Peculiar Reviewer

Slave revenge meets spaghetti western in post-modern filmmaker Quentin Tarantino 's brutal ride/comedy of the races Django Unchained . Django ( Jamie Foxx ), now broken from the chains of slavery after being freed by Dr. King Schultz ( Christoph Waltz ), sets off across America's Deep South with the German bounty hunter. The two rebels are on a mission to rescue Django's wife ( Kerry Washington ) from the unforgettable plantation owner Calvin Candie who runs Candyland, played by no other than Leonardo DiCaprio . DiCaprio sinks his spurs into his Candie, silencing the audience in fear of his wrath during the scene at Candyland which is the most memorable of the film. Tarantino takes his time with each scene, and this is why the viewer remains attentive throughout. The running time is non-existent when the layout is so smooth . Django has many of the Western genre staples, including rural long shots, the outlaw underdog, a quest for justice, and a final showdown (slightly

His first comedy in many, many moons,  Pedro Almodóvar 's new film is out in the US Nov. 22, 2013. Or if you want to fly with Los Amantes Pasajeros , see it in Spain March 8! But...wait...take me with you!   Take a look at the latest teaser for I'm So Excited featuring Penélope Cruz , Antonio Banderas and Paz Vega . Are you???

Showtime's riveting series  Homeland  occupies a space somewhere between political thriller - and X-Files heir - seizing the new "Agent series" thrown. Carrie Mathison ( Claire Danes ) is a Central Intelligence Agency officer convinced that U.S. Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody ( Damian Lewis ), who was held captive by al-Qaeda for eight years as a prisoner of war, has been "turned" by the enemy. Claire Danes is no stranger to accolades, tackling her roles like the CIA wants to bring down a known terrorist. Mandy Patinkin will always, for me, be that Jewish boy who teaches the Talmud to a drag-Streisand ( Yentl ). But in Homeland , Patinkin plays Saul Berenson: the CIA's Middle-East Division Chief, and more importantly, Carrie's mentor. The character development throughout the series is rich, as many characters are written as multi-dimentional, grasping our attention. I'd like to say that my problem with Homeland is Carrie's weakness for the

Every so often, there is an American picture that rattles your bones, checks your pulse, and reminds you of the real reason why you still buy a movie ticket - to feel. Writer/Director David O. Russell ( The Fighter , Flirting with Disaster ) brings us a new film that is beautifully fucked up, with a touch of old school romance. In Silver Linings Playbook , Bradley Cooper plays a former teacher who moves back in with his parents ( Robert De Niro and  Jacki Weaver ) after being discharged from a mental institution, in hopes to reconcile with his ex-wife. Cooper's character suffers from bipolar disorder with mood swings, which makes it difficult for other people to understand his choice of words. David O. Russell's camera techniques provide a portal into the character's mind, allowing the audience to feel the swings along with him. Silver Linings Playbook is raw, in-your-face drama, and gut-busting comedy. Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence provide electric performance

Liz & Dick , the new biographical made-for-TV picture about the relationship between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, premiered last night on Lifetime television. Liz & Dick's romance began on the set of 1963's  Cleopatra , while both at the time were married to other people. The affair was all over the press, even being comdemned by the Vatican. Taylor and Burton were the first "it" couple which began the paparrazi craze. They had a tumultous relationship, having been married and divorced twice. Because this was Lindsay Lohan 's first movie role since Robert Rodriguez's 2010 film  Machete , where she played an amateur porn star, those who still think that Lindsay will make a comeback and prove that she has potential to not be a trainwreck were hopeful. The kid didn't make it. Lohan's acting was so bad that it was like watching Megan Fox try to play the great Bette Davis. It's not going to happen. Liz & Dick unintentionally came

Gather 'round ghoulies. Come into the light. Let me tell you a story revolving quite possibly the best horror film ever made: Poltergeist (Steven Spielberg, 1982). The following information are facts, based on actual events that happened to many of the cast involved in the Poltergeist movie trilogy. Six cast members died deaths shrouded by mystery or tragedy, while the other cast is said to be "cursed." So why were they cursed? Remember the scene (pictured above) where JoBeth Williams is swimming in a muddy pool of bodies? Production decided to use real human cadavers as props because it was allegedly cheaper than using prop skeletons. The Poltergeist cast and crew thereby cursed by the angry spirits of the deceased used in the making of the 1980s box office hits. Actors and actresses in the Poltergeist trilogy who died untimely deaths are: Dominique Dunne , who played older sister Dana in the first film, was strangled to death by her abusive boyfriend in 1982,

The backdrop is the Iranian hostage crisis in 1979, in which 52 Americans were held hostage in Iran for 444 days after a group of Islamist militants took over the American Embassy in Tehran.  Argo shows the story of how a CIA 'exfiltration' specialist, played by Ben Affleck , was able to free six Americans hiding in Iran at the Canadian ambassador's residence. So how does the Central Intelligence Agency plan to get the six Americans out of Iran? By pretending they are part of a movie crew searching for an exotic location for a very bad sci-fi movie, of course. Ben Affleck's directorial follow-up to 2010's  The Town  is not only better, but it is one of the most entertaining films of the year - and will be a front-runner for the upcoming Oscars. In this political espionage thriller, Ben Affleck brings a keen attention to detail, as his recreation of archival footage is gritty and '70s-tense. Affleck brings in a slew of character actors to this ensemble cast w

In 1984, Tim Burton created a short film for Disney called Frankenweenie . Burton was then fired by Disney after the film was completed because they thought it was too spooky for young audiences, and claimed that Burton had wasted Disney's resources. The original Frankenweenie never debuted in US theatres until now, with Burton's own full-length stop-motion remake of his 1984 short film. After making Disney tons of money with his 2010 smash  Alice in Wonderland , I'm sure they could afford it now. Fun fact: it takes one week for an animator to film about 5 seconds of stop-motion. The intro to the animated feature   begins with the beautiful Disney credits, which get electrocuted and switch to black-and-white (Burton's way of telling Disney to...well, you get the picture). Frankenweenie tells the tale of Victor Frankenstein, a young boy who loses his beloved dog Sparky unexpectedly, leaving him heartbroken. Victor wants to bring Sparky back ala Pet Cemetery , so he

Finally, a family animated movie with characters that include housekeeping witches, zombie Mozart's, and a skeleton Mariachi band. From Sony Pictures,  Hotel Transylvania  went through 5 directors until it landed on Genndy Tartakovsky (Dexter's Laboratory , Star Wars: Clone Wars). Dracula ( Adam Sandler ) has a strict no humans allowed policy at the Hotel Transylvania, preserving it under all costs to remain the sanctuary of the undead, monsters, and displaced freaks of the living world. So when an American backpacking tourist voiced by Andy Samberg ( SNL ) stumbles upon the hotel, Drac must disguise the human as Frankenhomie, whose monstrous appearance is more acceptable for the special weekend guests: Frankenstein and his bride, the Mummy, and the Invisible Man. The few hip hop/pop song numbers are intrusive, where for the sake of appealing to the masses, an alternative soundtrack would have married sound and visuals in better harmony. For a vampire who has impeccable tas

You've been waiting for those certain DVDs to complete your collection. You've offered your soul to distributors around. You've pleaded and asked .....why??? These classic movies have been stripped of their DVD existence. For $50 or so you can find them used on Amazon, from a lonely mother selling her VHS tapes on eBay, or at approximately 3:42am on television.   Drop Dead Fred  (1991) The best imaginary friend that one can have, and '80s star  Phoebe Cates did, for years. He'll be with you in the worst of times. True he does create the havoc that gets you in trouble with your detestable mother, but he always wears a fancy green suit, and has Robert Smith hair - so it's worth it. But a 5.2 rating on IMDB. Really? I'm willing to Drop Dead...Fred, for this to come out on DVD! Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!  (1965) "I don't beat clocks, just people! Wanna try me?" -Varla Before there was Death Proof , there were three voluptuo

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury: the time has come for me to systematically bash a film. If you find my case to be fair, vote with me to remove  The Dictator from all movie rental facilities at once. An oppressive leader "risks" his life for his fictitious Republic of Wadiya to ensure that democracy will never reach it. Okay, so try to imagine what would happen if you combined all of Adam Sandler's worst movies. You know the ones like I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry , that make you want to burn your copy of The Wedding Singer and crawl back home to better comedians. At times, the facial expressions and childlike voice of Sacha Baron Cohen tend to mimic that of Adam Sandler. In those moments of despair, I glance at my His Girl Friday poster and pray to Howard Hawkes for an absolution. Brief cameos by comedian royalty like Garry Shandling and Fred Armisen offer relief, yet cannot save The Dictator from its downward spiral to the rental drop-box. A comedy can ma

Fall 2012. A DiCaprio Christmas Day double-header. The return of a Master. Two gothimated (that's goth + animated) movies. Which will you choose? The screen awaits. The Master (September 14th) This is Paul Thomas Anderson 's first film since the 2007's knock-out film  There Will Be Blood . This also marks the return of Joaquin Phoenix in his first dramatic role since Two Lovers (2008), a film that no one saw. Of course, Philip Seymour Hoffman will master another performance. Django Unchained (December 25th) Quentin Tarantino directing Leonardo DiCaprio - will Di finally win an Oscar this time?! Or will the Academy wait until he's old and gray to recognize that he's the most talented actor since Marlon Brando. The film is inspired by 1960s spaghetti westerns.   The Great Gatsby (December 25th) Baz Luhrmann 's version of F. Scott Fitzgerald's beloved novel will no doubt be much different than the 1974 release starring Robert Redford and

Alert all lesbian werewolves immediately! There's going to be a big screen adaptation about them! Comb back that mane and polish your Thriller jacket for Jack & Diane . The film's premise is a love story about two girls who meet in New York City, where somewhere in there Diane's body starts to go through violent changes. The cast includes Juno Temple ( The Dark Knight Rises ) and Riley Keough ( The Runaways ), who also happens to be the King's granddaughter. Elvis, not King Tut. Aussie pop sensation Kylie Minogue  makes an appearance as a lesbian tattoo shop owner. Jack & Diane were originally to be played by Ellen Page and Olivia Thirlby, however Juno fame proved too great for a lesbian horror story. The official theatrical release date is November 2nd, but you can catch it On Demand September 27th. Love is a monster, not a battlefield.

Have you heard about the upcoming series Mockingbird Lane ? Use The Munsters theme song as your ring tone? Just me? Well, the beloved, yet short-lived classic 1960s television show The Munsters is getting a fresh face on NBC next year. It is currently being developed by  Pushing Daisies creator Bryan Fuller , which means we can rest-in-peace-assured it will at the least be visually stunning. Portia de Rossi ( Arrested Development , Ally McBeal ) was given the quirky role of vamp-mama Lily Munster, after Mariana Klaveno dropped out due to a contract conflict. Jerry O'Connell ( Stand By Me , Scream 2 ) will play the clumsy Herman Munster, and the brilliant Eddie Izzard will embody Grandpa. My DRAG-U-LA was all revved up for this remake, but after learning that this family will don the non-monster look, my engine blew on Maple Street. Do this cult series justice or Marilyn is sure to haunt you for the next fifty years NBC! No goth - no way.  

It's not often when a movie comes along that takes hold of you throughout its duration, feeling its tension that cuts like a knife. The film that took home Iran's first Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2012, A Separation is new on DVD this week. The film begins with the separation of Nader and Simin, an urban upper middle-class couple residing in Tehran. Simin does not want their 11-year-old daughter living under the predominate conditions in Iran, unable to get her husband Nader to agree on the family leaving together. Writer/producer/director Asghar Farhadi gives us a somewhat simple plot, combined with a calculated pacing to portray the breaking of a bond with intense fervor. Amidst this separation lay the contrasting ideologies about religion, gender roles, and morals. Much like a classic Hitchcock thriller, delicate investigation unravels characters' intentions. A Separation is that rare masterpiece of drama which transcends borders and class, permeat

Aren't you tired of taking your kids (or your kid self) to animated movies that spew out the same story, different animal? Just because it's an owl this time and not an eagle, doesn't mean it's not the same story fellas. So of course, I was elated to see the new animated ghoulish refreshment  ParaNorman , which by the way   doesn't feature any Lady Gaga songs, and its characters don't painfully attempt to mimic the language of what 45-year old screenwriters think our youth talk like, or want to hear. The makers of the also amazing Coraline (2009) bring you a story about a boy who can see and speak to the dead. He's super normal. Monsters are cursed with being perceived as what they appear to be on the outside, and little misunderstood Norman who is voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee ( Let Me In ) must bring harmony back to his ghost town. The creators make sure to cite their horror genre predecessors including the slasher, zombie flick, the supernatural horror,

Wes Anderson ( The Royal Tenenbaums , Rushmore ) is an auteur. His color scheme is achieved by only him. His supreme attention to detail is frequently attempted, unmatched, and appears overworked to the spectator eye. Anderson's distinct style is present yet again in his latest, Moonrise Kingdom . There's a boy scout camp run by the diligent Edward Norton ( American History X , Fight Club ), who has his young troupes prepared for the absolute worst - a tree house built far too high for scout safety. A misunderstood boy scout played by newcomer Jared Gilman , in his first screen role, escapes the camp which then sets off a search party. Wes Anderson veteran Bill Murray takes part in the perfect comic timing achieved throughout the film, as well as the always entertaining Frances McDormand ( Fargo , Burn After Reading ), and Bruce Willis (with hair). The resourceful scout has left to meet a like-minded girl who shares his idiosyncratic ways. These two kids have more substan

Indie star Sarah Polley ( Away From Her ) makes her writing/directing return with the Canadian comedy-drama Take This Waltz . In the film, Michelle Williams ( My Week With Marilyn ) portrays yet another dysfunctional character, this time an anxious young wife who flirts with the idea of having an affair with her slightly stalker-ish neighbor. Yet her husband, played by Seth Rogen (in his most stripped down role to-date), is the perfect husband, not to mention the sanest character in the film. What starts out attaining a Lost In Translation feel, slowly descends its way into lost territory. We spend the movie trying to figure out what is wrong with Michelle Williams' character, then realize we are ultimately following an unlikeable protagonist who does not change. Comedian Sarah Silverman doesn't get enough screen time, and her presence is much needed to relieve from the constant awkwardness and painstakingly drawn-out tension between characters. The movie is charming th

"Sandy, you just can't walk out of a drive-in!" Outdoor movies under the stars (or smog) are in LA this summer.   Finally, the Saturday night fever is catching on. Food trucks galore and the occasional musical accompaniment make your cinema night out more than just a trip down lover's lane... Cinespia gives you cemetery screenings at Hollywood Forever, featuring a live DJ before & after the screening. Bring blankets, drinks, and food to pow-wow for the cult film/classical Hollywood showing.  Oscars Outdoors is the new summer screening series at the Academy's ultra-new open-air theater at the Academy Hollywood campus. This outdoor series features only Oscar noms. Food trucks are there nightly, just bring granny's blanket! Devil's Night Drive In screens only cult classics in downtown LA. There's a live DJ before & after the screening. Car hops bring food + popcorn to you, just put your paws out! Buy your tickets early to reserve a spot for

The movie I have been waiting for all year, Snow White & the Huntsman , is the perfect blend of action/adventure, drama, and '80s Labyrinth -ian fantasy. The most stunning fairy tale portrayal on film that I've seen, Rupert Sanders brings us ravishing cinematography, and battle scenes that favor realism over the glorification of gore. The youth-draining Charlize Theron portrays the poisonous reign of queen Ravenna, who keeps Snow White imprisoned in her dark castle. Theron puts Julia Roberts in that excuse for a 'Snow White' picture this year - Mirror Mirror - to shame . Academy Award winning costume designer Colleen Atwood's work is mesmerizing, and I want the evil queen's spiked accessory line. Kristen Stewart as the heroine Snow White evokes not only pure beauty, but projects the courage and realness that the princess attains, and that which she needs to restore the wounded kingdom. Snow White has plans to be made into a trilogy, with a second fil

Tim Burton 's latest, Dark Shadows , sees him returning back to his classic comedy-with-a-shot-of-goth, reminiscent of his Beetlejuice days . A delightful relief from the mainstream, the film is loosely based on the Gothic soap opera that aired from 1966 to 1971, which has since enjoyed status as a cult TV show. The undead Barnabas Collins ( Johnny Depp ) is cursed to be a vampire in the year 1760 by a bitter femme of whom he did not return her request for eternal love. Released from his coffin to exist in a slightly different 1972, Barnabas returns to his mansion at Collinwood to become a part of the living Collins clan, who is a family that is just the right brew of strangeness I'd like to be undead with . Chloë Grace Moretz ( Let Me In , Kick-Ass ) is the David Bowie, T-Rex loving, angsty teenager living in her own created ambiance . Michelle Pfeiffer is timeless, gracing us with her Gothic stairway entrance. Helena Bonham Carter plays the pill-popping psychiatrist w

From the very beginning, The Hunger Games had me enthralled with its eccentric storyline. The Fifth Element 's spawn, The Hunger Games is set in a future where the Capitol (the rich) pick boys and girls from one of the twelve Districts to fight to the death, while broadcasting the game on live television for all to see. The film critiques our reality obsessed nation, taking it further with spectators being engrossed with a game where young people are forced to kill each other. 24 will fight, and only 1 will come out alive and be able to return home. The filmmaker produces a raw tension that can cut like a bow-n-arrow. Don't be swayed by the reviews about the excessive shaky camera ala Blair Witch - because it is utilized only during tension-filled scenes, drawing you further into the action. You've seen Jennifer Lawrence kick ass before in 2010's Winter's Bone , and she's back with a vengeance as Katniss (the coolest name for a female heroine ever). Shown

Now in its fourth season on Logo , RuPaul's Drag Race is the only essential reality series on television- in the search to find America's next Drag superstar. America's Next Top what? Project who? If you're not watching this show, what the frock are you doing? Ladies, put down that busted brush and take ample notes from these ladyboys. Currently an upcoming spin-off All Stars: RuPaul's Drag Race is accepting fan votes to pick their favorite queens from the series. The chosen queens will return with a vengeance Fall 2012 in another chance to avert lip-syncing for their lives, and snatch the coveted crown. Did someone say Cher? Team Chad Michaels or bust! So fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night on Monday @ 9/8c!

Hammer Horror rises from the grave with their latest horror-thriller The Woman in Black . Post-Potter Daniel Radcliffe is the young lawyer that travels to an unsettling village where he discovers the rancorous ghost (or undead?) of a scorned woman who is terrorizing the local living. Screenwriter Jane Goldman ( Kick-Ass , X-Men: First Class ) builds the horror slowly, killing us softly with her tone. The bleak atmosphere. The chasing shadows. The creepy score. (Mother) Mary Shelley would be proud. Hammer Horror history has been made with The Woman in Black being their highest grossing film yet, earning $20 million opening weekend. Remember the time when things on-screen were frightening for just being uncanny? There wasn't entirely a reason for them to be there, yet they just are, and that is what scares us. Expect the unexpected.

A brief playground fight leads to an awkward deliberation between the children's parents in Roman Polanski 's ( The Pianist, Chinatown ) delightful black comedy Carnage . Based on the play God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza, this film's bare bones dialogue and tense confrontation between the two couples is reminiscent of the masterpiece Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? , and Hitchcock's Rope. From the first glimpse of the credits zooming in on us, we know that all will be exposed, in due time. Kate Winslet ( Eternal Sunshine, The Reader ) perpetually delivers, and the perfectly cast John C. Reilly ( Cyrus, The Hours ) does classic-Reilly. Polanski, who is not shy with the up close(-up) and personal shots of his characters, has been able to capture perfect comic timing. I'm talking riotous. For a movie that takes place primarily in the same living room, you've got to have an absurdly talented cast to keep the audience interested. Carnage knows exactly what

Only four more days remain until the official 84th Academy Award nominees will be announced on Jan. 24th, yet I couldn't wait. So after careful consideration and several glasses of wine, I've concocted a list of my own predictions. 2011 had a lot of hits. But it also had a plethora of misses. Naturally, my keen eye for a stah-pictcha has helped me to dodge the lot of them. Thankfully we can rest freely knowing that Oscar-host-heavyweight Billy Crystal will steer the show in a better direction than last year's train-wreck hosts James Franco (pretty boy) and Anne Hathaway ( Catwoman ). Oscar night is Sunday, February 26th , so get your ballots and red faux carpets ready for the main event! And the predictions are... Best Supporting Actress, Octavia Spencer - The Help ( She'll be celebrating with her famous pie)   Best Supporting Actor, Kenneth Branagh - My Week With Marilyn (He should know Sir Laurence Olivier best- he used to write him letters!) Best Actress , Mer

Two words: Meryl Streep . Virtually unrecognizable, Streep removes herself completely, becoming the United Kingdom's first female Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The Iron Lady fought for power in a male-dominated party, as did Streep fight to save this film. Mamma Mia! Phyllida Lloyd's showy editing techniques are merely a distraction from the storyline, and our focus on Streep, who delivers as if completely unaware of the camera. Watch as Meryl's penetrating performance takes over, albeit the director should have taken her job as seriously as Thatcher did. Streep's iron fist dominates both the UK, and the picture. Academy Award nom number 17?   

The year was 1927. Just as the talkies were coming along and beginning to evade the era of the silents, Kinograph's George Valentin ruled the title card film screens with that teeth-for-days face. Before the silent film star abruptly fades away with silence, he meets the fledgling, yet talented actress Peppy Miller. I know what you're thinking: we don't need another A Star is Born remake, right? Well, this one changes the game, and the color, and removes the chatter. Apparently, the stars Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo rehearsed their dance scenes in Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynold's studio! But, The Artist does more than just sing in the rain...It danced its way into nostalgic black-and-white hearts from here to eternity.

HBO 's smart new series Enlightened scored this fall season, where Hung left viewers limp and unsatisfied (which is why it got chopped off). Never has the office workplace been so dead-on-screen as the numbing corporation Abaddon (which literally means in Hebrew: the depths of hell), that drives Laura Dern 's ( Wild At Heart , Jurassic Park ) character to seek enlightenment at a Hawaii retreat. Diane Ladd ( Chinatown ) limelight's as seasoned Inland Empire -er Laura Dern's real-life, and fake-life mother, who is aloof when her daughter hugs her. The series co-creator, and writer, Mike White ( Chuck & Buck , The School of Rock ) plays Dern's corporate confidant. Enlightened has been picked up for a second season and will return to HBO next fall. Higher calling coming soon.