NYC Film Critic

Documentary filmmaker Nanette Burstein makes her narrative feature debut with Going the Distance, a surprisingly sweet and funny–if at times too conventional–romantic comedy starring on-again, off-again real-life couple Drew Barrymore and Justin Long.  My feature story with Burstein is live over at Film Journal.

Sweet Crude
Directed by Sandy Cioffi
**1/2

Documentary filmmakers always take a risk when they choose to make themselves characters in their movies.  Sure the approach has yielded some memorable movies—see Sherman’s March (the granddaddy of all contemporary first-person documentaries), Roger & Me, Stone Reader and Super Size Me.

(more…)

British director Neil Marshall carries on the B-movie tradition with his latest genre mash-up, Centurion, a hugely entertaining Gladiator-meets-Rambo action adventure picture set in Roman times.  Based on this movie, Michael Fassbender deserves to be a big, big star.  The film opens this Friday in select markets.  Read my review over at Film Journal.

NYCFilmCritic is back from vacation at last and what better way to mark the end of summer than with a gory 3D-enhanced spectacle involving nubile co-eds and killer fish?  Believe it or not, Piranha 3D is actually one of Summer 2010’s more entertaining efforts, as long as you don’t go in expecting compelling characters, rich storytelling and emotional depth.  Treat it for what it is–silly, stupid trash–and you’ll have a good time.  Read my full review at Film Journal.