Frank and Ava movie interview: Frank Sinatra portrayer Rico Simonini discusses the indie drama about singer’s turbulent marriage with Ava Gardner.
Real-Life-Based Movies
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Barry (Movie 2016) Commentary: Common Ground with Obama
13 minutes readBarry (movie 2016): Former U.S. President Barack Obama and the author have a number of things in common, as discussed in this film commentary. Devon Terrell stars.
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Sully (movie 2016) review: Tom Hanks personifies the ‘all-American hero’ as idealized by director Clint Eastwood in this drama that distorts real-life events. Laura Linney costars.
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Truth (Movie 2015): Remarkable Cate Blanchett
8 minutes readTruth (movie 2015) review: Cate Blanchett delivers a great star turn in this engrossing but less than objective docudrama. Robert Redford costars.
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Captain Phillips (Movie 2013): Misplaced Tom Hanks Focus
5 minutes readCaptain Phillips (movie 2013) review: Tom Hanks’ American seaman is the wrong central character in Paul Greengrass’ unsatisfying political thriller. Barkhad Abdi costars.
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The Fifth Estate (Movie 2013): Opaque Julian Assange
7 minutes readThe Fifth Estate (movie 2013) review: Benedict Cumberbatch creates a fuzzy Julian Assange in Bill Condon’s two-dimensional WikiLeaks’ drama.
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Warren Beatty in Dick Tracy with Madonna. June 22 update: Warren Beatty used to be known as a Ladies’ Man. Before Annette Bening, there were stories about Natalie Wood, Leslie …
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The Way Back box office: Peter Weir’s ‘inspirational’ adventure tale of survival has turned out to be a commercial fiasco. Jim Sturgess, Colin Farrell and Ed Harris star.
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The King’s Speech (Movie 2010): Flawless Colin Firth
6 minutes readThe King’s Speech with Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter The King’s Speech (movie 2010) review I can’t imagine what it must be like to be born into royalty. That kind …
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The Fighter (Movie 2010): Marketable Real-Life-Based Drama
4 minutes readThe Fighter movie (2010): ‘Smart’ (as in Marketable) Hollywood product with impressive Oscar winners Melissa Leo and Christian Bale.
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Conviction Box Office: Latest Hilary Swank Flop
6 minutes readConviction box office: Starring Hilary Swank, Tony Goldwyn’s real-life-based legal drama is on its way to becoming a sizable commercial dud.
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Secretariat box office: Starring Diane Lane, the racehorse drama has failed to match the popularity of either The Blind Side or the similar Seabiscuit.
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The Social Network Box Office: Rare Adult-Oriented Hit
5 minutes readThe Social Network box office: David Fincher’s Facebook drama is a rare critically acclaimed and adult-oriented hit. Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield star.
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The Honeymoon Killers (movie 1970) review: Leonard Kastle’s crime tale rivals better-known fare partly thanks to Shirley Stoler and Tony Lo Bianco’s charismatic performances.
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Charlie Wilson’s War Box Office: Tom Hanks & Julia Roberts Political Dramedy Fails to Ignite
5 minutes readCharlie Wilson’s War box office: Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts have failed to lure audiences to Mike Nichols’ political comedy-drama. Amy Adams and Philip Seymour Hoffman costar.
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Breach (Movie 2007): Sophisticated Spy Thriller
3 minutes readBreach (movie 2007) review: Ryan Phillippe and Chris Cooper deliver first-rate performances in Billy Ray’s mature spy thriller based on the FBI’s infamous Robert Hanssen case.
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Hotel Rwanda Movie: Facts or fiction in Rwandan genocide drama featuring Oskar-Schindler-like hero – Paul Rusebagina now himself a controversial figure.
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The Sea Inside (2004): Crowd-Pleasing Euthanasia Drama
5 minutes readThe Sea Inside (movie 2004) review: Javier Bardem is an inadequate lead in Alejandro Amenábar’s pro-euthanasia melodrama. But the supporting cast is first-rate.
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J.M. Barrie & Peter Pan Origins: Finding Neverland vs. Reality
12 minutes readJ.M. Barrie and Peter Pan origins: Marc Forster’s Finding Neverland opts for crowd-pleasing myths instead of a depiction of a darker, more complex reality.
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Music of the Heart (1999): Luminous Meryl Streep
6 minutes readMusic of the Heart (1999) review: Meryl Streep is an ‘inspirational’ presence in Wes Craven’s sentimental and unusually gore-free drama.
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The Hurricane (1999): Hollow Denzel Washington
8 minutes readThe Hurricane (1999) review: An ineffectual Denzel Washington stars as jailed boxer Rubin Carter in what may well be Norman Jewison’s worst effort
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J.M. Barrie Movie Tops National Board of Review Awards
9 minutes readMarc Forster’s J.M. Barrie movie Finding Neverland is the National Board of Review Awards’ Best Film. Annette Bening wins Best Actress.
Jersey Boys (Movie 2014): Tedious Clint Eastwood Biopic
Jersey Boys (movie 2014) review: Clint Eastwood prosaically tracks the humdrum rise and fall of Frankie Valli (John Lloyd Young) and the Four Seasons.
Soul Surfer box office: Despite its relatively low budget, this ‘inspirational’ Christian drama may be unable to recover its production costs. AnnaSophia Robb and Dennis Quaid star.
For Colored Girls Box Office: All-Star Tyler Perry Drama Performing Well Below Expectations
For Colored Girls box office: The latest Tyler Perry drama has been a major commercial disappointment despite its stellar cast (Kerry Washington et al.).
Stardust Memories (Movie 1980): Greatest Woody Allen Classic?
Stardust Memories (movie 1980) review: Contemplative Woody Allen comedy is one of the most profound films ever made. Charlotte Rampling and Jessica Harper costar.
Running with Scissors (movie 2006) review: Ryan Murphy’s movie version of Augusten Burroughs’ memoirs is a dramatic mess. Annette Bening is its sole redeeming feature.
Finding Neverland (2004): Colorless Johnny Depp
Finding Neverland (2004) review: Johnny Depp is a Disneyfied version of Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie in this ‘feel-good’ tragedy.