Over the course of our more than 15-year existence, FSR has published thousands of reviews. We have reviewed movies from film festivals like Sundance, SXSW, TIFF, and Cannes. We review new theatrical and streaming releases. We even have two recurring columns — Previously On and Up Next — in which we review new and returning TV shows. And just as a fun fact, we used to give out letter grades with our reviews.
By Neil Miller
“From the guys who watched every action movie ever made, and brought you Shaun of the Dead.” That tagline alone is enough to get the cult-like audience who swarmed Shaun of the Dead into a frenzy. In 2004, British director Edgar Wright bursted onto the American scene with his zombie horror spoof, coming out of nowhere and establishing himself as one hell of a comedic presence in Hollywood. This weekend he will attempt to fight off the sophomore slump with his second comedic feature, buddy cop satire Hot Fuzz.
By Neil Miller
You’ve got to cut Shia LaBeouf a little hit of slack. Yes, he has been in some pretty bad roles (Charlie’s Angels 2, Dumb and Dumberer, etc) where he has placated the former Disney channel star clich©. But he does work hard and every once in a while he comes across a role that makes you go, “Whoa! Is this the same kid that I saw in Holes?” In Disturbia, LaBeouf plays Kale, a once well-behaved young man who turns into a deviant after the tragic death of his father. This deviance leads him to punching his high school Spanish teacher and getting house arrest for the entire summer.
By Neil Miller
The profession of acting is very much like the profession of exotic dancing. For one, in order to make a fair amount of money, you have to work hard and work your way up the ladder (or pole.) Additionally, you have to take the good gigs with the bad and everything in between. Halle Berry’s career as an actress is a perfect example of the latter. For every Monster’s Ball there has been a Catwoman, and there have been plenty of those “in between” gigs that pays the bills. And while some of us are publicly waiting for another Monster’s Ball and secretly yearning for another Catwoman, we do get to watch her strut her stuff in Perfect Stranger; easily one of those in-betweeners.
By Neil Miller
I have a new theory: every movie should begin with a scene involving a scantily clad Rose McGowan and a stripper pole. That would really take the sting off of films like Norbit. Where did this theory come from, you may ask? It came from the fact that I just got back from screening Grindhouse, the homage to 70s and 80s exploitation flicks co-directed by Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino. Just think about this concept; two directors with very loyal fanbases making a three hour long double feature packed full of blood, boobs and bad dialog. What about that doesn’t sound like fun?
By Neil Miller
In The Lookout, Joseph Gordon-Levitt continues his trend of breaking away from being that kid from 3rd Rock from the Sun moving towards being a serious dramatic presence on the silver screen. It is a trend that really began back in 2004 with his stunning performance in Mysterious Skin and continued quite nicely in 2005 with Rian Johnson’s indie sensation, Brick. Levitt is quickly establishing himself as an actor with serious range and a keen eye for great roles in smaller films.
By Neil Miller
Somewhere it is happening. It is most likely occurring on a college campus somewhere and it involves that guy that we all know. Somewhere that guy is walking up to some random girl and spouting, “I don’t know how to put this but I’m kind of a big deal. People know me. I’m very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany.†Why do I know this is happening? Because that is the power of a great Will Ferrell comedy, it stays with you long after you leave the theater. It stays with some longer than others, but the one liners always stick. And as much of a fan as I have been of these movies (Anchorman, Talladega Nights, Elf, etc.) I have always been wondering when Will Ferrell is going to cross the line and go from dumb funny to just plain dumb. I had thought Blades of Glory would be it, but as Ron Burgundy would say “You are sadly mistaken, my friend.â€
By Neil Miller
There are a few things that you always need to have if you are going to make a decent American vigilante action movie. You must have a hero, filled to the brim with idealism and armed with a degree in kickin’ ass and taking names. You must also have at least one hot leading lady, and you earn bonus points for tastefully putting her in position to be half naked through most of the film. And finally, without question there must exist plenty of gunfights and explosions to keep the audiences entertained in between the afore mentioned partial nudity. These three elements never fail to give Average Joe Moviegoer his money’s worth.
