Posts Tagged ‘Scarlett Johansson’

Hail, Caesar? Hail, No

Posted: February 7, 2016 in 2016 Berlinale, Comedy, Reviews
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Hail, CaesarThe first scene in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, the sequel to one of the greatest action movies ever filmed, is a musical number. There was no cinematic justification for Kate Capshaw leading a line of chorus girls in a Mandarin Chinese rendition of “Anything Goes” for three minutes while audiences asked “WTF?” before that was even a thing. No justification does not mean no explanation. It turns out that director Steven Spielberg always wanted to direct a musical. And, oh, yeah, he was married to Capshaw.

Now, imagine, not just one scene, but an entire film comprised of scenes from genres that the director always wanted to film. (more…)

Avengers: Age of Ultron Review

Posted: April 26, 2015 in Action, Reviews
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MV5BMTc3MDc0NDkzOV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNjIwMjQ0NTE@._V1__SX1202_SY826_Have often do you see a film that starts well only to falter at the midway point and limp to a conclusion that leaves you wondering what might have been? Conversely, how seldom do you see a film that is going off the rails in the early going, yet somehow manages to correct its mistakes after halftime and eke out a win?

Count Avengers: Age of Ultron as one of the rare films that appears headed toward failure, yet somehow course corrects halfway through and finishes strong enough to be regarded as a mild success. As summer blockbuster entertainment, you can call it necessary, but not sufficient. (more…)

Under The Skin Review

Posted: May 16, 2014 in Drama, Reviews, Science Fiction
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imageOne day soon, Scarlett Johansson will be regarded as the most important female performer in cinema. That is not say that she will ever hold the title of best living actress. Even after Meryl Strep passes, there will always be a middle-aged British woman that sets the critics to full swoon through the portrayal of a royal, either dead or alive. Johansson will occupy a different position all together. She is now our premiere thespian goddess, the woman who can enthrall legions of fan boys in a comic book flick, then turn around and dominate a smaller, “serious” film.

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