Saturday, January 26, 2013
R-rated film released Friday in movie theaters nationwide.
Sometimes a movie is just...bad. We can all watch it and see what they had in mind, how the pitch went, how the director and producers signed on, and talked some pretty big stars into taking part. And we can see the whole thing derail through to post production, delayed release, and as we watch the finished product with an ever-dwindling vestige of hope. Such is the case for Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters. Why Cinema Siren is reviewing this movie at all is a fair question. I go on record as saying there is always a chance a good movie will find its way to the multiplex in January. Not the ones that were in limited released in LA and New York in December to qualify for the Oscars….Those are the movies everyone is busying themselves …
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Patch is happy to consider opinion articles for publication. We reserve the right to edit for accuracy, clarity and brevity.
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Wednesday, January 23
The following opinion column was submitted by John Harrison, a former teacher at Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington, an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, and a professional lecturer. Although gun control proponents call all homicides "murder," they are not. Murder is an illegal killing; homicide is a killing of one human by another. According to the FBI, in 2010 there were almost 700 justifiable homicides, most with a gun. Law enforcement accounted for about 400 of those; citizens killed about 300. Police usually acted after a crime; citizens usually acted to stop a crime in progress. According to statistics collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Americans overall are far less likely — down 28 percent…
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Cliches eclipse acting in 'Mama,' and violence crumbles 'The Last Stand."
January. Everyone knows it is when the mediocre to the truly awful hobble off to die a quick death after beating each other senseless for a quick buck in the box office arena. When a film gets slated for release it is because there are no other contenders to fight for those dollars, or it won't survive any other time anyway. After all, everyone with any sense is scrambling to see the Oscar nominees. So one approaches January movies with a mix of optimism and dread. Two genre-specific movies are being released this week. If you are a fan of horror or ultra-violent action flicks, the studios are expecting you to gravitate away from those Oscar-nominated and towards these unproven offerings. The Last Stand is a "comeback" vehicle for Arnold…
Monday, January 14, 2013
Director Kathryn Bigelow overlooked for Oscar in Best Director category.
Zero Dark Thirty, which brought in $24 million in its first two days of wide release, has been lauded worldwide and almost universally as an impressive piece of filmmaking, a movie that is anything but formulaic. Want to catch it locally? Check here for showtimes at the Georgetown AMC Loews. It is always very different for those of us who live within the Washington area. Our experience of anything political is amplified. The headquarters of the CIA, FBI, and of course, the White House, are all within driving distance. It is, therefore, nearly impossible not to have heard about the controversy surrounding this film. Senators Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.), Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) denounced the film, for its depiction …
Friday, January 11, 2013
Academy Award nomination successes and snubs.
The 85th Academy Awards…These Oscar noms are full of the biggest surprises and snubs in a while, although there are still going to be some complete shoe-ins. Don't forget, you can still catch many of these films and performances locally at the Georgetown AMC Loews. Check showtimes here. Let's get to it! Will Affleck forever pay for Gigli? Argo and Zero Dark Thirty are both movies that have been highly lauded, with multiple nominations. That doesn't happen in a vacuum. What sense does it make for the directors not to get nominated as well? I speak of Ben Affleck of Argo and Kathryn Bigelow of Zero Dark Thirty, the latter of whom's exclusion is truly shocking. These directors spend the entire time the film is being made manipulating the …
Monday, December 24, 2012
Great acting makes you join in their crusade.
The film makers want to ask you, "Will you join in their crusade?" After much promotion and fanfare, a new musical film interpretation of Les Misérables is opening nationwide, including right here in Georgetown. For you non-"Mis" folk, the story is of Prisoner 24601 Jean Valjean, who breaks parole, is hunted relentlessly by Inspector Javert and encounters various troubled and impoverished characters in post-revolutionary France. Based on the 1862 novel by Victor Hugo, it is beloved by generations of musical theatre fans. The musical version of the movie was a risky undertaking, but now promises a huge pay-off to the studio, cast, and crew, thanks largely to a career topping job by several of the lead actors. The endless marketing about …
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Santa brings a very mixed bag to blockbuster franchise.
This holiday, with the expected blockbuster franchise The Hobbit (it has already broken records for midnight release of a movie more than two-and-a-half hours long) Santa brings a very mixed bag. First, let's talk about the coal-worthy aspects of the An Unexpected Journey. Unless you are a slave to technology, spend most of your days playing video games or crave seeing the next big thing, avoid the mercifully limited number of screens (10 percent) showing it in 3D filmed at 48 frames instead of the usual 24. Director Peter Jackson argues the high frame rate technology gives the movie a sense of reality, like "looking into the real world." Unfortunately, while it brightens the often-muddled look of 3D, it also points up every quirk and flaw…
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Patch welcomes letters to the editor. We reserve the right to edit for accuracy, clarity and brevity.
Patrick Moran, son of Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Moran, this week pleaded guilty to a simple assault charge stemming from what law enforcement categorized as a domestic violence incident on Dec. 1. The victim — Moran's girlfriend of six months, Kelly Hofmann — subsequently issued a statement saying the incident had been blown out of proportion. A source familiar with the case told Patch this week that Hofmann testified on Moran's behalf in court. [Read the original story: Patrick Moran, Congressman's Son, Pleads Guilty in Domestic Violence Case] Patch has verified the letter's authenticity and is presenting it in its entirety. ~ Hi Jason, For the record, I would like to make clear, as I did in court on this past Wednesday; I take strong …
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Cinema Siren's top picks for 2012. What are yours?
Last year I offered my top 10 Christmas cartoons for the first time. As an animation art gallery owner of 25 years, and an animation historian, I have been studying and enjoying them a long time. What an uproar I caused! I got a veritable avalanche of emails about the cartoons I "couldn't possibly overlook." While I stand by all last year's excellent offerings, I do have some amendments this year. Here is the list with some considered additions and subtractions. The cartoons listed below are all classics and are wonderful opportunities for holiday viewing with friends and family. You can enjoy them while chomping down highly caloric peppermint bark, or swilling down highly spiked eggnog! #10. Arthur Christmas - 2011 Such a new movie…
Sunday, November 25, 2012
David O. Russell directs ensemble cast in film garnering Oscar buzz.
Cinema Siren knows mental illness. Who doesn't? Like me, most of you probably have friends or family who struggle with the challenges of bipolar disorder or obsessive compulsive disorder on a daily basis. What makes Silver Linings Playbook so endearing and what will make it so enduring as a new fan favorite is the straightforward, unflinching way it portrays those disorders while maintaining a surprising sense of charm and a great comedic heart. This is a movie worth any movie lover's time and money, and will resonate with anyone who has personal experience interacting with those who live with these diseases. The story, directed and adapted by David O. Russell (The Fighter, Three Kings), follows prodigal son Pat (Bradley Cooper), who …
Rob
2:56 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
This might be my favorite line by the "professor" 'The authors of the Second Amendment were well aware of the risks associated with essentially allowing every able-bodied citizen to have a weapon, but they thought that the risks to free men of not having such weapons was worse.' Ironic since slaves were not allowed to firearms and historical evidence shows that the 2nd Amendment might have been … more ›