“Righteous Kill” depends too much on surprise
I admit that I enjoy a good jolt when a director masterfully tinkers around with audience expectations for the purpose of dishing out a surprise. Alfred Hitchcock called it “playing the audience like a piano.” It takes a great pianist to pull it off, and Hitchcock was a master musician in that respect. But when an auteur fails to trick audience expectations, the results are disastrous. Jon Avnet’s “Righteous Kill” is one of those movies that unsuccessfully attempts to pull the rug from under the audience, while gleefully indicating, “I fooled you!”
“Water for Elephants” lacks originality
After extensive research, New York Times bestselling author Sara Gruen wrote the dark historical fiction, “Water for Elephants.” Her scrutiny paid off and is clearly evident throughout this book, with strange, old-fashioned prose and peculiar, authentic pictures to accompany each chapter. The story takes place in the 1930s in a second-rate circus company that tours the country and is as much a love story as it is about animal cruelty.
“Towelhead” goes deep
Controversial, complicated, and heartfelt. These words describe screenwriting maven Alan Ball’s directorial debut, “Towelhead.” Based on the Alicia Erian novel of the same name, the film is about a 13-year-old Arab American girl Jasira (Summer Bishil) who moves away from her selfish, immature mother (Maria Bello) to a Texas suburb with her father (Peter Macdissi) during the Gulf War.
“Man on Wire” worth the time
There are some stories in history that are so incredible, they deserve to be documented; stories so enthralling and inspiring that it should be put on the silver screen for many to see. This is very true of British director James Marsh’s new documentary, “Man on Wire.”
Not only Smoke and Mirrors
Near the beginning of this week, I was asked to write a list of books that I have read recently and send them in to see if any were review-worthy. At the top of the list was Neil Gaiman’s “Smoke and Mirrors.” I put this on the list, not thinking that I would actually write a review for it, but just to show another book which I have read.
“Between the Pages” is a Q-and-A series that explores one’s life through books that have shaped and influenced them. Books affect the forming...