Tag Archives: films
Critics’ Choice Nominees Announced
Michael Keaton, left, and Mark Ruffalo in a scene from “Spotlight.” The movie was nominated for eight Critics’ Choice Awards, including best picture. Ruffalo was nominated for best supporting actor.
Photo courtesy of Kerry Hayes/Open Road Films
I am a longtime member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, a group representing more than 300 critics in the U.S. and Canada, and today the organization announced nominees for the 21st Annual Critics’ Choice Awards. As usual, some of my personal favorites made the cut and others did not (I’m only one voter among hundreds). Regardless of my personal preferences, it’s a strong field of movies, and you can use the nominee list (below) to seek out the best in film. This year’s awards are slated for broadcast Jan. 17 at 5 p.m. (PT) on A&E, Lifetime and LMN. This event will be particularly special because — for the first time — the movie awards are being combined with honors doled out by the Broadcast Television Journalists Association.
NOMINATIONS FOR THE 21st ANNUAL CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS
FILM
BEST PICTURE
The Big Short
Bridge of Spies
Brooklyn
Carol
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Room
Sicario
Spotlight
Filed under Movie News
‘Spy’ snapshot review
Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy) and her fellow CIA operative Rick Ford (Jason Statham) pose as a “happy” couple as they go deep undercover to stop an arms dealer.
Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox
SPY
Critical rating: 3 stars out of four
Directed by: Paul Feig (“The Heat,” “Bridesmaids”)
Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Jason Statham, Jude Law and Rose Byrne
Rated: R for language throughout, violence, and some sexual content including brief graphic nudity
The story: “Spy” is centered on a CIA analyst (Melissa McCarthy) who is promoted from her long-time desk job to an undercover assignment where she must try to stop a nuclear weapon from falling into the wrong hands.
The scoop: Writer-director Paul Feig becomes one of the industry’s most reliable comedy directors with a film that’s set to become a mainstream hit. “Spy” isn’t the most original picture to hit theaters in 2015, but it is a consistently funny Hollywood concoction that entertains while poking good-natured fun at the espionage genre. Melissa McCarthy does most of the heavy lifting, but the excellent supporting cast – particularly Jason Statham in a rare comedic role – is likable as well.
Filed under Movie Reviews
Video Verdict: Review of ‘Night at the Museum – Secret of the Tomb’
From left, Patrick Gallagher, Robin Williams, Ben Stiller and Rami Malek star in “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb.”Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox
The latest entry in the “Night at the Museum” franchise is the only major theatrical release making its way to home video this week.
Filed under Uncategorized
Video Verdict: Reviews of ‘The Judge,’ ‘Fury,’ ‘The Book of Life’ and ‘Before I Go to Sleep’
From left to right, Shia LaBeouf, Brad Pitt, Logan Lerman (rear), Michael Peña and Jon Bernthal star in the war drama “Fury”Photo courtesy of Sony
There is a strong slate of home video releases this week, and it is anchored by a movie that helped actor Robert Duvall earn his seventh Academy Award nomination.
Filed under Video Verdict
Video Verdict: Reviews of ‘The Boxtrolls,’ ‘Lucy’ and ‘Annabelle’
The title characters from the stop-motion animated movie “The Boxtrolls” are sadly misunderstood.
Photo courtesy of Focus Features
This week’s major home video releases include two R-rated thrillers and a family friendly animated film.
Filed under Video Verdict
Video Verdict: Reviews of ‘Gone Girl’ and ‘Love Is Strange’
Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) becomes the chief suspect when his wife goes missing in the David Fincher thriller “Gone Girl.”
Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox
A pair of R-rated dramas anchor this week’s major home video releases.
Filed under Video Verdict
Top 10 Movies of 2014
From left to right, Zoe Saldana plays Gamora, Bradley Cooper plays Rocket, Chris Pratt plays Peter Quill, Vin Diesel plays Groot and Dave Bautista plays Drax in “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Forrest ranks the film among the best of 2014.
Photo courtesy of Disney
As we march into the new year and prepare ourselves for upcoming awards shows, it’s appropriate to reflect on the best movies of 2014. As usual, the year produced sure bets from well-known auteurs and a strong crop of art-house darlings, but we also had terrific pictures emerge from the much-derided cinematic mainstream. In fact, a number of blockbusters cracked my top 10. Following is the cream of the 2014 movie crop, complete with notes on how you can see them.
Filed under Features
Video Verdict: Reviews of ‘Boyhood’ and ‘Get On Up’
Ellar Coltrane stars in the Richard Linklater film “Boyhood.”
Photo courtesy of Paramount
This week’s home video releases are anchored by a much-hyped project from writer-director Richard Linklater.
Filed under Video Verdict
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