L.A. Times - Movie Reviews

'3 Geezers' review: Raunchy, imbecilic and so not funny

By Amy Nicholson — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 PDT

"The Hangover" franchise comes to an end this week. For the bereaved who long to see the Wolfpack as grandparents, there's "3 Geezers," Michelle Schumacher's competing comedy about a trio of scatologically obsessed septuagenarians (Lou Beatty Jr., Basil Hoffman and Tony Cummings) who thrive on fart jokes, diaper jokes, and rapping to 2 Live Crew. They might look old, but their sense of humor is purely 10th grade.

'Star Trek Into Darkness' ramps up action, leaves room for heart

By Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times Film Critic — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:10:00 PDT

Kirk and crew beam aboard J.J. Abrams' Enterprise for a mission full of action, emotions and this time terrorism. Then there's baddie Benedict Cumberbatch.

"Star Trek Into Darkness," bursting at the seams with enemies, wears its politics, its mettle, its moxie and its heart on its ginormous 3-D sleeve. Director J.J. Abrams and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise try to build a better sequel with action spectacles to get lost in, clever asides to amuse, emotional waves to ride and allusions to terrorism in general and 9/11 specifically.

'Frances Ha' a charming portrait of youth and spirit

By Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times Film Critic — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:45:00 PDT

Director Noah Baumbach and star Greta Gerwig have created an irresistible character of unexpected complexity and energy.

Effortless and effervescent, "Frances Ha" is a small miracle of a movie, honest and funny with an aim that's true. It's both a timeless story of the joys and sorrows of youth and a dead-on portrait of how things are right now for one particular New York woman who, try as she might, can't quite get her life together.

'The English Teacher' has a class of underachievers

By Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times Film Critic — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:10:00 PDT

The failing film wastes a fine cast that includes Julianne Moore, Greg Kinnear, Nathan Lane and Michael Angarano.

"The English Teacher" is a tragedy masquerading as a comedy and doing a disservice to both. The same could be said for the film's normally fine cast. Julianne Moore, Greg Kinnear, Nathan Lane and Michael Angarano have all had better days.

'What Maisie Knew' gives a child's eye view of divorce

By Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times Film Critic — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:00:00 PDT

Directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel's smart film based on Henry James' novel of the same name is an unforgiving look at the effect of a messy divorce on a child played remarkably well by Onata Aprile with Julianne Moore and Steve Coogan as her parents.

It is night in an upscale Manhattan apartment. A child, tucked safely into bed, drifts toward sleep to the sounds of her parents tearing each other apart in the next room. Her eyes close, the fighting rumbles on, their words wielded with lethal precision at each other's most vulnerable spots.

'Deceptive Practice' weaves its own kind of magic

By Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:38:00 PDT

The documentary offers a peek into the wonderful world of contemporary master of manipulation Ricky Jay.

Regard the hands of Ricky Jay. Watch them making cards do things cards never have done before, things cards didn't even know they could do. And for this master of manipulation, cards are just the beginning.

'Stories We Tell' looks at truth, secrecy and memory

By Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times Film Critic — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:53:00 PDT

Writer-director Sarah Polley's personal documentary reveals complexities and contradictions within her own family that will resonate with filmgoers as well.

Don't be fooled by its deceptively simple title or the hesitant, unassuming way it begins. Writer-director Sarah Polley's "Stories We Tell" ends up an invigorating powerhouse of a personal documentary, adventurous and absolutely fascinating.

Review: 'Erased' lacks originality but not cliches

By Robert Abele — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:05:00 PDT

A security expert is targeted for elimination, invoking 'Three Days of the Condor,' the 'Bourne' movies and 'Taken.'

The thriller "Erased" divides neatly by influence. When Brussels-based tech security expert Ben Logan (Aaron Eckhart) shows up for work one day, there's no trace of his company anymore, a la "Three Days of the Condor." Like the "Bourne" movies, he's then targeted for elimination, (when we learn he's actually ex-CIA and highly skilled at killing). He's also a single dad with a teenage daughter (Liana Liberato) in tow, and that creates its fair share of peril, "Taken" you very much.

'Black Rock' a girls-versus-boys thriller

By Amy Nicholson — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:00:00 PDT

Three childhood pals hoping to reconnect on a camping trip end up fighting for their lives against a trio of rogue veterans in Katie Aselton's uneven film.

In "Black Rock," a female-fueled thriller, Sarah (Kate Bosworth) wants to make amends with two childhood friends by pitching a tent with them on a small Maine island where the three women once camped as kids. "We are all dying," Sarah tells Lou (Lake Bell) and Abby (Katie Aselton), and she's right: Life is short, and it's about to get shorter.

'Valentino's Ghost' hits media's portrayal of Arabs, Muslims

By Gary Goldstein — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:55:00 PDT

Michael Singh's documentary says news accounts, movies and TV often unfairly cast the groups in a negative light, adding that U.S. foreign policy shares blame.

Writer-director Michael Singh's documentary "Valentino's Ghost" connects the United States' Middle East foreign policy agenda to the American media's often negative portrayals of Arabs and Muslims. It's a provocative, absorbing — and at times dicey — study.