Moonraker (1979)

Jun 05, 2008 by Mr. Nau Roger Moore is James Bond in this Oscar-nominated adventure with a horrifyingly unrealistic script and over-the-top cheeseball silliness. A female love interest is named “Dr. Holly Goodhead.” Jaws is back (with a girlfriend this time), and the picture devolves into something less plausible than the Three Stooges. Grade: D. […]

Iron Man (2008)

Jun 08, 2008 by Mr. Nau Of the recent crop of superhero action films, this one ranks among the best, smartest, and most exciting. Robert Downey, Jr., stars as Tony Stark, a billionaire playboy weapons manufacturer who is captured by terrorists and invents the eponymous super armor. Eye-popping special effects make this amazing in the […]

Charlie Wilson’s War (2007)

Jun 06, 2008 by Mr. Nau Charlie Wilson, a junior representative from Texas, becomes the spearhead of a campaign to help the Afghan rebels expel Soviet troops. Tom Hanks, as Congressman Wilson, leads an all-star cast, that includes Julia Roberts, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams, in a hilarious, irreverent and intriguing political drama. Grade: […]

Home of the Brave (2006)

Jun 06, 2008 by Mr. Nau Samuel L. Jackson, Jessica Biel, 50 Cent, and Brian Presley all star as Army soldiers returning from duty in Iraq with various physical and mental injuries as a result of the war. The stories, in a sensitive and powerful script, center on their attempts to move on with their […]

Downfall (2004)

Jun 06, 2008 by Mr. Nau This unforgettable cinematic masterpiece follows the final days of the Third Reich with such historical accuracy and realism that it could serve as supplemental educational material. We witness Hitler losing his grip on reality as Soviet troops encircle Berlin. Spectacular acting and a magnificent script make this film required […]

Manny & Lo (1996)

Jun 05, 2008 by Mr. Nau In a small, obscure picture, a cast of unknowns, including eleven-year-old Scarlett Johansson, brings a quirky story to life. Two orphaned sisters are on the run, the older of whom is pregnant. With no idea of what to do about the impending birth, they kidnap a quiet spinster. Grade: […]

Color of a Brisk and Leaping Day (1996)

May 30, 2008 by Mr. Nau A cast of unknowns and Michael Stipe star in this quiet, reflective, and oddly-named picture about the grandson of a railroad worker, who saves the Yosemite Valley Railroad from the scrap yard by buying and attempting to run it. The pace is glacial sometimes, but the acting is solid. […]

Tristram Shandy (2005)

May 29, 2008 by Mr. Nau Comedians Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon star in this strange adaptation of an unfilmable novel. Done in mockumentary style that may lose some viewers, this short comedy follows a film crew as it disastrously attempts to do the impossible—adapt a nine-volume comedic novel into a feature-length film. Grade: B-. […]

Way Off Broadway (2001)

May 27, 2008 by Mr. Nau Morena Baccarin, Brad Beyer, and a cast of unknowns star in this surprisingly entertaining film debut from writer / director Daniel Kay. The story centers around a group of struggling artists in New York, trying to start artistic careers. A strong script and good cast brings these endearing characters […]

Mad Dog Morgan (1976)

May 17, 2008 by Mr. Nau Dennis Hopper stars in this badly-produced Australian historical piece. The Irish bushranger Dan Morgan was a bush bandit in eighteenth-century Australia, apparently a legend down under. Sadly, this picture is ineptly acted, badly produced, trudgingly slow, and generally has the ambience of a low-budget film school project. Grade: D-. […]

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