I Always Said Yes: The Many Lives of Wakefield Poole (DIR. Jim Tushinski) By: Addison Wylie Jim Tushinski’s doc is exactly like his subject when Wakefield Poole is dancing. The film is nimble, lovely, and tells a story. We’re always willing to go for the ride. When it comes to the arts, Poole has nearly done it all. He’s a dancer, a choreographer, a teacher, and has been described as a wonderful cook. His most famous forte,…
By: Addison Wylie World of Warcraft and those who play the video game have become a punchline in pop culture. Whether we’re overhearing teens and their strategies or watching the boys from South Park take digs at obsessive gamers, we’ve all been exposed to it one way or another. The youngsters dedicating their lifestyle to it, however, are the ones who are overexposed to the digital battles. They get sucked in and refuse to give…
Masculinity/Femininity (DIR. Russell Sheaffer) By: Addison Wylie It’s so limited, but it interrupts the whole filmmaking process. It’s not a steady stream of consciousness as much as some of the performers would like it to be. It kind of breaks it up. That’s a quote from someone describing super 8 film in Masculinity/Femininity. A format of film so cumbersome, it would take an ambitious individual to want to shoot on it to make a modern movie….
By: Addison Wylie Doug Block started shooting wedding videos because it was a good opportunity to earn some extra dough. But as his filmography grew, so did his fascination with different couples and the dynamics he caught on camera. The question that’s been rattling around in his head is: what happens years after the wedding and the honeymoon? Can these giddy newlyweds keep up their love once reality settles in and kids enter the picture?…
By: Addison Wylie Adam Sandler has developed a foolproof plan. It’s a movie formula that enables him and his friends to take luxurious vacations while making a movie in between excursions. The baffling part is that even though these recent flicks get slammed by critics, they manage to make a lot of money. I’m unclear as to if the film makes a profit, but it must be a good sign if Blended marks Sandler’s fifth…
By: Addison Wylie Mustering through Making the Rules is like watching a bunch of people try and sail using only the framework of a boat. The film marks the acting debut of musician Robin Thicke. This triggers a question right off the bat: is watching thespian Thicke as painful as it sounds? My answer may disappoint those wanting me to slam the Blurred Lines hit maker. I honestly couldn’t tell you if his performance is…
By: Addison Wylie “Oh boy. We’re really in ‘it’ now,” I thought as I watched Jon S. Baird’s crackpot dark comedy about decrepit Detective Sergeant Bruce Robertson fighting for a promotion and doing anything he can to guarantee the position. If he has to backstab, manipulate, and cause scenes, he’ll gleefully do so. Baird, who wrote and adapted the screenplay from Irvine Welsh’s book of the same name, is just as game as Robertson when…
By: Addison Wylie Jonathan Daniel Brown hopes to jump forward with his acting career as the drug dealing lead in John Stockwell’s Kid Cannabis. It’s a big move for the actor who was predominately seen last as the plump sidekick in the repugnant Project X. As much as I would like to respond to Brown’s flick with utter positivity, Kid Cannabis’ shortcomings have me feeling disappointed. Brown plays Nate Norman, a blameless pothead who was…
By: Addison Wylie I have to give Small Time a large amount of credit. It’s a film starring two slick used car salesmen and presents male attitudes as maturely as possible while embracing the swindling stereotype. It also finds a way to be heartfelt with family drama, as well as make you giggle with car lot banter. That’s quite a juggle, and filmmaker Joel Surnow maintains his load effortlessly. Al and Ash – two old…
By: Addison Wylie I, Frankenstein is almost popcorn entertainment. Almost. It feels as if every time a movie comes out that fits this throwaway action mould, everybody hates it and I’m forgiving towards it. My rule is: as long as there’s camp and you can hold my attention, these corn fests have a chance to squeak by. How about that schlocky movie Season of the Witch? The majority of movie goers wanted to burn the…