Full Metal Jacket (1987)

A retrogressive version of the old TV show sounds an intriguing idea until you realize it’s only in order to accommodate the unfunny clowning of Will Ferrell

Billy Bob Thornton only stars in Ed Solomon’s solemn-man parable of crime and punishment, but his saint-like character must have been sized to his ego.

Another dazzling film from the director of Nine Queens but, unfortunately, the last there will be

In Les Misérables, directed by Bille August, it is the film itself which turns out to be misérable: thin and poor and wretched and in need of feeding up. The one thing you don’t want to skimp on when you are filming an epic is the epic proportions. August, a fine director of intense and…

[See “Entry from July 22, 2009” under “My Diary”] Discover more from James Bowman Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email. Type your email… Subscribe

It’s sad to see a talented filmmaker like Steven Soderbergh descend to the quasi-propaganda and pure schlock of Erin Brockovich. Julia Roberts plays the eponymous Erin, a nasty, unpleasant foul-mouthed harridan meant to be both attractive and admirable to us because, I guess, she is Julia Roberts and doing feisty. Be feisty, Julia. And Julia…