‘Movie Corner’ Archives
Sightseers
Sightseers (2013) ***** “Sightseers” Cast: Alice Lowe (Tina), Steve Oram (Chris), Richard Glover (Martin), Eileen Davies (Carol). Running time: 88 minutes. Country: UK. Director: Ben Wheatley. Studio Canal Drama/Thriller/Dark Comedy “Sightseers” is an uneasy comedy intertwined into one of the darkest of comedies. Mean-spirited is the order of the day from beginning to the end. One can be cynical saying what a “lovely” couple, Chris (Steve Oram) and Tina (Alice Lowe) are, taking a clue from Alice”'s invalid mother (Eileen Davies) who frowns on her and her new boyfriend. Chris and Tina jump into his van for a “vacation”. Carol blames her daughter for the accidental death of her dog “Poppy”. The parking lot incident when Chris hurriedly backs out killing a pedestrian is considered an accident by the courts. Yet there”'s a sinister quality in Chris”'s face after the fatal accident [...]
Mud
Mud (2013) ***** Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions. Cast: Matthew McConaughey (Mud), Tye Sheridan (Ellis), Jacob Lofland (Neckbone), Michael Shannon (Galen), Sam Shepard (Tom Blankenship) Reese Witherspoon (Jupiter), Joe Don Baker (King), Bonnie Sturdivant (May Pearl). Running time: 130 minutes. (PG-13) Director: Jeff Nichols. Jeff Nichols (“Take Shelter”) carefully and skillfully forms the story of two boys Ellis (Tye Sheridan) and Neckbone (Jacob Lofland) and their discovery of a fugitive Mud (Matthew McConaughey) who may have murdered a man. The movie takes place in the southern backcountry of Arkansas where the boys live similar to David Gordon Green”'s movie “Undertow”(2004). Mud has an undying love for a woman, Jupiter (Reese Witherspoon),who is a cheater as well as being victimized by a bad boyfriend. He has to see her risking his capture by authorities. To avoid being seen, he sends a handwritten letter by way of Ellis and Neckbone to [...]
Tribute: Roger Ebert 1942-2013
By Howard McQuitter II Film Critic of Film Critics When I stumbled on Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert on television discussing movies I was glued to the set -- a certain inspiration for me being a movie critic. I”'d always liked movies since I was a boy in south Minneapolis. But Siskel and Ebert”'s “At the Movies”,” Sneak Previews”, etc. sent me to higher planes. Siskel died of brain cancer at age 53. Ebert had written screenplays for Meyer. Ebert”'s best known screenplay for Meyer “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls” in 1969 instantly was a cult hit. Ebert wrote for The Chicago Sun-Times for years becoming the first film critic to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1975. In addition his reviews were syndicated to more than 200 newspapers in the United States and afar and wrote more than 15 books. He also became the first film critic to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Mr. Ebert ushered a new era in the 1970s, [...]
