New Line Cinema

“We’re the Millers”, the new film from “Dodgeball” director Rawson Marshall Thurber which reunites “Horrible Bosses” co-stars Jason Sudeikis and Jennifer Aniston, is a prime example of an adult comedy that squanders its “R” rating on silly dialogue and contrived raunchiness. Sometimes lazy but more often feeling like it’s trying too hard to fit in […]

I remember early on in the year, trailers for We’re the Millers played before almost every screening I attended, and I always looked forward to hearing Billy Squier’s single “The Stroke” (or, rather, Mickey Avalon sampling the song) raging out through the theater speakers. Yes, I’m old enough to remember that as a hit for […]

Every once in a while, a film comes along that hushes my bitching about mainstream horror. Last year it was the nerve-rattling “Sinister”, an atmospheric supernatural creeper that melded sub-genres to create something undeniably terrifying. It was a masterful exercise in tension, relying on our imaginations to do most of the heavy lifting. If not […]

Say what you will about the Saw films, but the original film was (and still is) one of my favorite horror movies. Why? Director James Wan kept the mood tense and intense, relying on less gore than the sequels that followed. He created a very tight, suspenseful, jaw-torquing film that gets forgotten due to its […]

(This review was originally published on December 14, 2012 at Reel Film News) I have a confession that might get me ostracized from my group of industry peers: I have not seen any of the “Lord of the Rings” films. One might wonder how that’s possible for a film buff, not to mention a critic; […]

(This review was originally published on August 12, 2011 at The Rogers Revue) When a film franchise consistently attempts to deliver a greater spectacle than its previous installments, there is an inherent risk as the gap between a recycled premise and its ability to surprise the audience widens. The “Final Destination” series has had the potential […]