CRITICWATCH - PETE HAMMOND: HELLO KETTLE, YOU'RE BLACK
by Erik Childress |
| "On May 5, The Wrap's Alonso Duralde wrote a negative review of Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby. Was it so scathing as to draw attention to it as some sort of belabored takedown? Hardly. Duralde may regret the word "flop" being part of his headline, but we are still a way from labeling its financial status as an outright success. What is worthy of attention was brought to ours by The Fishbowl's Richard Horgan. According to Deadline's coverage of the Cannes Film Festival, their reporter called out Duralde as one of a group of "pseudo-critics who like to try and take down a movie." Said reporter also accused Duralde as having never read the book despite his review referring to it as an "immortal American tragedy." That is quite a list of accusations based on pure speculation. Not that you can find the section anymore in the Deadline piece. It has been deleted. What hasn't been is the by-line of who wrote those words - Pete Hammond." (more) |
 |
|
CRITICWATCH - THE NOT-SO-GREAT QUOTE WHORES OF WARNER BROS.
by Erik Childress |
| "This week, Paramount did the unthinkable. They announced in many markets across the country, including Chicago, that their tentpole summer film, Star Trek Into Darkness, would not be screened until late Wednesday night on May 15. When I say late, I mean 9:00 PM (at least in Chicago.) This does not happen. It's already a big question mark given the film's May 17 release date. It's an outright WTF when the film opens in IMAX theaters on that same May 15 date. (Including Chicago.) That means that, technically, it is no longer a press screening. How can it be when paying patrons can plunk down inflated IMAX prices for a showing an hour earlier. All this despite the film being screened for select press and a full junket in London just last weekend. J.J. Abrams' Star Trek 2 sits at 89% at Rotten Tomatoes yet the loudest voices have been about the mixed reviews and outright negatives. Maybe next time Paramount will consider showing the film to those who don't have the biggest mouths." (more) |
 |
|
SUMMER 2013 AT THE MOVIES. SMELLS OF....CHEAP CLEANING PRODUCT AND MELTED CHEESE...
by Daniel Kelly |
| "Going to the cinema is a pivotal part of the summertime experience. Blockbusters come rolling out on a weekly basis, box-office registers go kaboom and Kevin James surfaces at least once too many. Summer 2013 is shaping up to be an intriguing season of filmic goodness, and to help get you in the mood, here are a few predictions and suggestions concerning the months ahead." (more) |
 |
|
DVD REVIEWS FOR 5/7: "BE SURE I'M IN THE CASKET BEFORE YOU BRING ANY LILIES."
by Peter Sobczynski |
| "Featured in this roundup of brand-new DVD/Bllu-Ray releases are a bunch of dumb movies you didn't see over the winter, some obscure classics you have probably never seen and some "Star Trek"-related titles you might want to check out since it appears that the new movie sucks the proverbial runny egg" (more) |
|
DVD REVIEWS FOR 4/24: "IT HAPPENS SOMETIMES. PEOPLE JUST EXPLODE."
by Peter Sobczynski |
| "Due to a series of personal and professional conflicts, topped off with a minor case of ebola, this column is so ridiculously overdue that I almost hesitate to mention its lateness. Nevertheless, here is a roundup of titles from the last few weeks that you have probably checked out already if you are truly hep. Anyway, sorry for the tardiness and hopefully everything will get back to normal." (more) |
|
|
Articles 
