Jack Pierce – The Man Behind the Monsters
In the annals of below- the- line workers, there are numerous people who have attained greatness throughout the eleven decades of US cinema. Then, those rare exceptions place some of these industry titans in the category of the best ever in their field. JACK PIERCE – THE MAN BEHIND THE MONSTERS is a new... »
Software Review: Movie Magic Budgeting
The Magic is back. Shelving their own eponymous software, Entertainment Partners has resurrected Movie Magic. And whether you’ve stayed with the standard or updated to EP Budgeting, this version is designed to make you feel perfectly at home. And there lies both the good news and the bad. There are several new features, but... »
Dollies, Cranes & Camera Heads
In this digital age, it’s refreshing when an old-school source book for motion picture equipment hits the shelves. The tome, aptly titled Dollies, Cranes & Camera Heads is the brainchild of IA grip, Mike Uva. Written with a folksy-wisdom and ease belying his many years of experience in the biz, the author provides insider... »
Up in the Air
Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) has an amiable disposition that belies the fact that it’s best to stay out of his path. You see he’s a high-priced assassin. Not the typical sort of movie killer that shoots to kill, but a contemporary gun for hire who walks into a corporate boardroom and systematically calls in... »
The Young Victoria
The enduring image of Queen Victoria, whose reign dominated the bulk of the 19th century, is of a benevolent, elderly grandmother. Though she was still in her teens when she took the throne (and held it for seven decades) the novelty of photography has etched in our minds that part of her life that... »
The City of Life and Death
In 1937, the Japanese Imperial Army invaded and subjugated the people of China in what was to be a precursor of the atrocities of the Pacific theater of the Second World War. The most infamous aspect of the campaign has become known as the Rape of Nanjing. Figures vary but all sources admit hundreds... »
Red Cliff
The third century was not a time for sissies, especially in the vast expanses of China’s Han dynasty. For good or ill, the Emperor’s Prime Minister Cao Cao (Zheng Fengyi) is hot to create a unified nation and he’s prepared to amass a million-man army to quash the autonomy of its most prominent Kingdoms. »
Vantage Point
There’s nothing particularly wrong with Vantage Point, a political thriller revolving around the kidnapping of the American president. And there’s nothing especially compelling, riveting, novel or informative about this exercise in the anxiety rising genre. It’s not unlike an episode of the series 24, but without the attitude or urgency that’s made the television... »
The Pink Panther 2
The Tornado has struck. The insidiously clever cat burglar has stolen the likes of The Shroud of Turin, the Imperial Sword of Japan and, lest we forget, France’s glorious gem The Pink Panther. The world can only hold its breath as it awaits the assembly of the greatest international detectives to crack the case.... »
Confessions of a Shopaholic
The very title of this new comedy more than strongly suggests a note of irony. “Shopaholic” is the sort of slyly contrived word that’s meant to generate a smile. But one doesn’t have to dig too deeply to find that this is a real term and a certifiable addiction and from time to time... »
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Director Series
Get Low Director’s First Feature Attracts All-star Cast and CrewAugust 2010 | By Jack Egan
Get Low, a small-budget gem now in theaters, is directed by long-time cinematographer Aaron Schneider, his first time at the helm of a feature... »
Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois show How to Train Your Dragon
April 2010 | By Mary Ann Skweres
Helmed by Oscar-nominated writer/director Chris Sanders and writer/director Dean Deblois (Lilo & Stitch, Mulan), the DreamWorks Animation SKG production of »
Exclusive Film Reviews
Up in the AirDecember 2009 | By Len Klady
Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) has an amiable disposition that belies the fact that it’s best to stay out of his path. You see he’s... »
The Young Victoria
December 2009 | By Len Klady
The enduring image of Queen Victoria, whose reign dominated the bulk of the 19th century, is of a benevolent, elderly grandmother. Though she was... »