MARK BAZER

Soul Men

MARK BAZER — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:45:42 GMT

Plot and crass jokes aside, it's a feel-good film
Mac especially is a joy to watch, and a counterpoint to the humor elsewhere, as he breaks out Temptations-style moves with just the right mix of sly fun and respect for the music.

Filth and Wisdom

MARK BAZER — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:52:11 GMT

An annoying mish-mash
As the lead character narrates his “filthy” story, and those of his London flatmates/neighbors, we hit upon boredom long before wisdom can arrive.

City of Ember

MARK BAZER — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:53:00 GMT

Outdated, passable entertainment
Kids who see the truth when adults cannot is a central idea in children’s stories, but today’s kids would hardly recognize the grown-ups in Ember’s totalitarian society.

Igor

MARK BAZER — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 21:53:07 GMT

Hard to gauge which children this film is for — if any
Nothing like walking out of a theater with your kid asking, “Daddy, what is suicide?”

College

MARK BAZER — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:59:32 GMT

A vulgar, witless depiction of college
College , which was “directed” by Deb Hagen, is so full of nastiness and cruelty that it’s hard to believe anyone would find joy in it.

Traitor

MARK BAZER — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:53:09 GMT

Never as exciting as an episode of 24
This Islamic-terrorist thriller takes us halfway around the world before landing on our shores to introduce us to the terrorists in our midst.

The Longshots

MARK BAZER — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:10:17 GMT

The script may have taken an hour to write
A based-on-a-true-story inspirational tale of the first girl quarterback to take a team to the Pop Warner Super Bowl, The Longshots is directed by Fred Durst.

Frozen River

MARK BAZER — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:37:21 GMT

A cold film with a warm ending
This Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner takes us to a remote stretch of the New York–Quebec border where, come winter, there’s not much to do but wish you were elsewhere.

Deal

MARK BAZER — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:12:47 GMT

A watch watcher
If you’re going to make a movie about a subject as non-cinematic as professional poker, you might as well go all in.

Smart People

MARK BAZER — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:43:20 GMT

As expected, smart supporting characters
Stories about addled, self-absorbed middle-aged male professors whose lives are falling apart and — worse yet — who can’t get published don’t mean much to the rest of us.

Never Back Down

MARK BAZER — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:32:38 GMT

A Karate Kid ripoff
You’ll root for Jake. You will!

The Bank Job

MARK BAZER — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:43:45 GMT

Faking it
He's both smart enough to sense he’s being played by people far more powerful than he is and dumb enough not to walk away. Kind of like us moviegoers.

Untraceable

MARK BAZER — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:18:41 GMT

Delivering the goods, especially if you like to watch a man submerged in acid
The least-satisfying detective stories tend to be about serial killers.

27 Dresses

MARK BAZER — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:46:42 GMT

An urban fairy tale
Well, I always cry at movies about weddings.

Mad Money

MARK BAZER — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:31:59 GMT

Ain't nothin' but a paycheck
It does have stars: Diane Keaton (daffy!), Queen Latifah (sassy!), and Katie Holmes, who despite avoiding stereotype is cast as the most annoying of the three.

First Sunday

MARK BAZER — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:21:46 GMT

Repent
You’ve got to be a serious screw-up or devastated by desperation to rob a church.

Cassandra's Dream

MARK BAZER — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:16:10 GMT

Unbearably grim
Well, as we used to say about the Sox and can still say about Woody Allen movies, there’s always next year.

Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium

MARK BAZER — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:39:15 GMT

Meet Super Creep
This one’s a lot to sit through.

Sleuth

MARK BAZER — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:43:52 GMT

Michael Caine remaking Michael Caine
Think Carlton Fisk and Thurman Munson.

Feast of Love

MARK BAZER — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:10:36 GMT

Raves from Mr. Skin
Feast of Love is a title that promises either extra helpings of the mysteries of the human heart or a smorgasbord of multiple positions.