Jamie Foxx
DVD Review: Uplifting Doc ‘Thunder Soul’ Places Soul Over Substance
Submitted by mattmovieman on February 14, 2012 - 7:24am.CHICAGO – Mark Landsman’s “Thunder Soul” is an exceedingly good film about a great man. Conrad O. Johnson Sr. worked for 37 years as a band teacher, and his unconventional educational methods in the classroom led his Houston high school students to unlikely international stardom in the early ’70s. Their success was so extraordinary that one wishes the filmmakers had probed a little further into their story.
Blu-Ray Review: Stellar Comedy Ensemble Rocks in ‘Horrible Bosses’
Submitted by BrianTT on October 24, 2011 - 11:05am.CHICAGO – The summer of the R-rated comedy, which was SO clearly inspired by the success of “The Hangover” and its sequel, was an interesting case of the law of diminishing returns. If you over-saturate a market, critics and viewers will turn away. By the time that “The Change-Up” and “30 Minutes or Less” thudded into theaters, we all remembered why they don’t make that many R-rated comedies in a year any more — most of them are dumb. Looking back on the trend, two films stand out as the R-rated comedies of Summer 2011 — the widely-beloved (and a bit overrated) “Bridesmaids” and Seth Gordon’s very-funny and consistently-entertaining “Horrible Bosses,” recently released on Blu-ray and DVD.
Blu-Ray Review: HD Amplifies Strengths of Hit Family Film ‘Rio’
Submitted by BrianTT on August 11, 2011 - 5:55pm.CHICAGO – Blue Sky Studios’ “Rio” feels nearly designed for Blu-ray as the film’s strengths are amplified by the world of HD video and sound. With bright colors and Brazilian music, it’s easier to get sucked into the world of this so-so family flick, and a large number of special features makes it easier to overlook the unsatisfactory nature of the actual movie. The important thing is that the little ones in your family will be captivated by the talking, dancing birds with the colorful plumage, especially in 1080p.
Film Review: Talented Cast Carries Dark Comedy of ‘Horrible Bosses’
Submitted by BrianTT on July 7, 2011 - 5:00pm.CHICAGO – There’s a theory that a film that should be judged based on how well it succeeds at what it attempts to do. If it’s a comedy, does it make you laugh? “Horrible Bosses” has some issues but it is an undeniably funny movie.
Film Review: Animated, Colorful ‘Rio’ Blends Into Mediocre Blur
Submitted by BrianTT on April 15, 2011 - 12:27pm.CHICAGO – “Rio” is a film that nearly defies critical review. There’s nothing particularly wrong with it and I can virtually guarantee you that the little ones in your family will be captivated by the talking, dancing birds with the colorful plumage. But it’s also a film that’s strikingly unmemorable. The characters, the jokes, and even the striking visuals – they all dissipate from the memory like a piece of candy that seems tasty in the moment but ultimately isn’t very filling. “Rio” isn’t a bad movie but with great family entertainment options out there, just being “not bad” isn’t good enough.
Film Review: Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis Are an Odd Pair in Funny ‘Due Date’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 5, 2010 - 1:36am.CHICAGO – There is a strong temptation to lead this review with “Hey, ‘Due Date,’ ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’ just called, they want their plot back,” but this Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis star vehicle drives on its own strange vibe, part road trip and part comedy that depends on suspension of all reality. Yet it mostly works.
Slideshow: 24-Image Gallery For ‘Due Date’ Starring Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis
Submitted by BrianTT on November 4, 2010 - 7:04pm.CHICAGO – This 24-image slideshow contains a selection of the official press images for the highly-anticipated “Due Date,” starring Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis, Michelle Monaghan, Juliette Lewis, and Jamie Foxx. The film was written by Alan R. Cohen & Alan Freedland and directed by Todd Phillips. It will be released on November 5th, 2010.
Blu-Ray Review: Romantic Comedy Fans Deserve Better Than ‘Valentine’s Day’
Submitted by BrianTT on May 24, 2010 - 2:13pm.CHICAGO – Clearly conceived as something like an American version of “Love Actually,” Garry Marshall’s “Valentine’s Day” is an unqualified disaster, a film that’s only interesting in that it may hold the record for the most household names sucked into one horrible film.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Law Abiding Citizen’ Guilty of Incessant Gimmickry
Submitted by mattmovieman on February 15, 2010 - 1:36pm.CHICAGO – 2009 was a very bad year for Gerard Butler. He has the potential to be one of the most appealing actors in Hollywood, but like Hugh Jackman, he’s usually cast in roles that sap him of all his inherent charisma, such as the obnoxious misogynist in “The Ugly Truth” or the tormented prisoner in “Gamer.” Yet while both of those films were tortuously awful, “Law Abiding Citizen” at least has the germ of a good idea.
Interview: Director F. Gary Gray of ‘Law Abiding Citizen’ With Jamie Foxx
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 16, 2009 - 7:14am.CHICAGO – Justice is the theme of “Law Abiding Citizen,” a new film starring Jamie Foxx as a district attorney in Philadelphia who is targeted for revenge by a former client (Gerald Butler). Directing the film is veteran F. Gary Gray (”Friday,” “The Italian Job”).
Hot stories on the Web
