Author: Jason Zingale

Steve Carell is one funny guy, and in two short years he has stolen the spotlight from top comics like Jon Stewart (“The Daily Show”), Jim Carrey (“Bruce Almighty”) and Will Ferrell (“Anchorman”). It’s about time that he’s been given the chance to shine as the star of his own movie, and in “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” he’s brighter than ever. Following in the footsteps of the successful summer comedy romp “Wedding Crashers,” co-writer/director Judd Apatow proves once again that a raunchy, R-rated comedy can still bring in a mainstream audience. Apatow also proves that he can do it even better,…

Terrence Howard is one of the hottest upcoming male actors in Hollywood and has already appeared in over 30 films. He could easily be compared to the likes of Sidney Poitier and Denzel Washington, but he’s more interested in reaching that level of achievement on his own. With the recent wide release of the independent hit “Hustle & Flow” and his upcoming film “Four Brothers,” Bullz-Eye got a chance to speak with Terrence about growing up in Cleveland, his sudden success, and the future of his film career. Terrence Howard: Hi Jason, how are you? Bullz-Eye: I’m doing pretty good,…

It’s astonishing to think that it took this long for Bill Murray and director Jim Jarmusch to collaborate on a full-length feature film, though Murray did previously appear in a vignette for Jarmusch’s “Coffee and Cigarettes” back in 2003. The comedian’s deadpan acting and Jarmusch’s deadpan camera style (or, as I like to call it, Keeping the Camera on One Person with No Expression for Far Too Long) seemingly go hand in hand. Unfortunately, Murray can be quite boring – even at his best – with no plot to back him up, and he proves just that in Jarmusch’s latest…

Superhero movies are a dime a dozen these days, especially with the sudden interest of adapting nearly every major title in the Marvel and DC universes, so it’s refreshing to see a film like “Sky High” make its way into theaters. The movie doesn’t bother competing against the other superhero flicks with flashy special effects, or even a complex plot, but it does take the blue ribbon for something that’s been desperately missing in the genre ever since it got off the ground: a sense of humor. And while “Fantastic Four” officially beat “Sky High” to the punch with its…

Director Gus Van Sant’s latest film “Last Days” will no doubt have Nirvana enthusiasts rushing to the theaters. To all fans of both Cobain and Van Sant, please be advised: stay away, stay far, far away. Unless, of course, you haven’t been sleeping well at night, and then by all means, the eight dollar admission will be well worth the rest. Based on the events that took place during the final three days of Cobain’s life, Van Sant’s experimental film is an unmitigated failure, relying too much on the idea that moviegoers are actually interested in watching the boring existence…

Did you ever hear the one about the pimp who was going through a mid-life crisis? There’s no punch line that follows, but rather the passionate rags-to-riches tale behind writer/director Craig Brewer’s “Hustle & Flow.” The film’s got all of the necessary drugs, sex, and bling – not to mention a bass-thumping soundtrack – that you’ll find in just about every urban rap drama, but what separates “Hustle & Flow” from the pack is its candid display of the film’s characters. Whether it’s the warm emotional ties of a friendship, or the harsh dilemmas of everyday life, Brewer isn’t afraid…

It’s hard not to compare a remake of a classic film, but director Tim Burton’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is so much more; it’s a completely different experience. Adapted almost word for word (unlike the adored 1971 original starring Gene Wilder) from the Roald Dahl children’s novel of the same name, Burton’s vision of the surreal tale is a delightful fantasy ride for both children and adults, but it begs to ask the question: could it have been darker? Some of the director’s earlier work (“Pee Wee’s Big Adventure,” “Edward Scissorhands”) focused on similar characters just as eccentric as…

It’s no surprise that Pixar’s “The Incredibles,” was so well-received when it was released in theaters last year, but most people probably don’t realize how closely the basic premise resembles Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s Marvel series, “Fantastic Four.” Created in 1961 by the famous comic book duo, “Fantastic Four” introduced the genre’s very first superhero family with special powers a little too similar to that of Pixar’s latest creation. But if you enjoyed “The Incredibles,” then you’ll probably like “Fantastic Four,” the summer’s first real blockbuster and the most enjoyable comic book movie since 2002’s “Spider-Man.” Research astronauts Reed…

When it comes to milking a craze, it doesn’t get any worse than the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” franchise. The cartoon series became an instant hit in the late 80’s, only to influence the production of thousands of collectible toys, trading cards, and other merchandise, as well as a few decent games. In 2003, the series proved that it could stand the test of time by returning to syndication and entertaining a new generation of Saturday-morning-cartoon-watching kiddies. Here’s where things went wrong. The show’s success launched a series of new games for the latest home console systems, but unlike the…

It’s rarely good news when a legend comes out of hiding to reclaim their throne at the top of the kingdom. Michael Jordan had his second go at an NBA career with unsettling results, and now, the master of zombies himself, George A. Romero, is looking to cash in on the recent zombie renaissance occuring in Hollywood. Unfortunately, while his original three films (“Night of the Living Dead,” “Dawn of the Dead,” and “Day of the Dead”) may have helped set the mood for an entirely new genre, his latest venture into the world of the undead is a heap…