Author: Jason Zingale

Joel and Ethan Coen have always favored the unusual, so it struck me as a little odd that they would choose to adapt Charles Portis’ novel, “True Grit,” for the big screen, because it’s about as seemingly ordinary as Westerns come. Many would even claim that it didn’t need to be remade at all, seeing as how the 1969 John Wayne vehicle has long been considered the definitive version of the story. But while Wayne may have won an Oscar for his performance as the iconic Rooster Cogburn, the Coen brothers’ version offers something that Henry Hathaway’s film didn’t: a…

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’ve undoubtedly heard all about “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” the first in a trilogy of mystery novels from the late Swedish journalist turned author, Stieg Larsson. Already an international literary sensation, all three books have since been adapted for the big screen in their native language, and “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” has already become the highest-grossing Swedish film of all-time. So yes, if you’ve yet to jump on the Stieg Larsson Express, it might be time to finally believe the hype. But while the film version is an engaging…

With the economy still in the dumps, the last thing that anyone wants to see is a movie about corporate downsizing – especially one as soul-crushing as John Wells’ “The Company Men.” But the film industry has always been a great channel for discussing the world’s problems, and though it might be a little difficult to relate to at times due to the film’s primary focus on the white-collar workforce, the acting is so good all around that it’s hard not to be drawn into this timely and engrossing drama about learning to cope with losing one’s job when it’s…

As far as movie tie-in games go, “TRON: Evolution” is only as bad as the film on which it’s based. Unfortunately, Disney’s “TRON: Legacy” is a ho-hum sequel that, considering it was 26 years in the making, really should have been better. It’s hard not to feel the same about the game as well, because while the TRON universe certainly owes itself to the medium, it doesn’t do a very good job of paying back the favor. Fans of the series will enjoy the back story that “TRON: Evolution” provides, but for anyone else, it’s never better than average. Devised…

If you asked the average moviegoer if they were interested in watching a British period piece about an English prince with a bad temper and an even worse stammer, you’d probably find it difficult to fill a lot of theaters. That might not bode well for the box office potential of “The King’s Speech,” but it doesn’t change the fact that Tom Hooper has managed to take a predictable story fit for a TV movie and turn it into one of the year’s best films and a major contender at the Oscars. Not too surprising considering the director’s previous work…

There are a number of things that one can expect from a movie called “Burlesque” – like singing, dancing, and gorgeous women in revealing outfits – but it never even crossed my mind that it might actually be good. Even the film’s trailer hinted at a potential train wreck, so you’ll probably be surprised to discover that it isn’t half-bad. Though the movie features some terribly underdeveloped characters and gets caught in the allure of its own glitz and glamour, the showy musical numbers and a great debut from Christina Aguilera make “Burlesque” a lot more enjoyable than you might…

Interested in testing the limits of the moviegoing public? Make a comedy about terrorism. At least, that’s what Christopher Morris has done with his feature film debut, “Four Lions,” a movie that will no doubt stir up controversy if it ever finds a distributor brave enough to release it in theaters. A pitch-black satire in the same vein as “Dr. Strangelove,” Morris has created a film so relevant to our current political climate that many will feel guilty just for watching it, let alone laughing at all the gut-wrenching humor along the way. For as risqué as the material may…

It’s been ten years since the release of Todd Phillips’ directorial debut, “Road Trip,” so it only seems fitting that he’s circled back to the place where it all began with another movie about a couple of guys on a disastrous road trip across the country. And to prove just how far he’s come since then, Phillips has cast Robert Downey Jr. in the lead role. But while “Due Date” boasts a stronger cast, “Road Trip” is actually the funnier movie. That may sound like the mumblings of a crazy person – especially when the prospect of teaming Downey Jr.…

Those walking into Gareth Edwards’ “Monsters” expecting a monster movie in the same vein as “Cloverfield” might be surprised to learn that it’s nothing like it at all. Not that it isn’t a monster movie per se, but it’s a different kind of monster movie – one that takes place long after the initial invasion that most films in the genre typically revolve around. It’s actually a pretty novel approach that enables Edwards to ignore the allure of highlighting the creatures and instead focus on the people adapting to life post-invasion, creating a low-key character piece that’s more interested in…

The original “Fable” was an enjoyable fantasy RPG that toyed with the concept of good vs. evil. “Fable II” evolved that idea into a much more sophisticated system that allowed players to explore the moral grey area in between. In “Fable III,” however, the ethical choices that you make don’t just affect your in-game character, but the player as well. Whether you’re a hero or a villain seems to be a moot point at this stage in the series, because most people already know what path they’re going to take before they even begin. That hasn’t stopped Peter Molyneux from…