DRAMA
RYAN: I love a lot of movies. I rave about a lot of movies. But rarely does a movie come along that I feel like actually changes me, or has the potential to possibly change someone. I Origins is one of those movies. This film sort of punched me in the gut. It’s the first ..
ACTION
RYAN: This is the new sic fi actioner starring Scarlett Johansson, written and directed by Luc Besson who has a reputation for intense action, but he’s hit or miss. I really liked this movie because it’s surprisingly deep and so profound. It does something a lot of movies don’t do – it educates while entertaining, ..
COMEDY
RYAN:This is the second major movie directed by Zach Braff and it was now famously funded by kickstarter, where he raised $3 million in like 48 hours! He cowrote this with his brother and also stars in it. I loved his film Garden State and have been looking forward to his directorial return. This movie is great! ..
ACTION
RYAN: This is the sequel to the Planet of the Apes reboot, beginning with Rise of the… and this time around it actually feels like it’s an Ape planet. The movie opens like a sorta monkey-Braveheart where they, alone, populate the earth and there are subtitles for the monkey-speak at which point I was thinking, ..
DRAMA
RYAN: I am blown away by Third Person. It’s written and directed by Paul Haggis, who wrote and directed the Oscar-winning Crash and there are similarities here – in his storytelling and impact. It’s a bit softer, more romantic than Crash, but still heavy, deep, intriguing and utterly brilliant. CAROLINE: That’s an endorsement. We did really both love Crash so ..
DRAMA
RYAN: This is the new original movie musical from John Carney, the same writer/director as the movie Once which was adapted to the Broadway stage where it’s been even more successful. Potentially this movie could go that route too. I like this movie a lot because of the casting, story and charm. And it’s a ..
HORROR
RYAN: Starring Eric Bana, this is a new horror/thriller, “based on actual events,” notice the quote there – and is opening for July 4th instead of Halloween which is random because I think it would play so much better in the fall. CAROLINE: It is a rather random release date for a horror flick. How ..
DRAMA
RYAN: This is a new coming of age drama from first time director Naomi Foner, who happens to be mother of Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal. She also write the screenplay and has previously been Oscar nominated for screenwriting, in 1988 for Running on Empty. CAROLINE: Oh with River Phoenix? Interesting. So how did she do as ..
BIOPIC
RYAN: The Broadway musical Jersey Boys is one of my favorite shows and I couldn’t be more excited about this adaptation coming to the big screen and I really loved it. I love musicals. It’s a great one but interestingly, it’s so different from the stage show. My expectations were high and although it’s largely the ..
COMEDY
RYAN: If you’d asked me after seeing Think Like a Man if I wanted to see a sequel, I’d have told you no but the movie made bank so here we are – with the same cast and director, but minus a key element – Steve Harvey. The first film was roughly based on his dating advice ..
FAMILY
RYAN: As I’ve been off interviewing stars for their new movies next week, I took time off from reviewing and sent associate Chuck Walker to screen this one. I know you loved the first installment. How was it? CHUCK: You’re so right – I have anxiously been anticipating this movie since even before the credits ..
ACTION
RYAN: Finally a great Tom Cruise movie and one of his best, at that! He plays an officer in the army and it’s kids like many years in the future, sic fir blockbuster, could-be sequel to A Few Good Men and Top Gun. MICHAEL: Totally. It’s a mash-up of Groundhog Day and Starship Troopers. RYAN: I actually like it better ..
