When Sofia Coppola’s The Bling Ring made its way into theaters in summer 2013, it had already been preceded by a Lifetime movie. I went into this anniversary (six months late) not knowing how I would feel about it all these years later. On the one hand, Coppola is a brilliant filmmaker, having won an Oscar for Lost in Translation. And yet, watching years later, it doesn’t really work for me. While it premiered at…
"The Bling Ring: Emma Watson Can’t Save the Film"Tag: Leslie Mann
This is 40, Judd Apatow’s sequel to 2007 hit comedy Knocked Up, marks the 10th anniversary of its theatrical release in 2012. When it comes to Judd Apatow, his films can run long. This film is certainly no exception. It might have made for a great night out ten years ago when every place was closing early. Ten years later, you can really feel its run time. But hey, it’s a Judd Apatow movie and…
"This Is 40 Marks 10th Anniversary"
Watch out for that tree! George of the Jungle marks its 25th anniversary since the TV series was adapted for the big screen in 1997. Brendan Fraser is experiencing something of a renaissance right now with appearances in films directed by both Steven Soderbergh and Martin Scorsese. The actor broke into film with leading roles in the early 1990s. However, it wasn’t until George of the Jungle that he started seeing returns at the box…
"George of the Jungle Marks 25th Anniversary"
Judd Apatow’s second directorial feature, Knocked Up, starring Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl, marks its 15th anniversary. The 15th anniversary of the film’s release also means that it’s been 15 years since the year of Judd Apatow. Knocked Up preceded the release of both Superbad and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. The latter didn’t do well at the box office but it has since become a cult classic. I’ll have anniversary reviews of both…
"Knocked Up Marks 15th Anniversary"
Judd Apatow’s new pandemic comedy, The Bubble, is the pandemic comedy that we’ve been waiting for and it is perfection. The Bubble follows the making of Cliff Beasts 6: Battle for Everest: Memories of a Requim. It’s the 6th film in one of the largest dinosaur franchises in cinematic history. Think a C-franchise version of Jurassic Park. Everyone is staying at the same hotel where there is no interaction with anyone else while quarantining. What…
"The Bubble: The Be-All, End-All Pandemic Comedy"
Cooper Raiff follows up his SXSW award-winning Shithouse with Cha Cha Real Smooth, a film set on the Bar and Bat Mitzvah circuit. (If you are searching on Google to see if either Cooper Raiff or Dakota Johnson are Jewish, the answer is no. That’s just another frustration with the film). My worst fear going into this film was that Dakota Johnson would be the latest non-Jewish actress starring as a Jewish woman. This turns…
"Cha Cha Real Smooth – Sundance 2022"
Blithe Spirit is the type of screwball comedy that will offer laughs this deep into the pandemic even if characters aren’t that likeable. Noël Coward’s play comes to the big screen or small screen depending on how you’re watching. I cannot compare the film to the play because I haven’t seen it. Nor can I compare it to the 1945 film or the 1956 TV movie. To be fair, I had no idea that the…
"Blithe Spirit Offers Laughs For Viewers"
Motherless Brooklyn has a bloated run time, which could prove to be a tortuous experience for film goers if there are projection issues. Lionel Essrog (Edward Norton) suffers from Tourette Syndrome despite working for Frank Minna (Bruce Willis). Funny enough, Lionel’s condition has never stopped Frank from trusting him. What aids Lionel is the fact that he has one of the best memories among anyone working for the L & L Agency. When Frank gets…
"Motherless Brooklyn Has Some Issues"
Judd Apatow’s third-directed feature, Funny People, marks its tenth anniversary since being theatrically released ten years ago. Funny People marks somewhat of a departure from Apatow’s earlier features. George Simmons (Adam Sandler) is more of a mature character than the leads in The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up. He doesn’t come off as the man-child in the earlier Apatow fare. Though to be fair, Simmons does act quite immature during the third act during a…
"Funny People: Judd Apatow’s Dramedy Hits 10 Years"
Robert Zemeckis and Steve Carell team up in Welcome to Marwen but this story is better told as a documentary rather than narrative feature. The town of Marwen is a fictional Belgian town that Mark Hogancamp (Steve Carell) creates while recovering from the brutal attack. An artist in real life, Hogancamp loses many of his memories following the attack. Basically, an American fighter pilot, Captain Hogie (Carell), crashes during World War 2, gets attacked by Nazis,…
"Welcome to Marwen: The Downsizing of 2018"