Starring: Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker, Helen Mirren, Anthony Hopkins & Catherine Zeta-Jones
Written by Jon Hoeber & Erich Hoeber
Directed by Dean Parisot
A team of retired CIA operatives must track down a weapon of mass destruction that’s been hidden for decades.
Keep giving Helen
Mirren guns and camouflage,
I’ll keep paying you.
Grade: B-
c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
RED 2 is playing now in theaters nationwide.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1821694/?ref_=sr_1
Starring: Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, John Lithgow, Megan Fox, Albert Brooks & Melissa McCarthy
Written and directed by Judd Apatow
As they both turn 40, struggling married couple Pete and Debbie must figure out how to balance romance, careers, parents and children.
I’d have rather watched
two hours of Albert Brooks
in This Is 60.
Grade: B
c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
This Is 40 is available now on Blu-ray and DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1758830/?ref_=sr_2
Starring: Woody Allen, Alec Baldwin, Roberto Benigni, Penélope Cruz, Judy Davis, Jesse Eisenberg, Greta Gerwig, Ellen Page & Alison Pill
Written and directed by Woody Allen
A series of comedic and romantic vignettes set in the city of Rome.
As in his films, it
can be easy to fall out
of love with Woody.
Grade: C
c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
To Rome with Love is available now on Blu-ray and DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1859650/?ref_=sr_1
Starring: Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Antonio Banderas, Annette Bening, Steve Coogan, Elliott Gould & Chris Messina
Written by Zoe Kazan
Directed by Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris
A lonely, struggling author is stunned when the beautiful ficticious woman he has been writing comes to life.
Kazan’s sparks ignite
burning this star-making turn
right into your heart.
Grade: A-
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Ruby Sparks is available now on Blu-ray and DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1839492/
Starring: Mike Birbiglia & Lauren Ambrose
Screenplay by Mike Birbiglia, Ira Glass, Joe Birbiglia & Seth Barrish
Directed by Mike Birbiglia & Seth Barrish
The semi-autobiographical tale of a burgeoning stand-up comedian who feels such pressure to marry his long-time girlfriend that it exacerbates an increasingly dangerous sleep disorder.
Common side-effect
of marriage: hurling oneself
out a closed window.
Grade: B+
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Sleepwalk with Me is playing now in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2077851/
Starring: Rachel Weisz, Tom Hiddleston & Simon Russell Beale
Adapted & directed by Terence Davies
Shortly after World War II, the wife of British judge finds herself trapped between her passionless marriage and an affair with a troubled Royal Air Force pilot.
Great expectations!
Being happy’s hard when you’re
repressed and oppressed.
Grade: A-
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
The Deep Blue Sea is available now on Blu-ray and DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1700844/
Starring: Robert De Niro, Paul Dano, Olivia Thirlby, Lili Taylor & Julianne Moore
Written and directed by Paul Weitz
Based on Nick Flynn’s memior Another Bullshit Night in Suck City about the struggle to find his voice as an author and his troubled relationship with his homeless father.
A bland bio, but
if it keeps De Niro from
doing comedies…
Grade: C+
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Being Flynn is available now on Blu-ray and DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455323/
Starring: Bruno Ganz, Solveig Dommartin, Otto Sander & Peter Falk
Screenplay by Wim Wenders & Peter Handke
Directed by Wim Wenders
An angel desires to become human after falling in love with a trapeze artist.
We made City of
Angels out of this. Way to
go, America.
Grade: A
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Wings of Desire is available on Blu-ray and DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093191/
TCFF 12-15
Starring: Josh Radnor, Elizabeth Olsen, Richard Jenkins, Allison Janney & Zac Efron
Written and directed by Josh Radnor
When a 35-year-old returns to his alma mater to visit a former professor, he strikes up a friendship with a 19-year-old student.
Intellectual
types with Nineties nostalgia:
this film is for you.
Grade: B
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Liberal Arts opens in select cities on 9/14/12.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1872818/
TCFF 12-10
Starring: Dax Shepard, Kristen Bell, Bradley Cooper, Tom Arnold, Kristin Chenoweth & Beau Bridges
Written by Dax Shepard
Directed by David Palmer & Dax Shepard
When a man leaves witness protection to drive his girlfriend to Los Angeles for a new job, they find themselves pursued by both vengeful criminals and a jealous ex-boyfriend.
Kristen Bell revs up
a car chase-y rom com that
hits a few p(l)ot holes.
Grade: B-
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Hit & Run opens in theaters 8/22/12.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2097307/
TCFF 12-08
The Haiku Review 