THE ITHACAN

Film gives new life to classic Beatles music

By Byard Duncan, Staff Writer • October 25, 2007

If the Beatles can be considered a force that redefined the genre of rock ‘n’ roll, it should now be said that Julie Taymor’s film “Across the Universe,” an unrelentingly lush visual exploration of the Fab Four’s repertoire, does much of the same for the American musical. The film’s plot, though at times skating on…

Film shows the Virgin Queen’s romantic side

By Courtney Miller, Contributing Writer • October 25, 2007

Nearly 10 years ago, director Shekhar Kapur put a spin on the life of Elizabeth Tudor, Queen of England, in the blockbuster “Elizabeth,” starring Cate Blanchett. It combined romance, treason, attempted assassination and the threat of Catholic Spain to create a clever masterpiece. In the sequel, “Elizabeth: The Golden Age,” Kapur gives us a second…

Documentary casts new light on old topic

By Garrett Stiger, Senior Writer • October 11, 2007

What distinguishes Charles Ferguson’s “No End in Sight” from other documentaries about the Iraq War is Ferguson’s lack of celebrity. Where Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11” is bogged down by his persona and sensationalism, Ferguson’s stinging indictment of the war focuses on the cold, hard facts. Ferguson draws on extensive insider testimonies to reveal unsettling truths.…

Latest Farrelly brothers release lacks comedic charm

By Amanda Cecca, Contributing Writer • October 11, 2007

When you think of R-rated adult comedies, you tend to consider the classics: “Harold and Kumar,” “American Pie” and “There’s Something About Mary.” The appeal of these laugh-out-loud adult films are what the Farrelly brothers, Bobby and Peter, were trying to recreate when remaking Neil Simon’s “The Heartbreak Kid.” They fell surprisingly short, however. Ben…

Predictable British farce still pulls laughs

By Benjamin Tietz, Staff Writer • October 11, 2007

Though it runs the risk of stereotyping a wonderful culture and country, it’s fair to say the British do dark comedy better than any other group of people in the entertainment industry. Black comedy is a hard genre to pull off successfully. If the film goes too dark, it can feel forced, unpleasant and in…

Drama follows agents’ international journey

By Alex Palombo, Contributing Writer • October 4, 2007

The devil is in the details. “The Kingdom” weaves a tantalizing web that is slowly and teasingly unraveled by the discovery of seemingly minute and meaningless details, and its mystery is ultimately solved because of two small observations. This meticulous attention to detail is evident in the opening sequence, a succinct three-minute timeline of Saudi…

Film tackles reality of post-traumatic stress disorder

By Evan Duchan, Contributing Writer • October 4, 2007

Coming back from war, many soldiers are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is caused by extreme psychological trauma and, on returning, stateside soldiers coming back from war zones realize they cannot let go of some of the things they did. In Paul Haggis’ newest film, “In The Valley of Elah,” retired Army sergeant…

Romance film lacks emotion and depth

By Mike Spreter, Contributing Writer • October 4, 2007

Richard Linklater’s “Before Sunset,” a golden diary of the 80 minutes shared by two hypothetical soul mates as they glide through Paris, is a triumph in part because it mediates its humanism without lapsing into sloppy pathos. It creates two people we may choose to love despite being dragged through their requisite faults, reminding us…

Drama tells dark tale of Russian crime family

By Benjamin Tietz, Staff Writer • September 28, 2007

There is something innately fascinating about the gangster film — the moral ambiguity, the wanton bloodshed, the black suits that look like they were carved out of onyx — that all filmmakers want to revel in and, ultimately, transcend. Canadian auteur David Cronenberg has based his entire career on elevating genre films to unexplored artistic…

Final ‘Resident Evil’ installment lacks focus

By Ryan Bryant, Contributing Writer • September 28, 2007

Paul W.S. Anderson brings the last installment of the “Resident Evil” series with “Extinction,” based on the popular video game series of the same name. In both the films and the games, an evil corporation ominously named Umbrella creates a powerful virus that unintentionally brings the dead back to life. With a new desert setting…

‘Sydney White’ puts a goofy spin on a beloved classic

By Sarah Peed, Contributing Writer • September 27, 2007

This year’s feel-good flick for tweens has hit theaters in the form of the new Amanda Bynes film, “Sydney White.” While the film tries to update “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” with new jokes, it falls into the predictable rhythm of a “be true to yourself, while still managing to get the cute guy”…

‘D-War’ boasts high budget but fails to deliver

By William Earl, Senior Writer • September 21, 2007

This year, one movie was able to bridge the gap between geek and chic, using a compelling story and brilliant special effects to satisfy both fanboys and the average American. That movie was “Transformers.” Hoping to capitalize off the vast amount of money drawn in by that film, “Dragon Wars” — also billed as “D-War”…