movie review

By ROBERT WALDMAN, Vancouver

Certain actors seem born for a role. Back in the 1960s Sean Connery was saving the world as James Bond, agent 007. Move on to the 70s and we had Clint Eastwood cleaning up those grimy San Francisco streets as Dirty Harry. Sky high fun occurred whenever Christopher Reeves took flight as a superman while closer to home Sylvester Stallone did what John Rambo had to do to wreck havoc on American enemies in South East Asia.   Modern heroes like Indiana Jones and Spider-Man made household names internationally of Harrison Ford and Tobey Maguire. Now we must add Robert Downey Jr to this list of pop icons thanks to his latest work.        

By ROBERT WALDMAN, Vancouver

Words of wisdom are hard to convey when we enter the murky world of the mixed-up/messed-up Wetherhold family. Life on campus takes a back seat to family upheaval as we track an otherwise normal group in Smart People, a savvy undertaking from Miramax Films now setting off debates at Tinseltown (on Pender, free parking). the Fifth Avenue Theatre, Esplanade 6, Empire Studio 12, Colossus and Famous Players Theatres around B.C.. Sure to spark interest come Oscar time this oddball feature marks some notable musings from it’s A list cast of actors.

By ROBERT WALDMAN, Vancouver

War can bring out the best in people. Set in the 1930s, The Counterfeiters is a tense tale of struggle and survival from Sony Pictures Classics now shining brightly at Tinseltown (on Pender, free parking). Once again Germany shows its true colours and mettle as a sensational filmmaking center with this movie from writer/director Stefan Ruzowitsky a clear front-runner for best foreign film this year. Right in the tradition of The Lives of Others The Counterfeiters serves to open eyes to the ultimate war machine and human tragedy.

 By ROBERT WALDMAN

            Hold on to your popcorn!  Wall to wall action awaits one and all in Transformers, the latest escapist fare from Dreamworks and Paramount Studios now thrilling audiences at Scotiabank Theatre,  Oakridge Cinemas, The Esplanade 6, Colossus, Empire Studio 12 and Famous Players Theatres around B.C.  Just try to catch your breath as this non-stop adventure yarn from master filmmakers Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg rocks from start to finish.

            Those in the know are aware that transformers were originally toy contraptions marketed by Hasbro.  Made famous by the plastic models from the 80s as well as a spin-off cartoon series this big budget movie pulls out all the stops.  State of the art special effects combine with outstanding acting to put you right in the midst of controlled chaos.