Oscars Schmoscars
I don’t much care who wins. That’s not why I watch. Most of my favorites aren’t nominated, and I’m not going to get all tied up in knots sweating over it; Academy Awards rarely award […]
Sherry Coben
New In Town (2009) -vs- Local Hero (1983)
The Smackdown With millions thrown out of work and millions more hovering on unemployment’s brink, the time is right for some films about applying business ethics, real Ethics with a capital E. Our new President […]
The Visitor (2008) -vs- About Schmidt (2002)
The Smackdown Middle age is not for sissies. Take it from me, kids. Even those of us who lead fairly examined lives are in for a pretty rough descent as the uphill ride starts heading […]
Bride Wars (2009) -vs- Rachel Getting Married (2008)
The Smackdown What do women want? While Sigmund Freud may not have provided an adequate answer, Hollywood’s come up with something. Women want weddings! If not their own, any cardboard cut-out cutie’s will do in […]
Marley & Me (2008) -vs- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
The Smackdown The tabloids made me do it. The temptation to compare Brad’s and Jen’s films, both opening on Christmas Day was too much for the Merchants of Venom (and now for me); Jen won […]
Australia (2008) -vs- The Castle (1999)
The Smackdown I love Australia. I love their cute marsupials and their adorable accents. I especially love Australian films so you can just imagine how fast I ran down to the nearest multiplex to see […]
Twilight (2008) -vs- Edward Scissorhands (1990)
The Smackdown Teenaged girls are a force to be reckoned with. Like tsunamis and hurricanes. Oh sure, industry wisdom has it that teenaged boys go to the movies; they’re the prime target audience. Anyone who […]
W. (2008) -vs- All The President’s Men (1976)
The Smackdown Two wildly unpopular presidents and the mess they leave behind. Thirty-odd years apart but linked by a few common and terribly unfortunate threads. Hubris. Megalomania. Bad advice. Two films make drama of historical […]
High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008) -vs- The Godfather: Part III (1990)
The Smackdown Sequels rarely top the original. Some are downright soul-scarringly wretched. Most leave the viewer vaguely aware that they’ve had their pockets picked by a large corporation’s greedy stab at recapturing movie magic by […]
Ghost Town (2008) -vs- Ghost (1990)
The Smackdown People like the idea of the dead communicating with the living. It’s comforting (if borderline creepy) to imagine that our departed are somehow lingering, intact-looking ghosts sticking around until they’re finished with their […]