The Film Crusade

This November’s offering of disaster-movie-maker Roland Emmerich’s most recent disaster movie cost $250 million. This, my friends, is ridiculous. That’s $100 million an hour. Can this possibly be worth it? Is there any way that this movie can justify spending so much money?

Ti West’s “The House of the Devil” could have been great. It could have even been epic. And it would have been both if only Ti considered practicing artistic restraint. Do filmmakers like Ti West deserve final cut?

She was the first cinematic woman incarnate I had met. I did the math in seventh grade math class: She would be… Oh, far too old. Still, through her, I dove into the dream. Again and again, just past midnight, the black and white RCA mirror would conjure another muse.

Fifteen years ago on November 5th, one of the most groundbreaking films in the history of documentary filmmaking was released in theaters. Today, “Hoop Dreams” is still considered among the best. The man behind the camera, Peter Gilbert, reveals the hidden back-story behind “Hoop Dreams” in an exclusive interview with Charlie Wachtel.

Not long ago, I was stopped at a red light at the intersection of Hillhurst, Hollywood and Sunset in Los Feliz, when I spotted a disheveled gentlemen holding out a handful of what appeared to be children’s drawings and diagrams. Around his neck was a sign, “Stories $1.”

I think everyone can agree that the overarching purpose of the law is to make the world a better place. If this is the case, then how does prosecuting Roman Polanski more than three decades overdue accomplish that purpose? Sounds like an instance of injustice through justice.

Larry Gupnik of “A Serious Man” has a problem. He’s lost his wife, just got kicked out of his own home, and is pathetically passive-aggressive. But saddest of all, NO ONE WANTS TO SEE HIS MOVIE. Here we review the most recent tragic comedy of the Coen Bros. and discuss why Hollywood bigwigs have already eliminated these kinds of films from their slates.

Believe the numbers. Believe the hype. “Paranormal Activity’s” smashing success in its early stages forces Paramount to expand distribution, giving “Saw VI” a run for its money. The result is a paranormal milestone for the horror genre.

Tired of all the red carpet fashonistas stealing the show? Disappointed by the Academy’s poor host selection? Angry that your film didn’t even qualify for Best Picture? Zach Copeland offers a quick-fix to make the Oscars…well…not suck.

What happens when comedy delivers more than we can stomach? After reviewing “Trading Places,” let’s investigate the current state of comedy.