Searching for Bobby Fischer – 1993 – Steven Zaillian

cinefile — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 06:24:19 +0000

An endearing look at a little boy’s precocious chess talent interwoven with the larger-than-life tale of chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer. For a ‘based-on-a-true story’ flick threads a fine path between senetinmentality and drama. Superbly acted by the kid and a great supporting cast. One for all the family.

The Air I Breathe – 2007 – Jieho Lee

cinefile — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 10:59:33 +0000

It must have been a slow day in Hollywood for this to have got the green light. Think Crash/Babel – the director most certainly did – convince a few well-known actors to come on board and then proceed to make one of the most awful films of the decade. JJ

The Fighter – 2010 – David O. Russell

cinefile — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:53:44 +0000

A working class boxer beset by his working class family tries to succeed in the world of professional boxing despite his crack addict-trainer brother who once knocked out Sugar Ray. Based on a true story. Brian Murray

When I think boxing and movies it goes something like “den-nen den, den-nen den” followed by running up the steps of that Museum in Philly in a tracksuit – not crack and Massachusetts white trash. Sweet camera work, great cast and punching. Poi-fect. JJ

The Next Three Days – 2010 – Paul Haggis

cinefile — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 02:52:57 +0000

Paul Haggis makes slick popular movies – Crash, In the Valley of Elah. TNTD is adapted from a French flick, reworked as a two-hour long advertisement based on a prison break starring a Toyota Prius, Google and an iPhone amongst other things you should have/buy. An entertaining featuremercial. JJ

Hell’s Kitchen 4 -2008 – Reality? TV

cinefile — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 02:16:47 +0000

Contestants had less personality than previous seasons; great to see that bitch Jen get hers. The ultimate winner was a disappointment; ended with an amiable final episode too. Has Hell’s Kitchen started to lose some of it’s sparkle? Brian Murray

Saw 3D – 2010 – Kevin Greutert

cinefile — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 10:55:24 +0000

I didn’t see it in 3D, but I suspect it would have added to the experience. More blood, more traps, more twists and turns, and a wholly unbelievable plot. Good for blood, but watch the earlier ones. Brian Murray

Defendor – 2009 – Peter Stebbings

cinefile — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 10:15:31 +0000

An under the radar superhero film starring Woody Harrelson as a deranged but hopeful vigilante. Armed with a jar of angry wasps and a trench club, he takes to the streets and encounters crooked cops, whores, and the mob. A solid flick but not as good as the similar but better Special starring Michael Rapaport. Bill Hill

Airplane! – 1980 – J. Abrahams and D. Zucker

cinefile — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 01:54:05 +0000

Never saw it till Leslie Nielson died. Before this movie, Leslie was an unsuccessful dramatic actor but this role redefined his career. I assumed the humor would be dated. Wrong! There are too many great one-liners to list. If you’re a diehard comedy-fan, then you should love this one. Bill Hill

Brother – 1997 – Aleksei Balabanov

cinefile — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 02:13:54 +0000

Mesmerizing despite the poorly translated subtitles. Two brothers who become hit-men in St Petersburg. Oddly surreal in that despite the violence in the foreground, the story is in the background – immigration, sub-cultures, castes, and more. People that try to disconnect from their reality create a distorted sense of morality. Bill Hill

Kick-Ass – 2010 – Matthew Vaughn

cinefile — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 01:33:42 +0000

This is the under-the-radar comedy of the year. Even Nicolas Cage couldn’t sully this gem. Einstein said genius is 90% perspiration and 10% inspiration. A lonely high-school student takes similar logic in reasoning why can’t he be a superhero. Before long he finds out that he isn’t alone. Bill Hill