MOVIE NEWS AND REVIEWS

The latest Hollywood Movies, Film Festivals, Cleveland, OH Theater Showtimes & More

Fans of the old television science fiction-spookfest "The X-Files" want to believe that series creator Chris Carter can make the old magic again in the film adaptation "The X-Files: I Want to Believe." Carter is asking us to believe that there's a good reason to make another "X-Files" feature film after the first one failed to set the box office on fire in 1998, and six years after the television show left the airwaves.

Believe what you will, but wishes won't grant "I Want to Believe" a snappier plot, tighter suspense or bigger scares -- all things this disappointment sorely lacks.

Continue reading "'The X-Files: I Want to Believe' is a disappointment" »

The setting spins obvious signifiers. The female characters could've just as well been cardboard cutouts. And the drugs turn the guys into inaction heroes. But somehow it doesn't really matter -- well, not too much, at least -- in "The Wackness." Thank you, Ben Kingsley, for a brilliant performance.

Jonathan Levine's film is, on the surface, a nostalgic coming-of-age story. It's set in 1994, when life (on the screen) seemed like a hip-hop video, starring Notorious B.I.G., shell-toe Adidas and yo-yo spiels.

Continue reading "Ben Kingsley's performance lifts 'The Wackness'" »

The funniest scene in "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" was when Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly sat around the dinner table arguing about which Jesus to pray to. Ferrell, as Ricky, favored the baby Jesus, in a diaper.

That largely improvised scene launched the Ferrell-Reilly comedy chemistry and served as the spirited spring board for their next film together, because director Adam McKay wanted to keep the laughs coming. McKay, Ferrell's longtime writing partner who also gave us "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy," saw potential in a story about two lazy louts locked in adolescence. The result, "Step Brothers," reflects the classic Ferrell-McKay model.

Continue reading "Ferrell-Reilly duo scores again in "Step Brothers"" »

The Indie Gathering for independent filmmakers offers panels, film screenings and competitions Friday through Sunday, Aug. 1-3, at the Holiday Inn Westlake, 1100 Crocker Road.

Admission is $15 for each night, $35 for a weekend pass on Friday, and $25 for a Saturday-Sunday pass. Go to www.theindiegathering.com for the schedule.

Retaining and recruiting more film and video production in Ohio topped the agenda of the newly formed Ohio Film Office Advisory Group's first meeting this month.

The group, which met in Columbus, is led by Ohio Film Office director Christina Grozik.

Continue reading "Ohio Film Office Advisory Group meets for first time" »

"Fugitive Pieces," a drama about a man's long struggle to find inner peace after his family is obliterated by the Nazis, features several impressive per formances. It debuted last September at the Toronto International Film Festi val. It was the opening night film, and several folks in attendance were rather underwhelmed. Critics were especially cruel, saying it was yet another soft, soggy offering from a Canadian director.

I wasn't jumping up and down about it, but I thought "Fugitive Pieces" was a pretty thouhgtful, moving night at the theater.

Continue reading "'Fugitive Pieces' seeks inner peace" »

Variety is reporting that actor Christian Bale, was arrested Tuesday "on allegations of assault" in London. The alleged victims: his mother and sister.

Bale was in town for the London premiere of his second Batman movie, "The Dark Knight," which just enjoyed the biggest opening weekend ever.

Check out the Variety story.

It's been six years since Fox Mulder and Dana Scully's flashlights snapped off for good on "The X-Files." This summer, the batteries are getting recharged.

"The X-Files: I Want to Believe," opens Friday, July 25, Here's what you need to know about the seminal science fiction-horror television show and its big screen adaptations before you go:

Continue reading "Everything you wanted to know about 'The X-Files: I Want to Believe' but were afraid to ask" »

New DVDs coming out this week include "TV Funhouse," a not-so-funny parody of Saturday morning children's shows, two wonderful discs of animated films based on award-winning children's books, and the latest prefab TV film starring Ashley Tisdale of "High School Musical."

TV Funhouse

Don't confuse this Comedy Central spinoff with the original short films featured for years on "Saturday Night Live," known as "Saturday TV Funhouse." Both are created by Robert Smigel, but while the "SNL" segments often are hilarious, this 2000-2001 show is strangely unfunny. It's a parody of Saturday morning children's shows, hosted by a goofy guy in a funny hat, Doug, played by Doug Dale. He introduces sketches with his animal puppets, called "anipals." The fake animals mingle with real animals, whose confused expressions underline the weirdness of it all. Two discs, eight episodes, 176 minutes. DVD extras: Commentaries and naughty extras. In stores Tuesday, July 22. Instead of this DVD, get "Saturday Night Live: The Best of Saturday TV Funhouse," an 84-minute disc released in 2006.

Picture This

This tweener comedy could be worse. Martin Lawrence could be playing the overprotective dad. Ashley Tisdale of "High School Musical" fame stars in the ABC Family Channel movie. Instead of prissy Sharpay, she plays unpopular Mandy in, naturally, high school. So what if Tisdale is 23? Anyway, Mandy gets invited to a party, by the most popular guy in school, no less. But wouldn't you know it, she's grounded. She wouldn't dare go to the party anyway, would she? From MGM / UA. In stores Tuesday, July 22.

Continue reading "DVD Extra: An unfunny `TV Funhouse,' plus Ashley Tisdale in `Picture This,' a new season of `Las Vegas' & more" »

Beverly Hills, Calif. -- The Fox isn't as swift as he was in 1993. That truth was out there and had to be faced by David Duchovny when he agreed to return as supernatural sleuth Fox Mulder for "The X-Files: I Want to Believe."

Opening Friday, July 25, this is the second film based on the 1993-2002 Fox series about FBI special agents Mulder and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson). The first "X-Files" movie, released in 1998, also was written by the show's creator, Chris Carter, and executive producer Frank Spotnitz.

"Chris Carter made the decision to let time go by," Duchovny told TV critics gathered for their semi-annual press tour. "Six years had gone by for the two characters, so I found that was the key for me to get back into this guy that I started playing in 1993. I can't play him the same way. I walk a little slower."

Continue reading "David Duchovny talks about playing an older Mulder in new 'X-Files' movie" »