The gangster movie is a genre with a long and distinguished history. From “The Public Enemy” to “The Godfather” to “Infernal Affairs” to “Black Mass,” the exploits of gangsters around the world have delighted audiences and encouraged filmmakers to produce works that are familiar yet innovative. The British gangster film includes some prominent and memorable…
When Sony announced its plans for a theatrical release of an animated Spider-Man film, even hardcore fans of the web swinger may have considered it to be just another unwarranted adaptation. “Haven’t we seen enough portrayals of Spider-Man?,” those with comic-book movie fatigue asked, and yet in his seventh major solo theatrical release since 2002,…
Remakes come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, some more similar to their source material than others. The mold that Brick Mansions was formed in is the kind that thrives on familiarity, though it’s probably a good thing in this case. An English-language update of the 2004 French flick “District 13,” Brick Mansions…
With more than a passing nod to revenge action films like “The Driver” and “Shooter,” director Niels Arden Oplev (“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” original 2009 Swedish-language version) has certainly crafted a gloomy, gritty, violent crime thriller, with some spot-on acting performances, but with a confusing, convoluted plot and a filmed at a deliberate…
Arnold is back — and he’s bitter. And so is the script for The Last Stand. After two terms as governor of “Cally-fornia,” as well as bit parts in a few movies here and there, Arnold Schwarzenegger has finally returned to his above-title billing as the action hero we’ve come to expect: The lone wolf…
Arnold Schwarzenegger hasn’t skipped a beat since vacating the governorship and getting divorced. He’s starring in this week’s old fogey actioner “The Expendables 2” and he was busy shooting 2013’s The Last Stand, for which a trailer has hit today. In it, he’s a tired sheriff of a sleepy town who must face off with…
