“Maleficent” fails to recapture Disney’s best villainess
Hollywood has been on a kick lately with films like “Jack the Giant Slayer” and “Snow White and the Huntsman” — and television as well with “Once Upon a Time” — trying to breathe...
“Risen” descended to indifference
The life and death of Jesus Christ is considered by many to be one of the greatest stories of all time. The legend has been told and retold countless times, following Jesus’ from his...
“Martha Marcy May Marlene” Review
As I stepped into the surprisingly spacious screening room of Downtown Riverside’s Culver Center, I expected “Martha Marcy May Marlene” to be a cookie-cutter psychological thriller. The independent film was released early 2011 at...
“Beyond the Lights” shines
Social commentary done right: That is what “Beyond the Lights” manages to achieve in its almost two-hour running time. With precise focus it tackles tantalizing issues such as media scrutiny, family pressure and concerns...
“The Judge,” though weak in story, has an A-list cast
Films about father-son relationships have always been an intriguing prospect for movie-makers as well as film-going audiences. These movies have the power to draw in large crowds and garner critical acclaim, such as “Big...
Wes Anderson creates another quirky masterpiece in “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
When attempting to review a filmmaker such as Wes Anderson, it is difficult to know where to begin. Anderson’s unique directorial touch is recognizable anywhere — and often, it is beloved or hated. The...
Captain America: The Winter Soldier” Sets the Bar for Marvel
One of the first things that came to my mind after watching “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (besides “Whoa, what an awesome movie!”) was “Don’t retire, Chris Evans!” This movie packs a punch in...
“Concussion” Provides Little Head Trauma
“Concussion” is based on the true story of Nigerian immigrant and neuropathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu (Will Smith) and his findings and experiences following his discovery of a new brain disease that results from repeated...
“Her” Review
“Are these feelings even real, or are they just programming?” In “Her,” the latest effort from director and writer Spike Jonze (“Where the Wild Things Are,” “Being John Malkovich”), Jonze examines how love works...
“Lincoln” Review
It’s not often a historical film can make an old political figure seem vibrant and engaging in a modern sense. Though at times hindered by its pacing, director Steven Spielberg’s most recent film, “Lincoln,”...