“Salt” – Photo: Courtesy
Reel advice
“Salt”(Columbia)
As if to remind us that Russia and its citizens remain a threat to the well-being of the planet (see also: “The Girl Who Played With Fire”), obvious sequel-setup “Salt” sets teeth chattering with its Cold War revival mentality.
After spending two years in captivity in North Korea, CIA agent Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) is back at work in Washington, D.C. She’s living in the U Street corridor with German national husband Mike (August Diehl) and dog Burt. She gets on well with co-worker Ted (Liev Schreiber). Everything seems to be fine.
But the arrival of Orlov (Daniel Olbrychski), a mysterious former high-ranking KGB agent throws Evelyn’s world into a tailspin. Is she really, as he says, Chenkov, a Soviet-trained spy and killing machine whose unfulfilled mission includes the assassination of the Russian president, the devastation of Muslim cultural centers and total Russian world domination?
But the arrival of Orlov (Daniel Olbrychski), a mysterious former high-ranking KGB agent throws Evelyn’s world into a tailspin. Is she really, as he says, Chenkov, a Soviet-trained spy and killing machine whose unfulfilled mission includes the assassination of the Russian president, the devastation of Muslim cultural centers and total Russian world domination?
After countless cunning stunts, mounting body count, dozens of daring escapes, buckets of betrayals and action sequence after action sequence, we realize that, like Evelyn, we are being set up. Breathtaking and bombastic, “Salt” seasons the audience, leaving us hanging, waiting for Evelyn’s inevitable return.
Film reviews, "Salt" and "Inception"
Taylor Lautner in a scene from “Eclipse” – Photo: Courtesy
Film reviews
“The Twilight Saga: Eclipse”
(Summit Entertainment)
Still obsessed with brooding vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson), graduating high school senior Bella (a slightly less sullen Kristen Stewart), accepts her true love’s marriage proposal in exchange for his promise to “change” (read: “kill”) her so that they can be together eternally. In other words, Mormon author Stephenie Meyer thinks it’s fine for teenagers to marry vampires, but LGBT folks should be deprived of the same expression of love and commitment.
It’s probably an easy shot to take, but the third installment of the vampires, wolves and humans of Forks, Wash., eclipses its predecessors. It’s got plenty of skin, courtesy of stud (wolf) cub Taylor Lautner (who does most of his acting with his abs and pecs) as Jacob. It’s got a fair amount of special effects, although the wolves’ pelts are wearing thin. There’s an increase in the Native American folklore aspect. The scary factor is also ratcheted up with the lingering presence of the ruthless Jane (Dakota Fanning) and her creepy crew, as well as bent-on-revenge Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard), her boy Riley (Xavier Samuel) and his army of ruthless newborn vamps.
Film review, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
“Sex and the City 2.” – Photo: Courtesy
Film reviews
“Sex and the City 2”
(New Line)
The most anticipated sequel of the summer (sorry “Iron Man” and “Shrek”), “Sex and the City 2” is also the gayest straight movie of the season. But at more than 2 hours and 20 minutes, it’s much too long.
“SATC2” attempts to trump its predecessor on a variety of levels, beginning with the gay wedding, followed by the exotic locale, the nice mix of comedy and drama and the hard-won resolution. Of course, it doesn’t have to try very hard to be better than the first. And yet, it still comes up shorter than some of the skirts worn by the film’s leading characters.
The film gets rolling with a brief flashback sequence commemorating writer Carrie Bradshaw Preston’s (Sarah Jessica Parker) nearly 25 years in NYC and how she met gal pals Charlotte (Kristin Davis), Miranda (out actress Cynthia Nixon) and Samantha (Kim Cattrall). Then on to the present day, with the fab four all aflutter about the upcoming same-sex nuptials of Carrie’s best gay friend Stanford (Willie Garson) and Charlotte’s best gay friend Anthony (out actor Mario Cantone). With a gay men’s chorus providing ambient music and Liza Minnelli officiating and providing the entertainment (her “Single Ladies” is almost a showstopper), the gay gauntlet is thrown down.
Read more...
"Cyrus"
Reel advice
“Cyrus”
(Fox Searchlight)
Mumblecore continues the quest for a mainstream audience with the dark romantic comedy “Cyrus,” co-written/co-directed by Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass (who starred in 2009’s mumblequeer feature “Humpday”). Following, as it does, on the heels of “Greenberg” (starring Ben Stiller and mumblecore goddess Greta Gerwig), it looks like the crossover has officially begun and mumblecore mania is here to stay.
Socially awkward John (John C. Reilly), who compares himself to Shrek, has been divorced from Jamie (Catherine Keener) for seven years. But John but still relies on Jamie for advice, guidance and occasional companionship, in spite of her impending marriage to Tim (Matt Walsh). However, all of that changes when John meets the seemingly out of his league Molly (Marisa Tomei).
Read more...
Shrek Forever After: The Final Chapter
Reel advice
Shrek Forever After: The Final Chapter
(DreamWorks)
The Shrek series (or franchise, if you will) goes out with a bang in this fun-filled fourth and final installment. While it’s not as good (or as gay) as “Shrek 2,” it is a vast improvement on “Shrek the Third.” And the 3D aspect of the production avoids technology overkill.
Married life and fatherhood is taking its toll on Shrek (Mike Myers) the ogre, who feels like his power to terrify has dwindled and been replaced by a talent for changing his triplets’ diapers and amusing the villagers. He is increasingly bored by the routine route his life has taken, which includes regular dinner parties with BFF Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and his brood. Everything comes to a head at Shrek’s kids’ first birthday party where his misplaced rage causes a rift in his marriage to princess/ogre Fiona (Cameron Diaz).
Read more...Opinion
Stay Connected