The Movie:

Ever since shows like Alias and 24 have helped set the bar for episodic television shows with spies and espionage in general, virtually everyone who has been ambitious enough has wanted to try and bring their own interpretation to television. Covert Affairs is the latest one to try and show the public what they have, but the differentiating factor in this is that the show's executive producer is Doug Liman, whose background with the spy and suspense genre is self-explanatory with his helming of The Bourne Trilogy. So how does this show stack up?

Annie Walker (Piper Perabo, Read the entire review

Looking For an Echo is basically a made-for-TV male weepy about appreciating what you have despite lost opportunities from the past. The basic story is about an almost 50-year-old doo-wop singer named Vinnie (Armand Assante) - who was a popular young music star in the 1960's for a group called Vinnie and the Dreamers - who now lives a modest life of neither fame nor fortune in Brooklyn.

Vinnie's wife died many years earlier and he has had to raise two sons and daughter. He lives with one of his son's (Edoardo Ballerini) - who is an upcoming pop singer - and contends with the illness of his daughter (Christy Carlson Romano) who is in the hospital with leukemia.

Vinnie pays his bills by working in a bar and playing music at bar mitzvahs with his buddy – and former Dreamer band member – Vic (Joe Grafisi). Life isn't really too tough for old Vinnie but he does have regrets about not fulfill...Read the entire review

The Movie:

"There are three sides to every story: my side, your side and the truth."

This quote opens "The Kid Stays In The Picture", the new documentary about producer and former studio head Robert Evans, which is based upon his autobiography. This is purely Evans's side of the story, but it's told in grand fashion and presented marvelously by directors Brett Morgen and Nanette Burstein.

The picture opens with Evans discussing his stint as an actor. Already a successful businessman at an early age, he was spotted by a pool and signed to star in "Man of a Thousand Faces". In a later film, studio head Daryl Zanuck even went against the wishes of the cast and crew, who wanted Evans out - he declared, "the kid stays in the picture", which is where the title of both book and film came from.

His acting career stalled out soon enough, as all it took was one flop for Evans t...Read the entire review

WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?

You know you're in trouble when the first shot of a crime film shows a bound-and-gagged corpse that blinks its eyes. The wretched genre "thriller" Matter of Trust sins even further in its opening scenes by showing us a beautiful writhing young woman shucking off her clothes . . . for C. Thomas Howell!

After an awkward, expository credit sequence, in which we learn that a serial killer is offing hookers in Los Angeles' Echo Park neighborhood, we see more and more of the reluctantly boyish Howell trying his damnedest to play a hard-boiled alcoholic tough-guy police detective by the subtly symbolic name of Michael D'Angelo. Try as I might, I couldn't buy the portrayal. No matter the bushiness of the goatee, he'll always be a kid actor.

D'Angelo finds himself at the latest murder sc...Read the entire review

Last year, we cautiously explored the telekinetic fits of Carrie White and friends. Now, in the vein of The Rage: Carrie 2 comes the Sci-Fi Channel "mini-series" Firestarter 2: Rekindled (2002, 168 minutes). Actually, the numeral was added by distributors of the video release, as network suits see the flick more as a starting point for an ongoing TV series not unlike the recently canned sex 'n' hiney-kicking "Dark Angel" franchise. The possibility of which might easily lead some CineSchlockers to ponder: Who would prevail in an oil-rasslin' cat fight between Marguerite Moreau and Jessica Alba?

The movie: Charlene "Ch...Read the entire review

The Movie:

There is something fascinating to me about Kate Winslet. Here is an actress who starred in one of the biggest films of all time, but I find her performances in the legion of smaller films she did before and after more interesting. There's something about her personality that strikes me well; she's alert, intelligent and she has wonderful timing when called upon. She always seems to seamlessly integrate herself into a character while also using facial gestures subtly to show emotions. She's one of the rare actresses today whose performances seem to suggest suprises - she keeps the audience uncertain and effectively introduces unexpected elements.

One of Winslet's finest performances is available for viewing in director Michael Winterbottom's 1996 effort "Jude", based upon Thomas Hardy's novel. The film stars Christopher Eccleston as Jude, a young man who has unfufilled dr...Read the entire review

Review:
Xena: Warrior Princess – Series Finale (Friend in Need)

Movie:
Xena: Warrior Princess ran for a total of 134 episodes before concluding its sixth season in June of 2001. The series finale was a two-parter titled Friend in Need and is presented on this DVD uncut from the original broadcast showing, though I believe this "Director's Cut" version was aired on TV later. The series starred Lucy Lawless as Xena and Renee O'Conner as Gabrielle; Robert Tapert directed these final episodes.

When Xena receives a message from Akemi summoning her to Japan, both she and Gabrielle depart at once. On the voyage there, Xena tells Gabrielle about Akemi, a long-lost and dead soul mate. Akemi had tricked Xena into helping slay her evil father, Yodoshi, and in the process, helped her discover love. However, Yodoshi has returned and now threatens to destroy Higuchi, th...Read the entire review

WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?

I saw it coming from The Big Lebowski, a film of laid-back absurdity that nevertheless holds fast to many elements of Dashiell Hammett era detective fiction. It was only a matter of time before the Coen brothers tried their hand at a straightforward piece of black-and-white film noir. The Man Who Wasn't There is a terrifically deadpan noir comedy that is one of the Coen brothers' finest films.

One of the things I like best about going to see a Coen brothers film is that I never quite know what to expect. Admittedly, I have a firm grasp on their peculiar style, their black-comedy intricacies, but I'm never really sure where they're going to apply those sensibilities next. Inevitably, after a first viewing of one of their films, I'm left somewhat baffled, although a smile is always plastered to my face. It's typically on second viewing that I full...Read the entire review

The Disc
New England – and Boston in particular – has always had a great love for their sports teams but have rarely in the last few decades enjoyed a world championship. Some people had begun to believe that man would discover life on Mars or that scientists would find a cure for the common cold before a Boston sports team won another championship. The Celtics hadn't won since Bird left a decade ago, the Red Sox can't get any pitching and the Bruin are always one great player short of winning it all. The New England Patriots never even seemed to be in the equation. And after their starting QB Drew Bledsoe was injured early last season and the team lost three of its first four games it seemed all but hopeless.

Then in stepped an unknown quarterback named Tom Brady and, somehow, the team – led by defensive minded guru Bill Belichick put it all together and made an impressive second ha...Read the entire review

Review:
The Diamond of Jeru

Movie:
The Diamond of Jeru was made for and released on the USA Network in the later part of 2001. Based on a short story by Louis L'Amour, the film stars Billy Zane (Mike Kardec), Paris Jefferson (Helen Lacklan), and Keith Carradine (John Lacklan).

To eliminate the boredom in their marriage, the Lacklans go to Borneo in search of a diamond. Once there, they are set up with tour guide Mike Kardec. However, when Keith suspects his wife, Helen, and Mike of being a bit too friendly, he switches to another guide who shows him a huge diamond. After they leave, Mike suspects they're being set up and follows. He soon discovers that the guides work for Jeru, a native headhunting chieftain in possession of a huge diamond. Now Mike must save them from certain peril and recover the diamond.

The Diamond of Jeru is one of the more enjoyable made for ...Read the entire review

The Movie:

Screenwriter Wesley Strick became one of the most widely known screenwriters in 1991 when he collaborated with Martin Scorsese on the director's remake of "Cape Fear". Afterwards, Strick really hasn't had the same sort of success; after writing "The Saint", he wrote "Return To Paradise" - one of those movies that falls into the Great Ones Nobody Ever Saw catagory. Strick's latest project is a straight-to-TV production called "Hitched" - a film he also directed.

It's sort of an interesting plot, but the film never really comes together very well. Sheryl Lee (who looks very different since "Twin Peaks") stars as Eve Robbins, a wife whose husband Ted (80's star Anthony Michael Hall) has gone missing. After she finds out that he's cheated on her (not once, but several times), she chains him to a post in the basement. The film then jumps into a series of flashbacks of how...Read the entire review

The Movie:


One of the most wonderful elements of the Coen Brothers pictures is that you really don't know what to expect. There's a certain, underlying sly sense of humor that runs through most of their films, but there's also been more serious and offbeat efforts. "The Man Who Wasn't There" will not likely be regarded by many as the best picture from the duo, but I certainly think it's quite close to that high level that has been reached before in "Fargo" and "Blood Simple".

The film stars Billy Bob Thornton as Ed Crane, a small-town barber who goes unnoticed by many - most of whom even need to be reminded of his name. Nearly silent and kept, by choice, at arm's length from those around him, Thornton's underplayed performance is masterful. I don't think I've ever seen performance so quiet that is, at t...Read the entire review

The Movie:


It seemed like barely a couple of weeks (if that) before director Brad Anderson's "Session 9" was out of theaters. Somewhat a fan of Anderson's quirky indie romance "Next Stop, Wonderland", I was interested to see if the director could successfully attempt horror. For the most part, he has succeeded in creating a horror film that is more what-you-don't-see than what you do; a thriller heavy with atmosphere and dread.

The film stars Peter Mullan as Gordon Fleming, the head of an asbestos removal company who has recently had a child. The business is in trouble and Gordon needs another job quickly. They find a gig in the Danvers State Mental Hospital, just outside of Boston. The actual clean-up is a three-week job, but the crew leader agrees to do it in one week to grab a considerable bonus. The cr...Read the entire review

The Movie:


An odd little comedy that was released with little fanfare in late 2001, "Wet Hot American Summer" is an attempt to lightly parody such teen films as "Meatballs". Directed and written (some members also star) by former stars of the comedy group "The State" (the show was on MTV in the early 90's), the film also stars Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, Paul Rudd and Molly Shannon. While the idea of spoofing these movies does sound new and original, that doesn't mean it's enjoyable.

"Wet Hot" revolves around Camp Firewood in 1981, on the last day of Summer camp. Apparently, they haven't really done anything for the past few months, so both counselors and campers alike want to do something moderately special to close off the proceedings. Of course, there's also the usual characters - the dorky guy (...Read the entire review

The Feature

Ultimate Jordan comes out on the heels of Michael Jordan's re-entry into professional basketball. This DVD release was not planned to coincide with Jordan's comeback with the Washington Wizards, but I'm sure it has helped sales quite a bit. Ultimate Jordan is a collection of 5 shorts that were originally released on VHS chronicling Jordan's play and history during the years of 1989-1999. The 5 shorts are: Come Fly With Me, Michael Jordan's Playground, Air Time, Above & Beyond and His Airness. The first 3 are on the first disc while the other 2, along with many extras, are on the second disc.

Come Fly With Me (roughly 45 minutes), first released in 1989, is a look into Jordan's early years with the Bulls and his history with the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. The legend is just ...Read the entire review

The Movie:

One of the most wonderful elements of the Coen Brothers pictures is that you really don't know what to expect. There's a certain, underlying sly sense of humor that runs through most of their films, but there's also been more serious and offbeat efforts. "The Man Who Wasn't There" will not likely be regarded by many as the best picture from the duo, but I certainly think it's quite close to that high level that has been reached before in "Fargo" and "Blood Simple".

The film stars Billy Bob Thornton as Ed Crane, a small-town barber who goes unnoticed by many - most of whom even need to be reminded of his name. Nearly silent and kept, by choice, at arm's length from those around him, Thornton's underplayed performance is masterful. I don't think I've ever seen performance so quiet that is, at the same time, so riveting. Ed's married to Doris (Joel Coen's wife, Francis McDo...Read the entire review

The Movie:


Watching "One Night At McCools", I wondered what Michael Douglas saw in this film enough to not only act in it, but produce it. An almost completely laugh-free zone, the film often seems more like something that one would catch on cable when one doesn't have much else to do than something that would get a theatrical release.

The film revolves around the three men in the life of Jewel Valentine (Liv Tyler) who's had a different effect on all three of them. The main character is Randy (Matt Dillon), a bartender who saved Jewel from an abusive boyfriend outside the dive bar he works at. He's telling his tale to Mr. Burmeister (Michael Douglas), a sleezy hitman who he's met up with in a bingo parlor. Carl (Paul Reiser - I still wonder why "Mad About You" lasted what seemed like 17 years) is Randy's ...Read the entire review