The Tillman Story ***1/2
Drama and Documentary. Pat Tillman gave up his professional football career to join the Army Rangers in 2002 -- and became an instant symbol of patriotic fervor and unflinching duty. But the truth about Pat Tillman is far more complex, and ultimately far more heroic, than the caricature created by the media. And, when the government tried to turn his death into propaganda, they took on the wrong family. From her home in Santa Cruz mountains, Pat's mother, Dannie Tillman, led the family's crusade to reveal the truth beneath the mythology of their son's life and death. "The Tillman Story" not only shines a light on the shady aftermath of Pat's death and calls to task the entire chain of command but also examines themes as timeless as the notion of heroism itself. R 97 minutes. Three and a half stars
Wall Street Money Never Sleeps ***
Drama and Sequel. Emerging from a lengthy prison stint, Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) finds himself on the outside of a world he once dominated. Looking to repair his damaged relationship with his daughter, Gekko forms an alliance with her fiance Jacob (Shia LaBeouf), and Jacob begins to see him as a father figure. But Jacob learns the hard way that Gekko -- still a master manipulator and player -- is after something very different from redemption. PG-13 133 minutes. Three stars
Bran Nue Dae ***
Comedy, Musical/Performing Arts and Adaptation. A coming of age musical tale set in northwest Australia celebrating family, forgiveness, and aboriginal reconciliation. It is the summer of 1969 and young Willie is filled with an idyllic life in his hometown port of Broome. Down on his luck he meets an old man, who he calls 'Uncle' Tadpole, and together they con a couple of hippies, Annie and Slippery, into taking them on a life-changing 3,000 mile journey through the spectacular Australian outback. PG-13 85 minutes Three stars
The Duel ** ½
The great plays of Chekhov are endlessly revived, but there are precious few adaptations, either theatrical or cinematic, of his many and far less celebrated stories and novellas. The rather ungainly titled "Anton Chekhov's the Duel" demonstrates that there's a wealth of material yet to be explored. The film is receiving its world theatrical premiere at New York's Film Forum. Directed by Dover Kosashvili, the Israeli filmmaker who made an auspicious debut with the terrific "Late Marriage" (2001), the English-language film features a largely Irish cast. Two and a half stars.
You Again *
Comedy. Successful PR pro Marni (Kristen Bell) heads home for her older brother's wedding and discovers that he's marrying her high school arch nemesis, who's conveniently forgotten all the rotten things she did so many years ago. Then the bride's jet-setting aunt (Sigourney Weaver) bursts in and Marni's not-so-jet-setting mom (Jamie Lee Curtis) comes face to face with her own high school rival. PG 105 minutes One star
The Virginity Hit ½
One teen's quest to lose his virginity is broadcast on the internet for the entire world to see in this comedy from producers Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. Matt always wanted his first time to be special, then his plan to lose his virginity with longtime girlfriend Nicole goes went horribly awry. Unfortunately for Matt, his friends were videotaping the entire thing, and before long the clip goes viral. Embarrassed and heartbroken, Matt finds his luck turning around when a pretty online admirer offers to be his first. But her offer comes with a list of stipulations, and as Matt prepares to take the plunge, his pals keep the camera rolling to catch every painfully awkward moment of his transition into manhood. R 126 minutes one half star
Barry Epstein is president of Barry R. Epstein Associates, a full service public relations, marketing and political consulting firm based in Boca Raton, Fl. For more information, visit www.publicrelations.nu or call 561.852.0000. Watch “barry Epstein live” every Friday morning at 10 AM on www.wrpbitv.com or anytime by clicking ondemand barryepstein
No comments:
Post a Comment