Film Review: “Old”

Shyamalan’s latest underwhelms

Charles (Rufus Sewell) isn’t having the best time of it, and neither are we watching him.

M. Night Shyamalan was nominated for writing and directing Oscars for the inarguably brilliant The Sixth Sense over 20 years ago, and he’s been trying to replicate that success ever since. Unfortunately, each of his offerings since then, aside from 2002’s box office victory Signs, has been met with high hopes and then dashed expectations. His newest film, Old, is a similar disappointment. “Disappointing” is actually too kind a word for this picture; unwatchable and laughable are probably more accurate descriptors.
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Film Review: Judy

Zellweger may find Oscar gold waiting at the end of her rainbow

Judy (Renée Zellweger) belts out The Trolley Song to an adoring crowd in 1968 London.

Remember the controversy back in 2013 because a bunch of Australians had dominated the new screen adaptation of The Great Gatsby, that most quintessential of American stories? Fast forward six years, and now we’ve got Brits helming a new biopic of one of America’s most beloved — and troubled — stars, Judy Garland. Fortunately, Judy fares a bit better than Gatsby, thanks in large part to a dazzling performance by Renée Zellweger in the title role.

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Film Review: Hercules

Herculean, this movie is not.

I...AM...HERCULES! I'm kinda legendary. Sort of.
I…AM…HERCULES! I’m kinda legendary. Sort of.

Who here wants to see the “real” story of Hercules?! Anyone?…Anyone? Bueller?  Just as I expected, this was not something that needed to be told, and it’s even the second revisionist tale of Hercules to be released this year (The Legend of Hercules — 3% on Rotten Tomatoes).  This one stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and is directed by Brett Ratner (Rush Hour, X:Men: The Last Stand).  What this means is that you can expect 120 minutes of passable escapism, primarily due to Ratner’s involvement rather than The Rock’s presence.  The widely disliked Ratner is known for his surface-level entertainment films, Red Dragon the only possible exception, and his newest film is no different.  Hercules is stripped of mythology and magic, leaving us with a predictable and bland sword and sandals mini-epic.

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