“3 Days to Kill” is a Sleazy Delight

To explain how on earth I am giving a positive review to 3 Days to Kill, I must cite the late, great Roger Ebert. He referred to his reviewing style as “relative, not absolute,” meaning that he compared a film to others in its genre and judged it against what it was aiming for –…

“Man of Steel”: An Immigration Allegory

The character of Superman presents an unusual challenge in the post-9/11 era of superheroes. We like our superheroes tortured and conflicted now, as a reflection of America’s uncertain place on the world stage. But historically, Superman has never had such inner conflict. To the contrary, he is more of a hokey do-gooder than a tortured…

Casting Call: Ronald Reagan

UPDATE (5/10/12): It was announced today that Alan Rickman will be playing Reagan in “The Butler.” A very odd, terrible choice, but not nearly as terrible as who will be playing JFK. It was recently announced that liberal activist Jane Fonda will play former first lady Nancy Reagan in “The Butler,” an upcoming film that…

Movies that Matter: “JFK”

This is the first in a series of posts about “Movies that Matter.” In this space, I will analyze movies that have influenced public policy and discuss the techniques used by the filmmakers to create that impact. First up, Oliver Stone’s “JFK.” In the acclaimed 2005 documentary, “Why We Fight,” the filmmakers open and close…