Stop Talking

If only the words in 'The Words' were good

How bad is The Words? I’d gladly sit through Cosmopolis again than watch this vapid tale populated with bland souls. Seriously, what were the filmmakers thinking?

Cars, No Crashes

David Cronenberg misses again with 'Cosmopolis'

If there’s one film director who can make audiences flee, it’s David Cronenberg. Anyone who watched Crash, his graphic tale of car crashes and sex, or his adaptation of William Burroughs’ Naked Lunch, knows as much.

Rashida Jones, Will McCormack talk 'Celeste & Jesse'

Break-ups are tough. Movies dealing significantly with break-ups are dicey, too. For every Annie Hall (which follows a relationship from start to finish and beyond), there are five The Break-Up's.

Moonshinin’ and Shootin’

'Lawless' is sporadically effective

It would be wonderful to report that director John Hillcoat and screenwriter-musician Nick Cave’s re-teaming for Lawless is as good as their previous effort, The Proposition. Sadly, it’s not so.Wh

A Smart Comedy About Divorce

'Celeste & Jesse Forever' is sharp, funny and heartbreaking

Imagine this: Two best friends fall in love, get married and seem to have the happiest union of anyone around. Then suddenly, they split up. The weird thing is, they remain inseparable friends.That’

He Sees Dead and Dismembered People

ParaNorman is fun with a message

It seems crazy, but animated films may be the best way within the movies to tackle mature themes. How else can a movie make us deal with subjects such as death and bullying without coming off like an After School Special?

Late Summer Cars and Guns

'Hit & Run' is fitfully fun

Just because Hit & Run hits theaters now doesn’t mean it’s bad. It’s not necessarily good, either. However, there are enough solid laughs and stunt driving to make one gloss over the many things about it that don’t work.

Hope Springs

Screenplay and milquetoast approach betray its supremely talented cast

The latest from The Devil Wears Prada director David Frankle certainly knows how to deliver emotional truth, but its screenplay and milquetoast approach betray its supremely talented cast.

Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry

Portrait of the artist as dissident

When Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is asked how he’s so fearless, he replies, “I’m so fearful!" We wouldn’t know by his actions.

She's alive...ALIVE!

Ruby Sparks can’t decide what to do with itself

Ruby Sparks defies easy categorization. That’s not because it’s so original; it isn’t. Writer’s creation comes to life? Definitely seen it before. Its bigger stumbling block is that it can’t decide whether it’s a funny drama or a serious comedy.