Movie Reviews

Death Race carnage takes aim at 21st-century America

Ranbir Kapoor shines in Bachna Ae Haseeno

Outsourced

By Ken Eisner

Starring Josh Hamilton and Ayesha Dharker. Rated PG. Opens Friday, August 29, at the Ridge Theatre

Sukiyaki Western Django

By Ken Eisner

Directed by Takashi Miike. Starring Hideaki Ito, Kaori Momoi, and Quentin Tarantino. In English with English subtitles. Rating unavailable. Opens Friday, August 29, at the Cinemark Tinseltown

Traitor

By John Lekich

Starring Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, and Saïd Taghmaoui. Rating unavailable. Opens Friday, August 29 at the Cinemark Tinseltown

Elegy

By Ken Eisner

Starring Ben Kingsley and Penélope Cruz. Rated 14A. Opens Friday, August 29, at the Fifth Avenue Cinemas

Girls Rock!

By Ken Eisner

A documentary by Arne Johnson and Shane King. Rated PG.

Goal II: Living the Dream

By Ken Eisner

While it's enjoyable to see how the actors were integrated into real soccer games by the latest technology, this empty-headed soccer sequel suffers from painfully underwritten dialogue.

The House Bunny

By Patty Jones

If there’s one thing Anna Faris proves in The House Bunny, it’s that you can star in a film that’s got all the substance of a push-up bra and still demonstrate the blissfully inspired comedy chops of Lucille Ball crossed with Judy Holliday.

Death Race carnage takes aim at 21st-century America

By Mike Usinger

Although nowhere near as slyly subversive or cartoonishly clever as the 1975 cult classic that inspired it, beneath the smoke, shrapnel, and body parts this movie still has something to say.

Frozen River

By Patty Jones

Starring Melissa Leo and Misty Upham. Rated PG. Opens Friday, August 22, at the Cinemark Tinseltown

Chop Shop

By Ken Eisner

Starring Alejandro Polanco and Isamar Gonzales. Unrated. Plays Friday to Wednesday, August 22 to 27, at the Vancity Theatre

The Longshots

By John Lekich

Starring Keke Palmer and Ice Cube. Rated PG. Opens Friday, August 22, at the Cinemark Tinseltown

Fly Me To The Moon

By Ken Eisner

For a movie that so desperately wants to “inspire” children in the audience, Fly Me to the Moon is alarmingly packed with confused messages.

Hamlet 2

By Ken Eisner

Although it’s definitely aimed at people who see a lot of movies and are happy to mock various genres and show-biz pretensions, Hamlet 2 itself is repetitive and condescending. And its humour is so scattershot that you can’t determine what the filmmakers were trying to achieve, other than getting some big laughs at virtually everyone’s expense.

The Rocker

By Ken Eisner

In Hollywood comedies, guys are lovable children who refuse to grow up. They also apply the wisdom of sages to compensate for otherwise destructive schoolyard sensibilities. To illustrate, please check IMDb for the résumés of Jerry Lewis, Bill Murray, Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, Will Ferrell, and any other SNL veteran we might be forgetting. Jack Black also deserves a place on this list, with his Rock School turn the most apt during any discussion of The Rocker, which brings TV veteran Rainn Wilson into the man-child fold.

Ranbir Kapoor shines in Bachna Ae Haseeno

By R. Paul Dhillon

A star-making performance by Ranbir Kapoor leads the way in this fresh portrait of young India, which is a real break from the past of conservative, straight-laced heroes and virtuous heroines.