Joe's Movie Lounge

Forget Clooney–maybe it’s Jeff Bridges’ year

Joe Williams — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:59:34 +0000

Honorary St. Louisan George Clooney is reaping a lot of justified attention for his work in the upcoming corporate dramedy “Up in the Air,” the animated “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and the new military satire “The Men Who Stare at Goats.”

But…

What’s in “The Box”? A stealth movie from “Donnie Darko” director

Joe Williams — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:17:14 +0000

I confess: I’ve never seen “Donnie Darko,” the much-loved time-travel fantasy from 2001 starring Jake Gyllenhaal. That’s because it never opened in St. Louis theaters, and my DVD copy (which I bought in China before it was available here) is…

Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin to co-host Oscars

Joe Williams — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:38:48 +0000

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has finally found an answer to its hosting dilemma: The Man with Two Brains.

The star of that 1983 comedy, Steve Martin, has been tapped to co-host the March 7 Oscar ceremony with actor…

Box-office smackdown: Michael Jackson vs. Hannah Montana

Joe Williams — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:25:49 +0000

The latest box office totals say that the backstage documentary “Michael jackson’s This is It” has reaped $23 million since opening. That’s not bad, but it’s doesn’t beat the American opening-weekend record for a performance movie, $31 million, set by “Hannah Montana/Miley…

Super-8 Movie Madness at the Way Out Club, Tuesday

Joe Williams — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:40:30 +0000

Tuesday night at 8, the fabulous Way Out Club on Jefferson is hosting an evening of schlock cinema on Super 8. That’s not Super-8 video–that’s Super-8 film, the format on which movies used to be condensed and sold to hobbyists with…

Staring at “The Men Who Stare at Goats”

Joe Williams — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:37:28 +0000

Yesterday I previewed “The Men Who Stare at Goats,” the other George Clooney flick that is opening this season. (Have you heard about this thing called “Up in the Air”?) I confess: I went in skeptical, but I was blown away.

“The…

Guess the #3 movie of all time

Joe Williams — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:04:34 +0000

A movie that was released earlier this year has become the third-highest grosser of all-time on the world box-office list, behind “Titanic” and “Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.” Can you guess what it is?

Nope, it’s not “Transformers: Revenge…

Halloween options: “Rocky Horror” at the Tiv, frightfest at Skyview

Joe Williams — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:39:34 +0000

As usual, Halloween should be a big weekend for horror movies, including the viral smash “Paranormal Activity,” the slasher installment “Saw VI” and the ghost story “Michael Jackson–This Is It.” But there are some spooktacular alternatives.

This weekend and next, the Tivoli will clear the cobwebs…

A blue Christmas? Avatar trailer still looks like kids’ stuff

Joe Williams — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:31:34 +0000

I’m officially reserving judgment, but the more sneak peeks I see of James Cameron’s sci-fi fantasy “Avatar,” the more I think that a grouchy, childless old snob like me isn’t the target audience. We’ll all know for sure on Dec.…

“New Moon” trailer and tour taunt “Twilight” tweens

Joe Williams — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:16:35 +0000

“New Moon,” the second movie in the “Twilight” teen-vampire series, opens Nov. 20, and the studio publicists are burning the midnight oil to conjure a bigger box office than movie #1. Trailers like the one below have been rolling out…