Reel Critics: A good 'Gatsby,' if not great

F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel "The Great Gatsby" captured America's roaring 1920s madness with sharp observations of the era. But...

Reel Critics: 'Iron Man 3' a Marvel

The delightful "Iron Man 3" opens and finishes with a big "wow" as the sarcastically brilliant Tony Stark creates new armor that can be...

Reel Critics: No gain from watching this 'Pain'

"Pain & Gain" is loosely based on a true story of bodybuilders gone wild on steroids and cocaine. Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson and...

'Touchdown Newport' and 'What It Takes' get an encore

The premiere of "Touchdown Newport," along with the short film "What It Takes," sold out at Lido Theatre Tuesday night as part of the...

Reel Critics: 'Oblivion' a thinking man's thriller

Big-budget science-fiction movies are often vehicles for selling toys to kids and merchandise to adult fans. But there was a time when these...

Reel Critics: '42' hits a grand slam

It's only April, but a leading contender for this year's Best Picture award is already in a theater near you. "42" is the absolutely...

Reel Critics: 'G.I. Joe' not for older Janes

"G.I. Joe: Retaliation" provides the expected heavy dose of testosterone-fueled action. Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis and Channing Tatum play...

Reel Critics: Giddy heights on 'Olympus'

In Greek mythology, Olympus was the home of the Gods. It's also the Secret Service code name for the White House in "Olympus Has Fallen."...

Reel Critics: 'Dead Man' running in noir thriller

Director Niels Arden Oplev teamed up with forceful actress Noomi Rapace in the acclaimed original of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo." They...

Reel Critics: Been there, killed that 'Giant'

Director Bryan Singer made his mark in Hollywood in 1995 with the offbeat crime drama "The Usual Suspects." That success earned him the...

Reel Critics: New 'Die Hard' is familiar, silly

"A Good Day To Die Hard" is the fifth installment of this loud and obnoxious movie franchise.

Reel Critics: 'Identity' theft is no laughing matter

In my final years in the public defender's office, identity theft became a factor for many clients wrongly accused of crimes. Someone...

Reel Critics: Two very different takes on death

Arnold Schwarzenegger gave up his A-list movie credentials to become the unlikely governor of California. Leaving office with a notorious...

Reel Critics: Crime doesn't pay for audience

Director Ruben Fleischer served up a campy blood-fest in "Zombieland." Wisecracking shooters eliminated disposable members of the walking...

Reel Critics: 'Zero' scores a perfect 10

Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow ("The Hurt Locker") has masterfully directed action and actors in "Zero Dark Thirty," a slow-...

Reel Critics: Tarantino 'Unchained'

Quentin Tarantino fans won't be disappointed in "Django Unchained," a crazy mess of ideas from spaghetti westerns, "Roots" and "Blazing...

Reel Critics: Too much expected in 'Hobbit'

Director Peter Jackson has cinematic ownership of J.R.R. Tolkien's legendary fantasy novels. His epic treatment of the "Lord of the Rings"...

Reel Critics: 'Softly' could be harder

Writer-director Andrew Dominik created a hard-boiled gangster movie in "Killing Them Softly." It owes much to the work of the Coen...

Reel Critics: 'Breaking' bad, part 2

"The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" could also be titled "The Glampires Strike Back," as three teen heartthrobs finally end their...

Reel Critics: This 007 flick leaves audience shaken, stirred

"Skyfall" may be the most satisfying James Bond film in years with jaw-dropping action, smart beautiful ladies and an Oscar-winning villain.

Reel Critic: Denzel's 'Flight' soars

Whip Whitaker wakes up with a beautiful woman after a night of hard partying. He has a flight to catch in two hours, so he downs more...

Reel Critics: 'Cloud Atlas' stretches through time

"Cloud Atlas" is a magnificent patchwork quilt of a movie. It crosses several film genres sprawling across many centuries of time and space....

Reel Critics: 'Argo' holds audience hostage

It's a mark of great film-making when the retelling of history, with a known outcome, seizes us with suspense. Such is the case with "Argo,"...

Reel Critics: Monster mash-ups take over movies

Tim Burton's wonderfully strange imagination is on fire in "Frankenweenie." A lonely boy loves his dog, loses his dog, and re-animates his...

Reel Critics: 'Pitch Perfect' hits bold, funny notes

Two new movies are out about growing up and finding acceptance — a broad comedy ("Pitch Perfect") and moving drama ("The Perks of...