‘Arts’ Archives
Argo & The Watch
By Howard McQuitter Argo (2012) **** Warner Bros.  Mystery/Suspense/Drama/History Cast: Ben Affleck (Tony Mendez), Alan Arkin (Lester Siegel), John Goodman (John Chambers), Clea Du Vall (Cora Lijek), Taylor Schilling (Christine Mendez) Victor   Garber (Ken Taylor), Bryan Cranston (Jack O”' Donnell).Running time:120 minutes. Director: Ben Affleck. An international crisis sparks on November 4, 1979 in Tehran, Iran, at the U.S. embassy when hundreds of militant Iranians take 52 Americans hostage. The C.I.A. backed dictator Shah has to flee Iran for his safety. During the chaos, the Americans in the embassy desperately try to destroy any and all documents that implicate American secrets. Six American diplomats manage to flee to the home of the Canadian ambassador. While the world is focusing on the hostage crisis (“Nightline” with Ted Koppel emerges as a nightly television news show continuing today long after Koppel retires), few, if [...]
ParaNorman
ParaNorman (2012) **** Focus Features. Animation Cast: Kodi Smit-McPhee voice of Norman Babcock), Tucker Albrizzi (voice of Neil), Anna Kendrick (voice of Courtney), Casey Affleck (voice of Mitch), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (voice of Alvin), Leslie Mann (voice of Sandra Babcock), Jeff Garlin (voice of Perry Babcock), Elaine Stritch (voice of Grandma), Bernard Hill (voice of the Judge), Jodelle Ferland (voice of Aggie), Tempestt Bledsoe) (voice of Sheriff Hooper), Alex Borstein (voice of Mrs. Henscher) and John Goodman (voice of Mr. Prenderghast). (PG) Running time: 92 minutes. Directors: Sam Fell and Chris Butler. Great looking animation in 3D (I saw “Para Norman “in 2D) and if you didn”'t know is not by Tim Burton. (Tim Burton is coming out with his own animation “Frankenweenie” this fall.) Sam Fell and Chris Butler could have easilyentitled their animation “A Boy and his Ghouls”, especially when Norman, 11, is surrounded by [...]
Tyler Perry”'s Madea”'s Witness Protection & The Dark Knight Rises
By Howard McQuitter Tyler Perry”'s Madea”'s Witness Protection (2012) * Lionsgate Films, Comedy Cast: Tyler Perry (Madea/Joel/Brian), Eugene Levy (George Neeedleman), Denise Richards (Kate Needleman), Doris Roberts (Barbara), Percy Romeo Miller(Jake), Devan Leos (Howie). (PG-13) Running time: 114 minutes. Director: Tyler Perry. Tyler Perry does it again: Madea (Tyler Perry) in wig, fat suit and a dress at his usual antics now have cloyed. That doesn”'t seem to bother Perry for he”'s made his money off of a bad movie. Besides a few laughs, “Witness Protection” is cumbersome, nonsensical and half-hearted; putting an unenthusiastic red mark on Perry”'s franchise. Eugene Levy plays character George Needleman, big man of a financial fund, that”'s been running a Ponzi scheme which other company bosses want to put all the blame in George”'s lap. To avoid scandals and reprisals while investigating the [...]
