Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson, Danny Huston, Toni Collette & Jessica Biel
Screenplay by John J. McLaughlin
Directed by Sacha Gervasi
The story of Alfred Hitchcock’s struggle to make Psycho.
The true Master of
Suspense gets a biopic
that simply has none.
Grade: C
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Hitchcock is playing now in theaters nationwide.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0975645/
Hosted by Keanu Reeves
Featuring: James Cameron, David Fincher, David Lynch, Robert Rodriguez, Martin Scorsese & Steven Soderbergh
Directed by Christopher Kenneally
A documentary on the impact that digital filmmaking has had on the movie industry.
Keanu talks film
versus digital, yet can’t
act well in either.
Grade: B+
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Side by Side is playing now in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2014338/
Starring: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Victor Garber & Tate Donovan
Screenplay by Chris Terrio
Directed by Ben Affleck
The true story of a CIA agent who set out to rescue six endangered American diplomats during the Iran Hostage Crisis by creating an elaborate cover that involved posing as the producer of a Hollywood science-fiction film.
On-screen roles aside,
Affleck can direct the f@#%
out of a movie.
Grade: A
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Argo is playing now in theaters nationwide.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1024648/
Starring: Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston, Justin Theroux, Alan Alda & Malin Akerman
Written by David Wain & Ken Marino
Directed by David Wain
Suddenly unemployed and in need of a new living situation, a Manhattan couple find themselves stumbling upon a commune outside of Atlanta where they must adjust to a simpler way of life.
Hit the bong all you
want, Aniston’s not getting
any funnier.
Grade: B-
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Wanderlust is now playing in theaters nationwide.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1655460/
Starring: Nick Swardson, Christina Ricci, Don Johnson, Stephen Dorff & Kevin Nealon
Written by Adam Sandler & Allen Covert & Nick Swardson
Directed by Tom Brady
A small-town loser discovers that his parents were adult film stars and decides to move to California to follow in their footsteps.
Ummm, I’m pretty sure
someone forgot to write jokes
for this limp premise.
Grade: D-
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star is available on Blu-ray and DVD on 1/17/12.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1411664/
Starring: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman, James Cromwell & Penelope Ann Miller
Written and directed by Michel Hazanavicius
A silent movie star struggles with irrelevance after the invention of talking pictures.
This picture speaks a
thousand joyful words while you
enjoy the silence.
Grade: A
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
The Artist is now playing in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1655442/
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen & Chloë Grace Moretz
Written by John Logan
Directed by Martin Scorsese
In 1930s Paris, a young boy living in a train station unravels a mystery when he fixes his late father’s automaton.
This movie about
the true magic of movies
was made for Marty.
Grade: A-
c2011
By Daniel J. Hoag
Hugo is now playing in theaters nationwide.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970179/
Starring: Otto Jespersen
Written and directed by André Øvredal
A trio of college student filmmakers find themselves documenting the exploits of a grizzled trollhunter.
So many trolls you’ll
think it’s a Kardashian
family function.
Grade: B+
c2011
By Daniel J. Hoag
Trollhunter is now available on Blu-ray and DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1740707/
The Haiku Review 