James Dawson, Author at Front Row Features

James Dawson

James Dawson has written more than 1,000 movie reviews and feature articles for numerous print publications and websites. He also is the author of several novels (including "Hollywood Eclipse" and "Wasted Talents," both set in the entertainment industry) and short story collections, all available at Amazon.com. His personal website is
iDawson.com.

A Clockwork Kumquat

Film Reviews Reviews By James Dawson|February 11, 2015 |0

By JAMES DAWSON Front Row Features Film Critic This ploddingly passionless serving of corporate-approved softcore smut is as flavorless and phony as the GMO tomatoes that should be thrown at the screen each time its brainless heroine bites her lip, utters something childishly stupid that’s [...]

Final ‘Hobbit’ Goes Out With a Fight

Film Reviews Reviews By James Dawson|December 13, 2014 |0

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A Good Priest, Outcast Heroes and a Mummy Adventure on Home Video

Film Reviews News By James Dawson|December 9, 2014 |0

By JAMES DAWSON Front Row Features Film Critic The miraculously good “Calvary” is available Tuesday, Dec. 9 in a Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray and Digital HD). The drama, released in the U.S. earlier this year, tells the story about a steadfastly moral Irish priest (Brendan Gleeson) who is th [...]

First ‘Mockingjay’ Only Partly Satisfies Hunger

Film Reviews Reviews By James Dawson|November 20, 2014 |0

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Brendan Gleeson Shines as Imperiled Priest in ‘Calvary’

Film Reviews Reviews By James Dawson|July 31, 2014 |0

By JAMES DAWSON Front Row Features Film Critic The miraculously good “Calvary,” about a steadfastly moral Irish priest (Brendan Gleeson) who is threatened by a bitter molestation victim that he will be murdered in exactly one week, manages to be both a genuinely moving religious alleg [...]

‘Nymphomaniac Vol. II’ Finds No Joy in Sex

Film Reviews Reviews By James Dawson|March 31, 2014 |0

By JAMES DAWSON Front Row Features Film Critic The sequel to director-writer Lars von Trier’s explicit and excellent “Nymphomaniac Vol. I” is a darker and sadder walk on the wild side, but one with so many interesting things to say about human sexuality that it’s another m [...]

‘Nymphomaniac’ Makes Carnality Clever

Film Reviews Reviews By James Dawson|March 17, 2014 |0

By JAMES DAWSON Front Row Features Film Critic As its title makes pretty obvious, director-writer Lars von Trier’s “Nymphomaniac Vol. 1” has plenty of sex, some of it extremely explicit. What’s unexpected is how much humor and heart are included with the humping, making th [...]

HBO Scores With ‘Six by Sondheim’

Film Reviews News Reviews By James Dawson|December 5, 2013 |0

By JAMES DAWSON Front Row Features Film Critic Don’t let the title fool you. Although the new feature-length documentary “Six by Sondheim” devotes special attention to a mere half-dozen of the acclaimed lyricist/composer’s songs, it also provides a fascinating look at Step [...]

Bleak is Beautiful ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’

Film Reviews Reviews By James Dawson|November 30, 2013 |0

By JAMES DAWSON Front Row Features Film Critic Like its title character, a no-frills 1961 folk singer attempting to ply his trade in the era between clean-cut Kingston Trio conservatism and the defiant dominance of Dylan, “Inside Llewyn Davis” resides somewhere between sentimental ear [...]

Terrorist-Hunting ‘Star Trek’ Goes Dark

Film Reviews Reviews By James Dawson|May 14, 2013 |0

By JAMES DAWSON Front Row Features Film Critic The entertaining if unsubtle “Star Trek Into Darkness” is an extended “Zero Dark Star Trek” metaphor about terrorism, military madness and the cost of sacrificing ideals for the sake of lawless revenge. That’s because th [...]