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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: ARNOLD IS BACK (THE LAST STAND)
By Brian LaffertyJanuary 18, 2013 (San Diego) -- It seems like it's been forever but Arnold Schwarzenegger, to borrow a familiar line, is back. The Last Stand is his first starring role since...
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NETFLIX STREAMING PICK OF THE WEEK: DOCUMENTATION OF LIFE (THE UP DOCUMENTARIES)
56 Up, the newest Up Documentary, opens today at the Landmark Ken.By Brian LaffertyJanuary 25, 2013 (San Diego) – In 1964, Michael Apted filmed 7 Up for British television. He and his team sought...
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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: JOURNEY TO MIDDLE AGE (56 UP)
By Brian LaffertyJanuary 25, 2013 (San Diego) – Michael Apted is not a director that quickly comes to mind. He's done some great films, like Coal Miner's Daughter (1980). Other notable films he's...
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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: BLOOD BAYOU (BULLET TO THE HEAD)
By Brian LaffertyFebruary 1, 2013 (San Diego) -- Bullet to the Head is the second film in three weeks - Arnold Schwarzenegger's The Last Stand being the other - to star one of my favorite action heroes...
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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: ANIMATION APPRECIATION (THE OSCAR NOMINATED ANIMATED...
By Brian LaffertyFebruary 1, 2013 (San Diego) -- Every year around this time, the Landmark Ken Cinema - the venerable go-to theater for niche movies - treats San Diego to its annual showing of the...
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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: SHORT, BUT SWEET (THE OSCAR NOMINATED LIVE ACTION SHORT...
By Brian LaffertyFebruary 1, 2013 (San Diego) -- The annual presentation of the year's Oscar-nominated short films is back at the Ken Cinema (my review of the animated shorts can be found here). What...
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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: THE UNBEARABLE SADNESS OF BEING (SIDE EFFECTS)
By Brian LaffertyFebruary 8, 2013 (San Diego) – The press screening announcement for Side Effects read "Please note that due to the non-linear nature of this film, we will not let anyone into...
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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: MCCLANE TAKES ON MOSCOW (A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD)
By Brian LaffertyFebruary 15, 2013 (San Diego) – In preparation for this film, I spent over six hours of my Saturday binging on the Die Hard sequels (I saw the first a couple of years ago). The...
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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT (BEAUTIFUL CREATURES)
By Brian LaffertyFebruary 15, 2013 (San Diego) – The Twilight movies are easy targets for online hostility and teasing. But at least those movies, as lifeless as they are to me (I gave up after the...
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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: WHAT A TRIP! (JOHN DIES AT THE END)
By Brian LaffertyFebruary 15, 2013 (San Diego) – Sometimes moviegoing is a leap of faith. One question I always dread answering is, “Do you recommend such-and-such film?” I'm not in the business of...
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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: PRESCRIPTION FOR PERSECUTION (BARBARA)
March 8, 2013 (San Diego) – Freedom of speech, protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, due process, and freedom of travel are just a smattering of the many rights the United States affords...
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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN (OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL)
By Brian LaffertyMarch 9, 2013 (San Diego) – When Sam Raimi is at the helm, look out! His films bristle with energy. Lots of it. This trademark began with his first film, The Evil Dead. Even though...
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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: HOOKED (LIKE SOMEONE IN LOVE)
By Brian LaffertyMarch 15, 2013 (San Diego) – There are hookers with hearts of gold. In Like Someone in Love, Akiko (Rin Takanashi) is no such character. She’s a hooker with a heavy heart. She works...
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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: KIND HEARTS AND EXORCISTS (BEYOND THE HILLS)
By Brian LaffertyMarch 19, 2013 (San Diego) – Despite the many perpetual controversies surrounding the Catholic Church, Islam, Scientology, and other religions, I am not opposed to organized religion....
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FREQUENCY FILM FESTIVAL 2013: MEMORY OF THE DEAD
Screens Friday, April 5 at 10:00 p.m. at the Ocean Beach Playhouse as part of the first Frequency Film Festival.By Brian LaffertyMarch 22, 2013 (San Diego) – Two weeks ago, Sam Raimi'sOz the Great and...
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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN (BEFORE MIDNIGHT)
Photo Credit: Sony Pictures ClassicsBy Brian LaffertyMay 31, 2013 (San Diego) – January saw the release of 56 Up. That film was the latest in a unique documentary series that began in 1964, in...
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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: HEAVY METAL (MAN OF STEEL)
By Brian LaffertyJune 14, 2013 (San Diego) – The original Superman was entertaining in the moment, but terribly flawed upon further reflection, especially the ending. As much fun as I had watching...
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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: BLAND EDUCATION (MONSTERS UNIVERSITY)
By Brian LaffertyJune 21, 2013 (San Diego) – There’s always a first for everything. Monsters University is the first Pixar film I disapprove of (I should note that I still haven’t seen Cars 2). Has...
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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: THE RUNNING DEAD (WORLD WAR Z)
By Brian LaffertyJune 21, 2013 (San Diego) – After a long and troubled production history going back to 2007 – none of which needs to be rehashed here – World War Z is finally here. It’s a simple...
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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: BLOODLUST (BYZANTIUM)
By Brian LaffertyJune 28, 2013 (San Diego) – Neil Jordan’sByzantium is cinema’s best answer to the Twilight series since Tomas Alfredson’s Swedish vampire masterpiece Let the Right One In (not...
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