Movie Review – The Driver (1978)
by NIR SHALEV
The Driver (Ryan O’Neal) is a loner. He dresses well but lives in random hotels. He earns a living driving scum around the streets of L.A. Robbers of all kinds need him and he’s expensive because he’s the best. The Detective (Bruce Dern) is hot on The Driver’s trail but nobody ever gives him up due to the “thieves’ honor code” and large sums of money. Read more 
DVD of the Week – Review of Milk (2008)
by HELEN GEIB
Milk was released on DVD the same day as Let the Right One In, Rachel Getting Married, and Synecdoche, New York, three films that, between the two of us, Rishi and I were anxious to promote. Now that those films- and the intervening new recommended releases- have had their turn, I want to take another look at Milk. Read more
Movie Review – The Last Man on Earth (1964)
by NIR SHALEV
The Last Man on Earth opens with a sunrise over an empty city. Houses, buildings, and cars are unattended and deceased bodies litter the streets. Dr. Robert Morgan (Vincent Price in a contained and human performance) awakens to live another day. He goes through his daily routine of checking the radio frequencies for survivors (of whatever brought forth the apocalypse), making sure there’s gasoline in the electric generator, marking a map for locations he had swept, and carving stakes. Read more
Movie Review – Dragonball Evolution (2009)
by HELEN GEIB
Dragonball Evolution is a kid-friendly fantasy adventure about a young man named Goku who discovers he holds the key to saving the earth from annihilation at the hands of a vengeful alien called Piccolo. I enjoyed the martial arts fantasy elements and lead performances by Justin Chatwin and Chow Yun-Fat. The coming-of-age storyline and positive message about being true to yourself and fulfilling your responsibilities even under difficult circumstances make it a solid recommendation for the family audience. Read more
DVD of the Week – Review of Tell No One (2008)
by HELEN GEIB
The French thriller Tell No One, adapted from a novel by American mystery writer Harlan Coben, proved one of the smash hits of the American arthouse circuit in 2008. It’s easy to understand why. The film is a happy marriage of well-crafted suspense and compelling emotional drama. At the risk of sounding like an advertising tag-line: Tell No One is an intelligent and entertaining movie guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. Read more
Movie Review – Fast and Furious (2009)
by HELEN GEIB
I walked out of Fast and Furious a contented moviegoer. My expectations were exceeded and my craving for vicarious thrills well-satisfied. Action-packed good fun, it is exactly the movie the title promises. Read more
Hollywood Releases Preview – April 2009
by HELEN GEIB
These are the theatrical releases scheduled for general release in April, 2009. Title links are to the film’s page in the internet movie database.
April 3
Adventureland – Dorky young man learns about life and love working a summer job at a run-down amusement park in the late ‘eighties. Directed by Greg Mottola (Superbad) and starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kristin Stewart, and Ryan Reynolds.
Fast and Furious – To quote the marketing tag line: New model. Original parts. Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, and Jordana Brewster return for the fourth entry in the popular street-racing franchise; directed by Justin Lin (The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift). Read more
Movie Review – Ravenous (1999)
by NIR SHALEV
Captain John Boyd (Guy Pearce) is a coward. During a bloody battle in the Mexican-American War he hides beneath the corpses of his comrades and awaits the opportune moment to strike. He overtakes the enemy commander and wins the battle for the Americans. He earns the Medal of Honor, but his superiors are aware of the “true” nature of his victory. Read more
