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The Wackness
MOVIE REVIEW
Rated - R
2 OUT 5 POPCORN BAGS
VALERIE FREEMAN SAYS:
MOVIE REVIEW
Rated - R
2 OUT 5 POPCORN BAGS
VALERIE FREEMAN SAYS:
Clifford "Method Man" Smith in "The Wackness".
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Righteous Kill
MOVIE REVIEW
Rated - R
1 OUT 5 POPCORN BAGS
SHAWN EDWARDS SAYS:
MOVIE REVIEW
Rated - R
1 OUT 5 POPCORN BAGS
SHAWN EDWARDS SAYS:
Call it a joke, a sham, or an embarrassment. All three perfectly describe "Righteous Kill" which
arrives at theaters dead on arrival. If it were 1988 instead of 2008 "Righteous Kill" might have half a
chance of being a good movie.
Unfortunately the films two high profile stars Al Pacino and Robert De Niro are way past their prime.
The opening scene says it all. In the credit sequence Pacino and De Niro are shown firing weapons
at a gun range and lifting weights. Come on! There is nothing you can do to mask the fact that they
that drove me nuts.
Much was made of their initial appearance together in "Heat" (1995), but after seeing "Righteous
Kill" I finally understand why the two only appeared in a few scenes together. They have very little
chemistry and really aren't that exciting together. The biggest problem with this Cinemax classic is
these guys look old, act old, and talk old. "The Godfather" movies seem like two lifetimes ago. So
insert Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson to get the youth movement excited. But Fidy is in the movie in less
time it took Olympic sprinter Hussein Bolt to break the 100 meter world record. Seriously Fidy
completely disappears only to return briefly before fading to black. And by the way, he still can't act.
Apparently there is a serial killer on the loose in New York . Forget about him. It's the director and
screenwriter who should be arrested. So okay, lets just blame everything on the inept script which is
as flat as Kansas and as boring as the Republican convention. We've seen this story more times
than "Happy Birthday" has been sung. Really did some one change the channel to TNT as I dozed
off? Really I'd rather watch "Belly 2."
Shawn Edwards is a film critic for Fox 4 News in Kansas City, Missouri . Edwards co-founded the
African American Film Critics Association and is currently working on his third documentary “Our
Heroes: The 25 Best Black Sports Movies (Ever).”
arrives at theaters dead on arrival. If it were 1988 instead of 2008 "Righteous Kill" might have half a
chance of being a good movie.
Unfortunately the films two high profile stars Al Pacino and Robert De Niro are way past their prime.
The opening scene says it all. In the credit sequence Pacino and De Niro are shown firing weapons
at a gun range and lifting weights. Come on! There is nothing you can do to mask the fact that they
that drove me nuts.
Much was made of their initial appearance together in "Heat" (1995), but after seeing "Righteous
Kill" I finally understand why the two only appeared in a few scenes together. They have very little
chemistry and really aren't that exciting together. The biggest problem with this Cinemax classic is
these guys look old, act old, and talk old. "The Godfather" movies seem like two lifetimes ago. So
insert Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson to get the youth movement excited. But Fidy is in the movie in less
time it took Olympic sprinter Hussein Bolt to break the 100 meter world record. Seriously Fidy
completely disappears only to return briefly before fading to black. And by the way, he still can't act.
Apparently there is a serial killer on the loose in New York . Forget about him. It's the director and
screenwriter who should be arrested. So okay, lets just blame everything on the inept script which is
as flat as Kansas and as boring as the Republican convention. We've seen this story more times
than "Happy Birthday" has been sung. Really did some one change the channel to TNT as I dozed
off? Really I'd rather watch "Belly 2."
Shawn Edwards is a film critic for Fox 4 News in Kansas City, Missouri . Edwards co-founded the
African American Film Critics Association and is currently working on his third documentary “Our
Heroes: The 25 Best Black Sports Movies (Ever).”
Hancock
MOVIE REVIEW
Rated - PG 13
2 OUT 5 POPCORN BAGS
LAUREN FRANCIS-SHARMA SAYS:
MOVIE REVIEW
Rated - PG 13
2 OUT 5 POPCORN BAGS
LAUREN FRANCIS-SHARMA SAYS:
Will Smith, Jason Bateman, and Charlize
Theron star in "Hancock."
Theron star in "Hancock."
The Dark Knight
MOVIE REVIEW
Rated - PG 13
2 OUT 5 POPCORN BAGS
LAUREN FRANCIS-SHARMA SAYS:
MOVIE REVIEW
Rated - PG 13
2 OUT 5 POPCORN BAGS
LAUREN FRANCIS-SHARMA SAYS:
Will Smith, Jason Bateman, and Charlize
Theron star in "Hancock."
Theron star in "Hancock."
Rock N Rolla
MOVIE REVIEW
Rated - R
4 OUT 5 POPCORN BAGS
SHAWN EDWARDS SAYS:
MOVIE REVIEW
Rated - R
4 OUT 5 POPCORN BAGS
SHAWN EDWARDS SAYS:
“RockNRolla.” The gangsta flick is a return to form for the director who made a name for himself with
“Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” (1998) and the classic “Snatch” (2000) one of the best
movies ever made -- no doubt after stumbling a bit with a couple of dawgs “Revolver (2005) and
“Swept Away” (2002) starring his ex-wife. Next…
So what is a “RockNRolla?” It’s a movie that moves fast, features a cavalcade of off-beat characters
and has a bit of cartoonish violence. It is hard at times to keep up with Ritchie’s schizophrenic script
and slightly confusing story which is interjected with several flashback scenes. But if you can hang
and understand the thick accents then the payoff is quite delicious.
What works in “RockNRolla's” favor are the moments of humor and there are plenty. The movie also
features a diverse mix of characters which gives the movie a fresh appeal. At the center of things are
a gorgeous accountant played with a nasty icy chill by Thandie Newton, a junkie played with total
effectiveness and believability by Toby Kebbell and two two-bit thugs (Gerard “Mr. 300” Butler and
Idris “The Wire” Elba). They are all mixed up in a scandal involving a stolen painting. Ritchie is a
master at writing dialogue that crackles with a “street” vibe and the street poetry he provides his
characters help keep things lively and entertaining.
Chris “Ludacris” Bridges and Jeremy Piven as are also in the mix in “RockNRolla” as a club owning
duo (Yes, they are wasted in the film). But it’s Newton, looking OMG sexy and Idris Elba who shine
the brightest. Over all “RocKNRolla” is a crime saga that will keep you guessing without forcing you
to scratch your head and keep you totally entertained with it’s absurd plot that never takes a second
to rest. Just wish the soundtrack were better. Maybe Ritchie will correct that misstep in the sequel.
“Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” (1998) and the classic “Snatch” (2000) one of the best
movies ever made -- no doubt after stumbling a bit with a couple of dawgs “Revolver (2005) and
“Swept Away” (2002) starring his ex-wife. Next…
So what is a “RockNRolla?” It’s a movie that moves fast, features a cavalcade of off-beat characters
and has a bit of cartoonish violence. It is hard at times to keep up with Ritchie’s schizophrenic script
and slightly confusing story which is interjected with several flashback scenes. But if you can hang
and understand the thick accents then the payoff is quite delicious.
What works in “RockNRolla's” favor are the moments of humor and there are plenty. The movie also
features a diverse mix of characters which gives the movie a fresh appeal. At the center of things are
a gorgeous accountant played with a nasty icy chill by Thandie Newton, a junkie played with total
effectiveness and believability by Toby Kebbell and two two-bit thugs (Gerard “Mr. 300” Butler and
Idris “The Wire” Elba). They are all mixed up in a scandal involving a stolen painting. Ritchie is a
master at writing dialogue that crackles with a “street” vibe and the street poetry he provides his
characters help keep things lively and entertaining.
Chris “Ludacris” Bridges and Jeremy Piven as are also in the mix in “RockNRolla” as a club owning
duo (Yes, they are wasted in the film). But it’s Newton, looking OMG sexy and Idris Elba who shine
the brightest. Over all “RocKNRolla” is a crime saga that will keep you guessing without forcing you
to scratch your head and keep you totally entertained with it’s absurd plot that never takes a second
to rest. Just wish the soundtrack were better. Maybe Ritchie will correct that misstep in the sequel.
Thandie Newton and Gerard Butler in RockNRolla.
The Wackness
MOVIE REVIEW
Rated - R
2 OUT 5 POPCORN BAGS
VALERIE FREEMAN SAYS:
MOVIE REVIEW
Rated - R
2 OUT 5 POPCORN BAGS
VALERIE FREEMAN SAYS:
Clifford "Method Man" Smith in "The Wackness".
MOVIE REVIEW
Rated - R
1 OUT 5 POPCORN BAGS
KAM WILLIAMS SAYS:
Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jane Lynch and Bobbe J. Thompson.
Role Models. Director David Wain (The Ten) probably thought he had an inspired idea when he cast
his crass comedy with some of the most famous faces from recent teensploits, including Seann
William Scott, aka Stiffler from the American Pie franchise, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, aka McLovin
from Superbad, Bobb’e J. Thompson aka Slam from Fred Claus, and blonde-of-the-moment
Elizabeth Banks, who just this year has been in Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Meet Dave, W. and
Definitely, Maybe.
The film also features MD-turned standup comic Dr. Ken Jeong, a colorful character actor with
memorable outings in Knocked Up or Pineapple Express. Then there’s Reno 911!’s Kerri Kenney
and scene-stealer Jane Lynch who’s best known for her unforgettable cameo as a cougar in heat in
The 40 Year-Old Virgin.
Regrettably, here, this admittedly gifted ensemble has been assembled in service of a relentlessly
coarse script which fails to do justice to any of their considerable talents. Instead of having them
portray fresh characters, director Wain simply attempted to cash in on their former glory by having
them reprise slight variations on their most celebrated roles.
At the point of departure, we find twenty-something best friends Wheeler (Scott) and Danny (Paul
Rudd) visiting junior high schools to lecture students about the danger of drugs in their capacity as
spokesmen for Minotaur energy drink. However, after they trash a company truck on a campus after a
drunken binge during lunch, the pair ends up in court where they are offered the option of 150 hours
of community service as mentors as an alternative to jail.
Although they have no parenting skills, they opt for the former, and are directed to the offices of Sturdy
Wings, a charity whose inexplicably flirtatious founder (Lynch) assigns them a couple of youngsters to
spend time with. Danny gets Augie (Mintz-Plasse), a 16 year-old nerd who spends all his free time
dressing up in medieval outfits to participate in Dungeon and Dragons-style re-enactments, while
Wheeler has his hands full with Ronnie (Thompson), a 10 year-old ghetto-gangsta with a mouth
more foul than his own.
Of course, both these slackers initially prove to be failures as role models, with Danny exhibiting no
sensitivity about Augie’s obsessive compulsive disorder, and party animal Wheeler carelessly
exposing Ronnie to sex, drugs and rock & roll. Hauled back into court, it falls to Danny’s attorney ex-
girlfriend, Beth (Banks), to beg the judge for mercy and one last chance to behave like decent Big
Brothers.
Of course, they reform themselves the second time around, and more appropriately bond with the
boys just before the obligatory “happily ever after” finale, but far too late in this critic’s opinion to undo
the overall mean-spirited tone of the film. An irresponsible frittering away of the cinematic capital
amassed by Stiffler, McLovin and other beloved icons of the teen genre.
his crass comedy with some of the most famous faces from recent teensploits, including Seann
William Scott, aka Stiffler from the American Pie franchise, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, aka McLovin
from Superbad, Bobb’e J. Thompson aka Slam from Fred Claus, and blonde-of-the-moment
Elizabeth Banks, who just this year has been in Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Meet Dave, W. and
Definitely, Maybe.
The film also features MD-turned standup comic Dr. Ken Jeong, a colorful character actor with
memorable outings in Knocked Up or Pineapple Express. Then there’s Reno 911!’s Kerri Kenney
and scene-stealer Jane Lynch who’s best known for her unforgettable cameo as a cougar in heat in
The 40 Year-Old Virgin.
Regrettably, here, this admittedly gifted ensemble has been assembled in service of a relentlessly
coarse script which fails to do justice to any of their considerable talents. Instead of having them
portray fresh characters, director Wain simply attempted to cash in on their former glory by having
them reprise slight variations on their most celebrated roles.
At the point of departure, we find twenty-something best friends Wheeler (Scott) and Danny (Paul
Rudd) visiting junior high schools to lecture students about the danger of drugs in their capacity as
spokesmen for Minotaur energy drink. However, after they trash a company truck on a campus after a
drunken binge during lunch, the pair ends up in court where they are offered the option of 150 hours
of community service as mentors as an alternative to jail.
Although they have no parenting skills, they opt for the former, and are directed to the offices of Sturdy
Wings, a charity whose inexplicably flirtatious founder (Lynch) assigns them a couple of youngsters to
spend time with. Danny gets Augie (Mintz-Plasse), a 16 year-old nerd who spends all his free time
dressing up in medieval outfits to participate in Dungeon and Dragons-style re-enactments, while
Wheeler has his hands full with Ronnie (Thompson), a 10 year-old ghetto-gangsta with a mouth
more foul than his own.
Of course, both these slackers initially prove to be failures as role models, with Danny exhibiting no
sensitivity about Augie’s obsessive compulsive disorder, and party animal Wheeler carelessly
exposing Ronnie to sex, drugs and rock & roll. Hauled back into court, it falls to Danny’s attorney ex-
girlfriend, Beth (Banks), to beg the judge for mercy and one last chance to behave like decent Big
Brothers.
Of course, they reform themselves the second time around, and more appropriately bond with the
boys just before the obligatory “happily ever after” finale, but far too late in this critic’s opinion to undo
the overall mean-spirited tone of the film. An irresponsible frittering away of the cinematic capital
amassed by Stiffler, McLovin and other beloved icons of the teen genre.
