13 Songs (1990) – 5 stars Repeater +3 Songs (1990) – 4 stars Steady Diet of Nothing (1991) – 4 stars In on the Kill Taker (1993) – 5 stars Red Medicine (1995) – 5 stars End Hits (1998) – 3.5 stars The Argument (2001) – 4 stars A “staggeringly powerful combination,” as Rolling…
Rating: 5 stars (out of 5) With War, U2 build skyscrapers upon the foundation of their debut album Boy. If the startling cover art—the same young boy staring at the viewer, only with a face of righteous anger replacing innocence—wasn’t enough of an indication, these men, just 23 at the time of release, expand upon…
Rating: 4 stars (out of 4) Bull Durham is far and away the best sports movie of all-time, but I hate to classify it as much because it’s also so much more. It’s a great romantic comedy, a very funny movie, a very poignant movie, and when all put together, an exceptional piece of art. …
Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not (2006) – 4.5 stars Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007) – 4 stars Humbug (2009) – 4 stars Years before Radiohead invited yet another wave of critical fawning by offering an album for free download, the Arctic Monkeys cultivated a rabid following by giving away demos of early…
Today’s George Clooney day at EarnThis, where we’ll examine Up in the Air, recently nominated for Best Picture, and Michael Clayton, likewise nominated in 2008. Clooney’s career has advanced considerably thanks to both films, but one holds up a lot better than the other. Rating: 2 and a half stars (out of 4) Melding that sort of comedic-drama…
In honor of last Sunday’s Oscars, here’s a movie that should be honored at next year’s ceremony (but, given that Sandra Bullock just won Best Actress for Blind Side, clearly won’t be). Rating: 3 and a half stars (out of 4) I had no designs of liking The Book of Eli—none. Due to an uninspiring…
Rating: 4 stars (out of 4) In a revealing late chapter of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry asks Professor Dumbledore whether their poignant interaction has been taking place for real or merely in his head. “Of course it is happening inside your head,” Dumbledore responds, “but why on Earth should that mean that…
Placebo (1996) – 3 stars Without You I’m Nothing (1998) – 4.5 stars Black Market Music (2000) – 4 stars Sleeping With Ghosts (2003) – 3.5 stars Meds (2006) – 5 stars Battle for the Sun (2009) – 3.5 stars Placebo, I suppose you could say, is a cult band, one of those prototypical you-get-them-or-you-don’t…
Rating: 1 star (out of 4) Hollywood studios like to propagate the idea that romantic comedies are suitable for both men and women. Blind Side isn’t a rom-com, but doubtless this idea still came to them—hey, let’s combine Sandra Bullock (the women) and football (the men) to draw in maximum viewers. Add the holiday season…
Rating: 2 and a half stars (out of 4) For those who have seen the trailers and are reasonably familiar with the puppets behind the stage, Invictus will probably be much like what you expect. Clint Eastwood’s directorial style—at best, smooth and undistracted, at worst flat—Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon’s dignified acting, and a stirring…