THE ITHACAN

Funny actors flounder with cheap jokes in flat comedy

By Andy Swift, Accent Editor • September 20, 2007

The only funny part of “Mr. Woodcock” is its title. Other than that, the film has nothing to offer but 87 minutes of uninspired acting, lackluster dialogue and an incredibly random appearance by “daytime diva” Tyra Banks. “Mr. Woodcock” tells the story of John Farley (Seann William Scott), the successful author of a self-help book…

Murderer and cursed lawyer face off in drama

By Aaron Arm, Staff Writer • May 4, 2007

In light of previous roles, it is difficult to watch Anthony Hopkins and not see him as an evil, manipulative genius. Fortunately, the audience needs not shed this preconception, as “Fracture” borrows the character of Hannibal Lecter — sans the cannibalism — for its own devices. The film begins with an all-too-original formula. Ted Crawford…

Tired story fails to convey deeper social meanings

By Harry Shuldman, Staff Writer • May 4, 2007

To no one’s surprise, professional wrestling stars don’t have the greatest track record when it comes to headlining movies. After all, wrestlers are built for action, not acting. But as long as they’re provided with asses to kick and things to blow up, the results should still be somewhat tolerable. (See Duane “The Rock” Johnson…

South Korean film combines comedy and horror

By Garrett Stiger, Staff Writer • April 27, 2007

Joon-ho Bong’s “The Host” successfully mixes a monster with family drama, comedy and political satire. In a South Korean laboratory, an American scientist orders dirty formaldehyde bottles to be dumped into the Han River, ignoring his assistant’s objections. In a salute to the monster genre, the formaldehyde creates a giant mutant tadpole. Gone are the…

‘Rear Window’ remake boasts talented cast

By Miranda K. Pennington, Senior Writer • April 27, 2007

The key to a remake, particularly when the inspiration is a Hitchcock masterwork like “Rear Window,” is to pay just the right amount of homage to the original without replicating it frame by frame. “Disturbia,” which replaces a suffocating apartment complex with the lush dysfunction of suburbia, manages to do justice to the 1954 classic,…

Bloody and funny, film parodies big budget action

By Harry Shuldman, Staff Writer • April 26, 2007

Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg are learned disciples of the Quentin Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez school of filmmaking. Their two feature films, “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz,” are as much parodies as they are loving tributes to the zombie and cop genres, respectively. The latter of the two films earned Wright the street cred to…

Fast food trio satisfies fans on big screen

By Harry Shuldman, Staff Writer • April 20, 2007

A critic would have an easier time summarizing “War and Peace” in 600 words than trying to fill that same space with a review of “Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters.” This isn’t because the film is especially dense or complicated, or that its plot is intricate. Come to think of it,…

Richard Gere dramatizes deceitful writer in ‘The Hoax’

By Ben Tietz, Staff Writer • April 20, 2007

After being inundated with the constant misrepresentation of the truth, whether it be from James Frey, Michael Moore or the Bush administration, it isn’t surprising to see that people in the U.S. have an innate skepticism about the media and those who control and shape them. The lines between escapist entertainment and exploitation have blurred…

Director breathes life into cultural novel

By Miranda K. Pennington, Senior Writer • April 13, 2007

In her vivid film adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri’s “The Namesake,” director Mira Nair returns to her country of origin for the first time since 2001’s “Monsoon Wedding.” As in her earlier works, Nair depicts the U.S. and India without glamorizing or giving in to exoticism, while still finding the beauty inherent in both cultures. Nair…

Double feature draws from directors’ talents

By Harry Shuldman, Staff Writer • April 13, 2007

For 10 seasons, the guys and robots at “Mystery Science Theater 3000” made their bread and butter off the type of movies “Grindhouse” so expertly pays homage to. Cinematic travesties like “Manos: The Hands of Fate” or “Devil Fish” were perfect for MST3K’s patented riffs and snide observations on the innumerable mistakes, errors and outright…

Disney moves forward with ‘Meet the Robinsons’

By Shaun Semanyk, Contributing Writer • April 12, 2007

A fast-paced plot, witty humor and technical brilliance are the ingredients that bring together Disney’s newest animated comedy, “Meet the Robinsons.” The movie’s creative salvation lies within the digital 3-D presentation available at most movie theaters. Moviegoers get the added excitement of keeping the 3-D glasses given to them at the front door. “Meet the…

Comedian continues sports parody crusade

By Harry Shuldman, Staff Writer • April 6, 2007

Abbott and Costello met monsters, Ernest went places, Chevy Chase took his family on vacations. And now it’s official: the Will Ferrell formula for comedy success is parodying strange occupations. Following in the footsteps of “Anchorman” and “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,” Ferrell’s newest comedy knows better than to mess with a good…