Film Reviews Archives - Page 12 of 29

National Lampoon Doc Shines Light on Creators

Film Reviews Reviews By James Dawson|September 25, 2015 |0

By JAMES DAWSON Front Row Features Film Critic The documentary “Drunk, Stoned, Brilliant, Dead: The Story of The National Lampoon” is so behind-the-scenes fascinating that it should appeal even to those born long after the groundbreaking humor magazine’s early 1970s heyday. It o [...]

Matt Damon Delivers as ‘The Martian’

Film Reviews Reviews By James Dawson|September 22, 2015 |0

By JAMES DAWSON Front Row Features Film Critic Never fully committing either to high-emotion melodrama or the cold equations of a grim techno-thriller, “The Martian” adequately straddles both genres thanks to the likeability of star Matt Damon as an impressively improvising astronaut. [...]

‘No Escape’ Delivers Edge-of-Your-Seat Excitement

Film Reviews By James Dawson|August 24, 2015 |0

By JAMES DAWSON Front Row Features Film Critic Every time you think this terrifyingly suspenseful family-on-the-run thriller can’t possibly get more intense, it ups the ante with even scarier strangers-in-a-strange-land perils. The result is the most relentlessly edge-of-your-seat-exciting [...]

Grim ‘Fantastic 4’ Mixes Horror With Heroics

Film Reviews Reviews By James Dawson|August 6, 2015 |0

By JAMES DAWSON Front Row Features Film Critic Don’t believe the hate. Although Fox’s “Fantastic 4” franchise reboot has endured months of toxic pre-release buzz from Internet know-nothings who didn’t bother waiting to see the actual movie, the finished product turns [...]

‘Mission: Impossible’ Goes Rogue Just Right

Film Reviews Reviews By James Dawson|July 28, 2015 |0

By JAMES DAWSON Front Row Features Film Critic “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation,” Tom Cruise’s fifth outing as secret agent Ethan Hunt, is so much frantic, fast-paced fun that it’s impossible to resist. Cruise plays the even-death-can’t-stop-him Ethan [...]

Amy Schumer Right on Track with Rom-Com

Film Reviews Reviews By Lynn Barker|July 14, 2015 |0

By LYNN BARKER Front Row Features Judd Apatow’s “Trainwreck” combines raunchy hilarity with heartfelt human drama delivered with style by TV vet Amy Schumer (Comedy Central’s “Inside Amy Schumer“), who proves she has impressive acting chops as well as a relatable appeal especially to female [...]

Marvel Goes Street-Level With ‘Ant-Man’

Film Reviews Reviews By James Dawson|July 8, 2015 |0

By JAMES DAWSON Front Row Features Film Critic Heroes in what’s known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe—which includes movies made by Marvel, but not those from other studios featuring Marvel characters—have been super-powered (Captain America, Hulk), space-based (Guardians of the Galaxy), a [...]

Alluring Arterton Captivates in ‘Gemma Bovery’

Film Reviews Reviews By James Dawson|May 24, 2015 |0

By JAMES DAWSON Front Row Features Film Critic “Gemma Bovery” is as good-looking, sexy and thoroughly irresistible as its star Gemma Arterton. The pouty-lipped beauty portrays a new-to-Normandy Brit whose casually carnal charms enchant a middle-aged French baker named Martin (Fabrice [...]

‘Avengers’ Reassemble With New Heroes and Heart

Film Reviews Reviews By James Dawson|April 22, 2015 |0

By JAMES DAWSON Front Row Features Film Critic Following 2012’s first Avengers-assembled outing, as well as three more solo movies for franchise favorites Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) in the interval, Marvel’s “Avengers: [...]

Futuristic ‘Ex Machina’ Highlights A.I. Implications

Film Reviews Reviews By James Dawson|April 8, 2015 |0

By JAMES DAWSON Front Row Features Film Critic A reclusive Internet zillionaire with a God complex creates an alluring android whose self-awareness makes her tragically soulful in this interesting if not completely convincing SF morality tale. 2013’s “Her,” about a sentient comp [...]