I love a good bad movie. Not a movie that’s so bad it’s good (like those from “Mystery Science Theater 3000”), but one that’s enjoyable in its own loopy way, like “Sahara,” “Point Break” and a handful of others I…
Young Lives with Ancient Wisdom
The preternaturally wise child is a tricky character to bring to life. Here, my picks for films that do it well: http://www.wordandfilm.com/2013/07/ways-to-live-forever-and-5-other-young-lives-with-ancient-wisdom/#
A summer tradition: the coming-of-age epiphany movie
With “The Way, Way Back” opening this week and “The Spectacular Now” coming next month, a warm-weather tradition continues: the coming-of-age epiphany movie. Start with a youth in transition (“The Wackness”) or a restless adult with unresolved issues (“A Walk…
Who’s strong and brave here to save the American way?
Happy 4th of July! We played the “Star-Spangled Man” segment from “Captain America: The First Avenger” for our son this morning. Here, my other suggestions for red, white and blue viewing.
Richard Matheson, you are legend
Few writers intertwined word and film better than Richard Matheson. The prolific author, who died Sunday at age eighty-seven after a long illness, was a multimedia writer before anyone coined the term. Perhaps most famous for the apocalyptic vampire tale…
12 top Pixar movie moments
EW chooses 12 favorite moments from Pixar films. “Toy Story 3” gets me every time. Love that “The Incredibles” rank high here too.
World War Z
I watched “World War Z” tonight for an assignment. Better than I expected, though abrupt at the end.
Dads of Steel
“Man of Steel” takes flight on Friday, placing Superman (Henry Cavill) between two strong father figures just in time for Father’s Day weekend. Finding equilibrium between his extraterrestrial roots and his adoptive home on Earth has always been tricky for…
4 Hidden Netflix Gems
I’m a child of the ’70s, so is it any wonder that “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century” is a hidden gem to me? On a more modern note, so is “Archer.”
Movies Adapted from Books: What Works, What Doesn’t
I’m writing a feature-length screenplay. In the high-wire act of adapting a book into a movie, you have to know what to ditch and what to keep. “The English Patient” gets it right. “Jack Reacher” could’ve reached farther. (As a…