Author Archives: Jack Poessiger
Jack Goes Confidential: Reese Witherspoon Captivates In Gritty ‘Wild’
If you read Cheryl Strayed’s book Wild: From Lost To Found On The Pacific Crest Trail you’ll be happy to hear that the film follows the book quite closely… You may also be wondering how well WILD translates to the screen. Rest assured that DALLAS … Continue reading
New Jack City: “Birdman’ Tops 48th Annual KC Critics Awards
The 24 members of Kansas City’s Film Critics Circle have spoken… Representing local and regional radio, television, newspaper and on-line media outlets— they voted Sunday for The Best On Film for 2014. And the KC’s Critics Circle’s top pick this year was “BIRDMAN” … Continue reading
Jack Goes Confidential: Chris Rock Hits With ‘Top Five’
You’ve gotta give Chris Rock a lot of credit… After a period of involving himself with—shall we say—less than stellar movie parts, all of the sudden he’s turned edgy again. Rock wrote, directed and stars in his own motion picture … Continue reading
New Jack City: Holiday Air Travel Tips—Read ‘Em & Don’t Weep!
A few holiday angst travel avoidance reminders… With the legacy carriers all booked to the brim during the upcoming holiday peak travel period, here are a few last minute tips that may keep you from experiencing a ruined Christmas trip. First … Continue reading
Jack Goes Confidential: ‘THE HOMESMAN’ Ratches Up Odd Western Tale
This isn’t your father’s western! THE HOMESMAN has no cowboys – just a few indians – and one of the strangest road trips west of the Mississippi (heading east to Iowa). The film is definitely not for everyone and could easily … Continue reading
Jack Goes Confidential: ‘Horrible Bosses 2’ Lowers The Bar—And Then Some
Were there REALLY any good reason for a sequel to 2011’s raunchy ensemble comedy HORRIBLE BOSSES? OK, I keep forgetting the business end. After all the first one grossed $118 million domesticly and another $92 million worldwide. Making it a … Continue reading
New Jack City: Deck the Halls, Hollywood’s Gifts to Mankind
I give you, Kansas City’s 2014 Holiday Grid of major movie releases: Starting this Friday, Nov. 21—“THE HUNGER GAMES: Mockingjay–Part 1″ (Lionsgate)—Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Philips Seymour Hoffman. = = = = = = = = = = = = … Continue reading
Jack Goes Confidential: ‘Dumb And Dumber To’ Lives Down to Expectations
Go in thinking stupid and you’ll feel right at home… In 1994 the Farrelly Brothers took stupidity to new heights—or lows as some might suggest. They called it DUMB AND DUMBER which debuted to an impressive $16.4 million opening weekend. The farce would ultimately enjoy … Continue reading
Jack Goes Confidential: ‘Interstellar’—Psychological Mind Bending Melodrama
If there is a single word that best describes INTERSTELLAR it would be AMBITIOUS… Ambitious in the movie’s approach of marrying human emotions and sci-fi physic theories. And if there’s a central theme, it has to be, do not go gently into that … Continue reading
Jack Goes Confidential: Jake Gyllenhaal Unhinged In ‘Nightcrawler’
Welcome to major market television news where If It Bleeds It Leads… Especially during Sweep Weeks! But how do you GET all the graphic footage? And more importantly GET IT FIRST! That’s where ambitious Lou Bloom comes into the picture. He’s … Continue reading
Jack Goes Confidential: Michael Keaton Mesmerizes in BIRDMAN
Two great performances are opening here this weekend! The first is Jake Gyllenhaal as NIGHTCRAWLER. The other—and this one a sure bet in the upcoming Oscar nominations for Best Actor – is Michael Keaton as BIRDMAN. In this dark comedy, satire-fantasy, Keaton … Continue reading
Jack Goes Confidential: Sad Sack Bill Murray Scores As ‘St. Vincent’
I’ll admit it… I had a smile on my face throughout most of ST. VINCENT’s one hour and 42 minutes long running time. That doesn’t make it a great movie by any means—but certainly an enjoyable one. I defy anyone watching it not … Continue reading
New Jack City: The X-Rated Upside of Unemployment, Old Age & Going Green
Forget about legalizing marijuana, that’s childsplay… While many Americans wrestle with unemployment, the cost of going green and Medicare, their German counterparts are getting off…literally. Senior’s discounts at Denny’s are one thing, but they don’t compare to Germany, where prostitution is legal, and retirees can soak … Continue reading
Jack Goes Confidential: The ‘FURY’ Depicts Sheer Ferocity of War
April, 1945… The Allies are making their final push into Nazi Germany. Just then battle worn tank commander Wardaddy—in a terrific performance by Brad Pitt—is assigned to assist in a rescue and mission behind enemy lines. An embattled tank battalion, … Continue reading
New Jack City: Travel Tips from the Inside Out
One of the most oft asked questions I receive as a travel agent pertains to the best time to purchase travel…. For cruises and vacation packages—both domestic and international—the further out you book, the better the price. Many suppliers offer extra ‘early … Continue reading
New Jack City: Will Somebody Resurrect KY-102…Again?
Can a radio station be beloved? I don’t really know the answer to that question, but the closest I’ve seen was probably KY-102. From the moment it signed on in 1974 until the plug was pulled by a new ownership group in … Continue reading
Jack Goes Confidential: ‘Gone Girl’—Let the Punishment Fit the Crime
GONE GIRL is a terrific mystery thriller! Think of it as a modern day Hitchcock movie as its mesmerizing storyline zig-zags through almost two and a half hours of misdirection. Here ex-Kansas Citian Gillian Flynn adapts her own global best selling novel … Continue reading
Jack Goes Confidential: Bill Hader Delivers Breakout Performance Opposite Kristen Wiig
It’s always a thrill to see a breakout performance by a new actor… The last time that happened for me was Jennifer Lawrence in 2010’s WINTER’S BONE. Well, it happened again in a small movie called THE SKELETON TWINS! Not that the … Continue reading
Jack Goes Confidential: Denzel’s ‘Equalizer’ Evens the Score
In the mid 1980s British actor Edward Woodward played a retired intelligence agent turned private detective on a CBS series called, The Equalizer… You remember, he was the dude who helped various threatened clients to equalize the odds. Now Denzel Washington leaves his past behind … Continue reading
Jack Goes Confidential: Fall Movie Season Explodes with Smart, Bittersweet Comedy & More
The recent movie drought is over! The fall film season officially kicks in this weekend with three diverse cinematic entries. The first—A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES—has Liam Neeson playing an ex-New York City cop who’s now working as an undercover … Continue reading