'Love & Other Drugs' Review

Ed Zwick's wish-it-were-more-adult dramedy "Love & Other Drugs" surely aims to be this year's "Up in the Air," and for a while it seems like it might be a passable distant cousin, but a schizophrenic devotion to crude humor and unconvincing sap squashes its hopes.

For more, and a bit on Annie Hathaways breastesses, read my full review, now online at SouthPhillyReview.com. CLICK HERE.

Happy Thanksgiving

Soak up some holiday spirit.

Love, Your Movie Buddy

'127 Hours' review, Take 2

I already reviewed "127 Hours" about a month ago, but whaddaya know, I went ahead and did it again.

Why not read both? The new, more concise version is now online at SouthPhillyReview.com. CLICK HERE.

Guest-Blogging at The Film Experience

Earlier this week, I had the great pleasure of guest-blogging at my favorite film blog on the planet, The Film Experience, while its creator, Nathaniel Rogers, took a trip to Iceland. I've been reading his site for a number of years, and it was quite exciting to be featured on it. Fun fun. Here's hoping my fellow TFE readers didn't find my posts too snarky or verbose.

If you're curious, please take a peek at my contributions. On Monday I turned the spotlight on a memorable snippet of Peter Sarsgaard's terrific performance in "Shattered Glass," and on Tuesday, I gave a breakdown of new DVD releases, praising "The Kids Are All Right" and sticking it to a few other titles.

It was a treat to be included among Nat's insightful contributors, and I hope to pitch in again.

Not Just 'For Colored Girls'

I don't have the precious minutes to do a lengthy write-up on Tyler Perry's "For Colored Girls" (nor did it find a spot in my film-review agenda), but it really left a glowing impression on me. I even found myself liking the things I didn't like (I'm talking to you, Ms. Jackson).

This is a rare and wonderful trip to the movies, despite the grossly excessive melodrama, cliches and nonstop suffering. It really kills me that all the performances will likely be ignored by the Academy -- on top of more obvious reasons, it just doesn't have the reviews -- because they are without question some of the year's best. Kimberly Elise, Loretta Devine and Anika Noni Rose are particularly great. No lover of actors should dare miss out.

Meanwhile, have you been to the Web site? It's a beaut, which is typical of Tyler Perry film marketing. Also, check back next month, when I post my feature on the lovely and gifted Kerry Washington, co-star of "For Colored Girls." I for one am very excited about it.

'Morning Glory' Review

Sure, you'll giggle and smile a bit in "Morning Glory," the new media-biz flick from the writer of "The Devil Wears Prada." But don't think for a second you're going to get the kind of quality time you enjoyed with Andy Sachs and Miranda Priestly. "Morning Glory" wants to be a vintage farce and an edgy new comedy at once, and it never finds its groove.

My full review of "Morning Glory is now online at SouthPhillyReview.com. (Note: In the review, the line, "...Diane Keaton plays Colleen Peck..." is supposed to say, "...Diane Keaton plays Diane Keaton..." Guess that got lost in translation.)
CLICK HERE.

THR's Actress Buffet

I'm way behind the eightball on this, but I didn't want to just proceed as if The Hollywood Reporter's delicious roundtable with six major actresses didn't happen. You can watch clips of the full hour-long interview at THR's Web site (and by god, don't interrupt the feed -- you'll be forced to start over!). For now, enjoy the exceedingly monochromatic cover:

If you don't have the patience to watch the whole video (trust me, it's addictive), Nathaniel Rogers live blogged it last week over at The Film Experience.

'Saw 3D' Review

This was, truly, an excrutiating film to sit through. The shallow slicing and dicing is easy to brush off once you exit the theater (which I did alongside a man of about 70 -- what did he think of it?!), but so many moments throughout are deeply sick and cringe-worthy. It feels like someone's scooping at your insides with a shovel.

Read my review of "Saw 3D," which I braved last week while visiting New York. It's now online at SouthPhillyReview.com. CLICK HERE.