do (I...
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Is it a sequel? A prequel? A remake? A premake? Yes. Director Matthijs van Heijningen, Jr. (yes, that is a real name) takes a lot of inspiration and most of the story from John Carpenter’s 1982 classic, the only ostensible difference being that this film takes place in the Norwegian camp immediately before the...
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Vincent Wants to Sea is a sugary-sweet German film, directed by Ralf Huettner, about psychological disorders and how through friendship, self-determination and travel one’s obstacles have the potential to be won. The pun-infused title expresses not only that Vincent wants to go to the sea, but also that he wants to “see” aka learn,...
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Well, the festival has come to a close. There were plenty of great movies, good people and fun was had by all. Here’s a recap of the final day: Another Planet. Directed by Ferenc Moldoványi Another Planet is an ethereal documentary that, spanning four continents, tells the stories of various impoverished and despondent children. It...
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It had been two decades since I had woken up in a strange hotel in Michigan. My pretty, little cousin was getting married to a swell guy in a couple of days and I was there for moral support, awkward hugs and plenty of booze. I was hungry so I went downstairs to sample...
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Disclaimer #1 This album is a collection of songs originally recorded Billie Holiday, Etta James, Tom Waits, Ray Charles, Delaney & Bonnie, Bill Withers, and Aretha Franklin. If you’re not into that – if you’re not into blues & soul – you won’t like the album. Disclaimer #2 I’ve been a Beth Hart fan...
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The much-anticipated political thriller The Ides of March, written, directed and produced by George Clooney (who also plays a major role) delivers a brisk, thoroughly entertaining ride, but in the end I felt a little as I did about the Obama administration sometime toward the end of 2009: with all that talent aboard (Ryan Gosling, Philip Seymour...
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Take one look at Bob Forrest and it becomes obvious that this guy has a story. His shaggy hair, thick rimmed glasses, pitted skin and twinkle in his eye show a man with an individuality, kindness and passion that can only come from an acquired wisdom. He’s the type of guy I dream of...
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Only one day left! Here’s a summary of a few of the films shown Wednesday, October 5. Natural Selection. Directed by Robbie Pickering. A barren Christian woman named Linda (Rachael Harris) has just learned that her husband had a stroke while donating to a sperm bank. On his death bed, she believes that he...
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The movies just keep coming! Here’s a rundown of the night: Red Light Revolution. Directed by Sam Voutas. Red Light Revolution is the story of a down on his luck, Beijinger who opens a sex shop in the attempts of making some fast cash. Not the sort of plot that makes me rush to...
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Director Jaume Balaguero brought us the claustrophobic thriller REC (2007), an original spin on the zombie genre that was quickly remade into Quarantine for all the folks who can’t be bothered by pesky subtitles. His follow up was REC 2 (2009), which was equally creepy. Fantastic Fest was host to the World Premiere of...
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