Author Archives: Jack Poessiger

We’ve all seen them and probably read most of them… Those ubiquitous lists on television, in newspapers and online. Everyone seems to have one at this time of the year. And yes, I’m guilty as well. You may have seen … Continue reading →

Now let’s take a look at the dogs that made critiquing movies this past year a sometimes nauseating chore… The BOW-WOWS, My BOTTOM OF THE BARREL Scraps of 2012:

In 2012 Hollywood finally reversed its agonizing trend of both declining domestic box office grosses and theater attendance… U.S. moviegoers spent around $10.8 billion at the nation’s movieplexes during this past year—a 6% increase over 2011’s haul of $10.2 billion. … Continue reading →

Christmas week usually represents the single biggest concentration of movie going days during the entire year… From early afternoon on Christmas Day right on through New Years Day is prime time at the movieplexes across America. So it’s only logical … Continue reading →

As a reviewer and observer of the movie scene in general I hate it when someone tells me how disappointed they were with a new movie they just saw at their multiplex… That shouldn’t happen. It’s bad for the viewers … Continue reading →

Tom Cruise as ex-military investigator Jack Reacher may not physically fit the character of author Lee Child‘s popular action-suspense novels. Reacher is a big and tall enforcer. Cruise is not. But not to worry. A short time into JACK REACHER … Continue reading →

The 31 movie scribes of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle came together again for its 46th annual choices of the best on film during the past year… The organization represents critics who review motion pictures for various regional radio, … Continue reading →

I’ll be the first to admit J.R.R. Tolkien‘s fantasy world doesn’t stimulate me into cinematic ecstasy… It never has. The hocus pocus of Middle Earth doesn’t do much for me. I guess I’m not a geek. So why am I … Continue reading →

By 10 minutes into the bio-pic HITCHCOCK, Anthony Hopkins had become the Master of Suspense for me… And no, you don’t have to be a film geek to enjoy it. Trust me, you will.

KILLING THEM SOFTLY is a grimy, bloody, violent and highly stylized mob crime drama… Its setting is 2008 New Orleans with TVs and radios (almost continually throughout the film) blaring then Senator Obama and President Bush‘s speeches and political messages. … Continue reading →

Mental illness isn’t funny… But in the hands of a good director like David O. Russell it can be strangely invigorating. Even amusing. Having a great cast to put it across doesn’t hurt either. We’re talking SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, the … Continue reading →

Oscar winning director Ang Lee is a risk taker when it comes to movie making… Some of his films including the controversial BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN and CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON have been major successes. Others, like his K.C./Lawrence filmed RIDE WITH … Continue reading →

No, this is not a review, not quite… It’s about last night’s journey and encounter with Bella Swan, Edward Cullen, Jacob Black and the rest of the pretty vampire bunch based on the Stephenie Meyer created characters. It was a … Continue reading →

I hear the complaints all the time… Why has Hollywood shut out the adult market? Seems like all the movies today are strictly for kids, teens and young adults. That’s not necessarily true. Granted, the summer is skewed heavily towards … Continue reading →

Imagine having spent most of your life being wheeled around on a gurney and your nights sleeping in an iron lung… That was the real life story of writer Mark O’Brien who was paralyzed from the neck down by polio … Continue reading →

Twenty three films in 50 years and yet Daniel Craig‘s third outing as James Bond is definitely one of the better ones in the entire franchise… Unless, of course, you were looking for Agent 007’s reawakening as his former suave … Continue reading →