Haiku Review: Frozen (2013)

Starring: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad & Alan Tudyk
Screenplay by Jennifer Lee
Directed by Chris Buck & Jennifer Lee

When her sister’s magical powers trap their kingdom in an endless winter, young Anna sets out on a quest to find her sibling and bring back warm weather.


Buried under the
polar vortex of Disney’s
princess formula.

Grade: C+


c2014
By Daniel J. Hoag
Frozen is playing now in theaters nationwide.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2294629/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt

Haiku Review: Blue Jasmine (2013)

Starring: Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Sally Hawkins, Bobby Cannavale, Andrew Dice Clay, Louis C.K. & Peter Sarsgaard
Written & directed by Woody Allen

A New York socialite suffers a nervous breakdown and moves in with her lower-class sister after her husband is imprisoned for financial fraud and their assets are seized by the government.


Blanchett is the queen,
but you’ll just be surprised that
Dice Clay doesn’t suck.

Grade: B+


c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
Blue Jasmine is playing now in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2334873/?ref_=sr_1

Haiku Review: Evil Dead (2013)

Starring: Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jessica Lucas & Elizabeth Blackmore
Screenplay by Fede Alvarez and Rodo Sayagues
Directed by Fede Alvarez

Five friends staying at a remote cabin in the woods unwittingly unleash a demonic presence that consumes them one by one.


Joss owns cabin flicks
now, but this groovy remake
gives you some sugar.

Grade: B+


c2103
By Daniel J. Hoag
Evil Dead is playing now in theaters nationwide.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1288558/

(Blu) Haiku Review: House at the End of the Street (2012)

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Max Thieriot, Gil Bellows & Elisabeth Shue
Screenplay by David Loucka
Directed by Mark Tonderai

A mother and daughter find themselves in danger when they move next door to a young man whose parents were murdered when he was younger.


If you leave your plot
twists in the window, you’ll end
up in foreclosure.

Grade: C-


c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
House at the End of the Street is available on Blu-ray and DVD tomorrow.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1582507/

Haiku Review: Your Sister’s Sister (2012)

Starring: Emily Blunt, Rosemarie DeWitt & Mark Duplass
Written & directed by Lynn Shelton

Jack is best friends with Iris, his brother’s widow, but a drunken night with Iris’ sister Hannah complicates their growing affection for each other.


Ahhh, indie rom-coms:
far more palatable than
that Heigl bullsh*t.

Grade: B+


c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Your Sister’s Sister is playing now in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1742336/

Haiku Review: Hysteria (2012)

Starring: Hugh Dancy, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jonathan Pryce, Felicity Jones & Rupert Everett
Screenplay by Stephen Dyer & Jonah Lisa Dyer
Directed by Tanya Wexler

Based on the true story of a young doctor whose quest to cure women of “hysteria” leads him to invent the first vibrator.


Hard laughs come easy;
this virile film will leave you
feeling satisfied.

Grade: A-


c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Hysteria is playing now in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1435513/
TCFF 12-07

(Blu) Haiku Review: Gone (2012)

Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Daniel Sunjata, Wes Bentley, Jennifer Carpenter & Sebastian Stan
Written by Allison Burnett
Directed by Heitor Dhalia

A young woman believes her sister has been abducted by the same man she claims kidnapped her a year earlier, but the police are convinced that she is imagining it all.


An apt title for
a film missing anything
of substance. Bye, Gone.

Grade: C-


c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Gone is available on Blu-ray and DVD on 5/29/12.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1838544/

Haiku Review: The Hunger Games (2012)

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks & Stanley Tucci
Screenplay by Gary Ross, Suzanne Collins & Billy Ray
Directed by Gary Ross


Yes, it’s good. So can
we all just forget about
stupid Twilight now?

Grade: B+


c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
The Hunger Games is now playing in theaters nationwide.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1392170/

(Blu) Haiku Review: Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)

Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Sarah Paulson, John Hawkes & Hugh Dancy
Directed by Sean Durkin

After escaping an abusive cult, an emotionally-damaged young woman is plagued by paranoia and nightmares, and finds it difficult to readjust to a previous way of life.


Mary-Kate, Ashley
got all the fame, this Olsen
got all the talent.

Grade: B


c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Martha Marcy May Marlene is available on Blu-ray and DVD on 2/21/12.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1441326/

Haiku Review: Shame (2011)

Starring: Michael Fassbender & Carey Mulligan
Written by Steve McQueen & Abi Morgan
Directed by Steve McQueen

A sex addict’s life is thrown into turmoil when his emotionally disturbed sister comes to stay with him.


For a film about
sex addiction, the pacing
sure lacks forward thrust.

Grade: B-


c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Shame is now playing in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1723811/