Monthly Archives: June 2009

Perfectly cast ‘Public Enemies’ hits its mark

Johnny Depp stars as legendary Depression-era outlaw John Dillinger, in a scene from, “Public Enemies.” Raging machine-gun battles – explosions of flame and thunder followed by the gentle tinkle of falling brass cartridges – provide the excitement in “Public Enemies,” but the story belongs to the faces. Marvelous, wonderful, perfectly cast faces. From the pixie-like […]

Local extras get a bang out of ‘Public Enemies’ roles

Aurora University employees Andrew and Amy Manion of Sugar Grove display their period garb on the set of the Chicago-shot crime drama “Public Enemies.” When you go to see Johnny Depp’s new gangster movie “Public Enemies” – and what Chicagoland filmgoer would miss it? – keep a sharp lookout for the news photographer at the […]

‘Jerichow’ at Music Box

Jame M. Cain’s classic novel “The Postman Always Rings Twice” gets a noirish update from German writer/director Christian Petzold. Cain’s twisted triangle now includes a dashing but broke ex-soldier Thomas (Benno Furmann) who gets a job helping Ali, a Turkish businessman (Hilmi Sozer), operate a chain of fast food venues. (Read more…) ( For mature […]

‘My Sister’s Keeper’ high on the weepie scale

Sara (Cameron Diaz) experiences a moment of truth with her daughter Anna (Abigail Breslin) in “My Sister’s Keeper.” Moviegoers who enjoy a good cathartic release watching films about children afflicted with cancer will get their money’s worth in Nick Cassavetes’ glorified Lifetime Channel feature “My Sister’s Keeper.” Young Sofia Vassilieva plays Kate, a bald cancer […]

Woody Allen’s ‘Whatever Works’ smart but breezy

Woody Allen surrogate Boris Yellnikoff (Larry David) explains life to Melodie (Evan Rachel Wood) in “Whatever Works.” Woody Allen’s main character in “Whatever Works” rants directly into the camera, breaking the “Fourth Wall” of theater, but not much new ground. Still, the smart, breezy and intermittently engaging “Whatever Works” celebrates the return of two key […]

‘Stoning of Soraya M.’ tells shocking, true tale

An Iranian woman (Shohreh Aghdashloo) tells a journalist (James Caviezel) a shocking tale in “The Stoning of Soraya M.” Colorado-born director Cyrus Nowrasteh takes a huge storytelling risk in his bold and controversial “The Stoning of Soraya M.” During the scene that we are dreading to see, villagers in a small Iranian town tie up […]

‘Transformers’ sequel too much of bad thing

Optimus Prime returns to help humans fight the Decepticons in Michael Bay’s sequel “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.” First it’s numbing. Then it’s numbinger. Michael Bay’s “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” launches a full-scale sensory assault on its audiences, pelting them with retina-ripping visuals, beating their eardrums with sonic overkill and decimating IQ points at […]

Indiana Jones, Thanks!

Thank you, Indiana Jones, for growing old. I’m serious. I’m as giddy as a schoolboy, filled with effusive gratitude for Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Harrison Ford. They allowed the world’s most famous archaeologist and action hero extraordinaire to be played by a 65-year-old actor. And they pulled it off. The reason I’m so pro […]