WALL•E

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Right when the last living robot on Earth gets lonely, a female robot lands on his planet, and together they attempt to bring humans back to rebuild it.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard, John Ratzenberger, Kathy Najimy, Sigournery Weaver... although you really can't recognize most of them.

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! It's got some very current messages about the environment, big corporations, and obesity-- as well as how they're all tied together-- but at times you find yourself thinking too hard to understand what's going on. What I'm saying is that (as tends to happen with Pixar films), it's a little over-rated by the majority of critics that aren't me.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Here and there, but with almost no dialogue for the first two-thirds, this kids' movie often times went right over my head.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Probably not, but it's nice to see that in the year 2700, robots have absolutely no stigma attached to interracial dating.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: There are only two steps in the recipe for getting an Academy Award. 1) Compete in a category with hardly any contenders (Animation), and 2) Be a Pixar film.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Robotic.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: As with most Pixar projects, the most wonderful stuff is in the details and the little moments that you feel you couldn't have thought of yourself.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: It's impressive that they are able to tell so much with so few words, and yet the message is not always well communicated. There's also something unsatisfying about the ending. I mean, it's happy... kind of... But there is no heroic moment that makes you feel like the good guys did something really special in order to win. It just ends happily. And then it's over. And then the credits roll.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: This is the first time I've seen a movie tie in what the video game will be about during the closing credits. They don't announce that that's what they're doing, but if you watch the little 2-D animation that runs alongside the credits, that's what they're doing.

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Wanted

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Based on the Top Cow comic book, a regular nobody (James McAvoy) finds out that he was born to be a top assassin and maintain the world's balance.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman, Terence Stamp, Thomas Kretschmann, Common, Marc Warren, Konstantin Khabensky, Dato Bakhtadze, Kristen Hager, Chris Pratt, Lorna Scott

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! If you want action scenes that have never been done before, this movie's got 'em.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Killing people is hardly a laughing matter.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Only if you cry at the sight of blood-- which you shouldn't because in the movies blood is really just Karo Syrup mixed with red food coloring... sweet and delicious!

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: I never thought I'd say this, but the sound effects editing is remarkable.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Nobody sucked.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: A feast for your eyes.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Right when you think it's going to be a run of the mill story about a boy who learns to use his powers and then goes after his enemy, they throw an innovative plot twist in your face.

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The Love Guru

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: The owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Team (Jessica Alba) hires her favorite Guru (Mike Myers) to get her star player (Romany Malco) back on track, by reuniting him with his wife.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Mike Myers, Jessica Alba, Romany Malco, Meagan Good, Justin Timberlake, Ben Kingsley, Verne Troyer, John Oliver, Stephen Colbert, Jim Gaffigan, Telma Hopkins, and many great cameos, like Mariska Hargitay.

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. This movie is random. Which at times is enjoyable. But Mike Myers' comedies tend to play better on the small screen, when you watch them in bits and chunks, and you're only half paying attention. So you should probably wait for DVD.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: If your sense of humor is as juvenile as mine, you'll laugh.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: If your sense of humor is more juvenile than mine, you'll laugh 'til you cry... Especially if it's your first time getting stoned and you're having a laugh-attack. Because I have to assume that if your sense of humor is more juvenile than mine, you're probably young enough to never have gotten stoned before, thereby still being susceptible to the ever-elusive pot-induced laugh-attack.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: No, but it does have elephant sex, so that's impressive.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Like Austin Powers with an Indian accent and less teeth.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: If it had been paced up a bit, it would be twice as funny. The script is pretty good, but the director lets the actors milk each joke with pauses, as if to say at every turn, "See that? We made a funny."

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Better than the actors make it look. Not you Stephen Colbert. You were impeccable.

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The Wackness

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A coming of age buddy movie between a high school graduate (Josh Peck) and a middle aged psychiatrist (Ben Kingsley), who form a friendship as they simultaneously learn to become men.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Josh Peck, Ben Kingsley, Olivia Thirlby, Famke Janssen, Mary-Kate Olsen, Jane Adams, Method Man, Aaron Yoo, Talia Balsam, David Wohl

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! You see, indy movies can have a point!

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Right when you least expect it.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Probably not, but the feeling of heartbreak is palpable.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: It won the Audience Award at Sundance.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Ben Kingsley clearly chose this role because he wanted to remind everyone of how infinite his talent is, and he does. Josh Peck makes you forget that he's a graduate of the Nickelodeon school of sitcoms. And Olivia Thirlby, in the role of the perfect woman, proves that she's got what it takes to be a leading lady.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Shot entirely in sepia tones, the film has a deliberately nostalgic feeling to it. Adding to that are a smattering of dream sequences and surreal moments, that seem to have no place in the style of the film, and yet somehow never take you out of it.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: It's a small film that doesn't try to do very much, but the emotion is relatable, and the dialogue is lean and often original.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: The soundtrack is like a dope mixed tape of old school hip-hop.
Word.

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The Incredible Hulk

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) is a fugitive on the run from the U.S. Government, because an experiment whose purpose is to create weapons out of men, by mutating their cells and making them "Superhumans" actually works.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt, Ty Burrell, Tim Blake Nelson

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. I left the theater with more questions than answers. Like, "Why did this nice, seemingly peaceful guy experiment on himself, to create a "Superhuman"?" and, "What exactly did he think was going to happen if he exposed himself to radiation?" and, "Was that really how they're going to end this movie?"

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: It ain't no Iron Man.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Even with Edward Norton in the lead, the heart in this movie feels like it's running on a pacemaker.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Outside chance for CGI, but personally I thought the monsters looked cheesy and gross.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: As good as Edward Norton is, they just don't give him that much to do.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Louis Leterrier does a good job of distinguishing between the parts where Bruce Banner is a regular guy, and the parts where he's a Hulk, by creating a realistic and raw look when he's normal, versus a more cartoonish look when he's green.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: After seeing the preview, my biggest question going in was, "How is the Hulk going to defeat another Hulk-like monster that's twice his size and seemingly has at least as much power as him?" After seeing the movie, that is still my biggest question... It's okay for the good guy to win every time, but you still have to justify and earn it.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: In the last scene, they announce the sequel, and a surprise guest causes this to be the best part of the film. But it's still a little audacious to announce the sequel when they had no way of knowing if this movie was going to be a hit or not.

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You Don't Mess with the Zohan

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: An Israeli counter terrorist (Adam Sandler), with dreams of becoming a hairstylist, fakes his own death so he can escape to America and work for Paul Mitchell.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Adam Sandler, Emmanuelle Chriqui, John Turturro, Nick Swardson, Lainie Kazan, Ido Mosseri, Rob Schneider, Dave Matthews, Michael Buffer

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. If you're already a fan of Adam Sandler's style of humor, the quality of this one may surpass your expectations... It's almost like they tried to make a good movie this time.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: It's broad as hell, but if you allow yourself to go along with the ridiculousness, a lot of it kind of works.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: There is something inspiring about the far out concept that the solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be found in the subtext of an Adam Sandler comedy.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Wouldn't it be funny if it were?

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Adam Sandler's Israeli accent is so strong and consistent that I would actually believe him if he told me he'd been to Israel. Dave Matthews' performance finally convinced me that he really is serious about pursuing this acting stuff. Meanwhile, Ido Mosseri gives the kind of breakout performance that could set him up to corner the market on funny looking, funny guys of Israeli descent. Look out, Ben Stiller!

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Nothing all that surprising here. Dennis Dugan is Adam Sandler's go to guy. He's been creating that hacky look, for years now. But at least this movie is a vast improvement on I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, which blew chunks of fire and fake gay love.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: It includes a number of jokes that are pretty darn clever, which we can most likely credit to Judd Apatow. It also includes a number of feats never before accomplished by a phallus, which I assume is the loving work of Robert Smigel, who regularly proves his adoration of phallus flaunting in his work on The Ambiguously Gay Duo, on SNL.

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Expired

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Two lonely meter maids (Samantha Morton and Jason Patric) enter into an emotionally abusive relationship that just might have a chance of working.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Samantha Morton, Jason Patric, Teri Garr, Illeana Douglas, Sonia Iris Lozada, Jonny Mack, Joanne Baron

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. This movie has moments of twisted genius, the likes of which haven't been seen since the indies of the 90s, such as Happiness, Chuck and Buck, and In the Company of Men. If that sounds good to you, get out there and see this one.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Squeal is more like it, as your laughter will be squirming its way through your reluctant gut on its way out of your mouth.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: That depends on how many parking tickets you're in the habit of getting.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Yes, it will be up for at least 4 Independent Spirit Awards-- pick any category you'd like.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Jason Patric is a Tour de Force. And yes, I've been dying for the right opportunity to use that expression, which literally translated means, "Other actors will bow down and kneel in his presence." Don't question me, I speak French!

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Sometimes it draws a bit too much attention to itself, panning around for no reason. But it's nice to see a first time feature director taking a few risks-- so long as they don't interfere with my viewing pleasure.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Darkly comic, sadly realistic, and cringe inducing... in a good way.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: There are a few scenes that take place on the street where I live. So if you're thinking about stalking me, there's a clue.

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Kung Fu Panda

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A Panda who dreams of becoming a Kung Fu master is picked to defeat his village's most powerful and dangerous enemy, despite the fact that he has no experience in Martial Arts.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Ian McShane, Lucy Liu, Seth Rogen, Jackie Chan, David Cross, Randall Duk Kim, Michael Clarke Duncan

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! One of the best Kung Fu movies I've ever seen. Oh, and also it's really, really cute.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Yes. But if you can catch a weekend matinee, the laughter of the children laughing will add exponentially to your enjoyment of the jokes.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Almost.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: A likely winner in the Best Animated Picture category. Which sometimes doesn't seem like that great of an accomplishment, considering they can rarely ever find more than three movies a year to nominate for that meagerly category.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Much like the character he plays, Jack Black is a master. He continually rises above your expectations, conquering all lines of dialogue that are placed before him with awesomeness and attractiveness.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: The inventiveness of the director's vision is sold in the first few frames, as the movie opens on Panda's Kung Fu fantasy, which cleverly parodies the Japanime animation style. And the attention to detail just expands from there.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: It starts out seeming like it's going to be the same old movie about a boy who wants to be a dancer, while his father wants him to follow in his footsteps working a passionless job at the coal mines. Only instead of dancing, this boy wants to do Kung Fu, and instead of coal mines, this father wants him to become a Top Ramen-style noodle chef... But happily, the movie quickly takes a turn into more original and charming territory.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: The merchandise is going to kick as much butt as the Dragon Slayer.

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When Did You Last See Your Father?

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A son reminisces about all the resentments he's harbored toward his father over the years, and tries to figure out how to forgive his dad (Jim Broadbent), before he breathes his final breath.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Jim Broadbent, Colin Firth, Juliet Stevenson, Gina McKee, Sarah Lancanshire, Elaine Cassidy, Claire Skinner, Matthew Beard, Bradley Johnson

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. Most critics will say something to the effect of, "This film is a beautiful portrait of the inner battle between love and hate that so many of us are confronted with, when it comes to our relationships with our parents." This critic says, "Hellooooooooo, melodramatic!"

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Notatall. That's British for, "No."

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: It mostly feels like there's a movie screen standing in between you and what the characters are going through. You will watch them suffering in the distance, but you will not feel their suffering. Lucky for you... Unlucky for the filmmakers.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: When you watch Jim Broadbent perform, it seems nearly impossible that he waited until his fifties to start racking up award nominations. He's six different kinds of talented in this one.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: In addition to Jim Broadbent, Juliet Stevenson finds wonderful levels of subtlety as she puts on a happy face in front of her son, in an effort to constantly hide her miserable interior.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Mirrors and reflections play throughout the film, and I'm not one to assume I know what their significance is. If it is meant to represent Colin Firth's life reflecting back at him, that seems very on the nose. But if it is anything else, that seems very obtuse.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The film is based on a book, that's based on a true story, that's based on the author of the book, it's no wonder it all feels a bit too personal to reach the heart of the masses.

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