WGVU NewsRoom

WALL-E USA (2008-07-10) WALL-E is a wonderful animated science fiction children's movie that will delight a child of any age. It's also a magnificently realized celebration of robots, cockroaches, and the obese. To really understand that statement, you'll have to see the movie.

The Happening USA (2008-06-19) It's a beautiful sunny day in New York City's Central Park, with people walking, jogging, and lounging. Suddenly a distant scream is heard. People begin muttering incoherently. And then commit suicide.

The Bank Job March 20 2008 (2008-03-20) Roger Donaldson is one of those directors that has fallen through the cracks of my memory. He's best know in America for the Hollywood blockbusters he directed in the 1980s, No Way Out, the film that made Kevin Costner a movie star, and Cocktail, the one where Tom Cruise played a juggling bartender. But he made a huge impression on my movie going sensibility in 1981 with Smash Palace.

The Darjeeling Limited USA (2008-03-05) The Darjeeling Limited is the most sincere movie that Wes Anderson has made yet. His five features include two masterpieces, Rushmore, which made him a cult moviemaker, and The Royal Tennenbaums, which is my favorite. I've never seen his first film, Bottle Rocket, and although I loved The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, I also found it a bit disappointing the first time around.

Fool's Gold USA (2008-02-15) Fool's Gold is an apt title for this really bad movie. The producers were obviously playing a masochistic joke on themselves with the title, at least if they'd seen the last movie that paired Matthew McMac with Kate Hawn.

Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show USA (2008-02-07) Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days and 30 Nights-Hollywood to the Heartland is a documentary directed by Ari Sandel, that pulls the curtain back on a traveling comedy revue. Hosted by emcee Vince Vaughn, it features four up and coming comedians, and some actor friends of Vaughn, who perform sketches and do their stand up routines.

Gone Baby Gone Grand Rapids, MI (2007-10-25) Gone Baby Gone proves that Ben Affleck has talent. Of course, he already proved that with his collaboration with Matt Damon writing Good Will Hunting but that was quite a while ago now, and he's acted in so many bad movies since, that it could be forgotten. Gone Baby Gone is based on a Denis Lahane novel, he's the Boston crime writer who wrote Mystic River.

No End in Sight USA (2007-10-04) No End in Sight is a documentary that details how the war and occupation in Iraq descended into guerilla war, warlord rule, criminality, and anarchy. Written and Directed by Charles Ferguson, who was initially a supporter of regime change in Iraq, it presents the voices from within the Bush administration, many of whom are speaking out for the first time

Rocket Science USA (2007-09-27) Adolescent love is hard enough as it is if you're relatively normal, accepted by your peers, and if you're free from overly obvious differences. But if you're like Hal Hefner, the stuttering teen in Rocket Science, a new independent film from director Jeffrey Blitz, it's agony.

Eastern Promises USA (2007-09-27) David Cronenberg has always been a maverick director working beneath the surfaces of genre films, yet breaking from the fold of B Movie filmmakers by virtue of his daring imagination. He first made a name for himself around the world with a series of very smart horror movies that emerged in the late 70s and early 80s, with expressive titles, Shivers, Rabid, The Brood, Scanners, and Videdrome.

Superbad USA (2007-10-24) Superbad is super good. This is teen sex comedy in testosterone over-drive, and from the first frame until the final shot, it's all about two teenage boys out to obtain alcohol to bring to a party to get girls drunk, so they can get some action. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg began writing this script when they were still in high school, which totally rings true.

Blades of Glory USA (2007-04-06) Blades of Glory is the latest comedic vehicle for Will Ferrell, who this time co-stars with Jon Heder, who came to fame as the title character in Napoleon Dynamite.

300 USA (2007-03-22) 300 is a compelling adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novel about the Battle of Thermopylae, when 300 Spartans held off the Persian General Xerxes, and his army of 10,000. The movie is thrilling, with its effective use of computer generated animation and live action.

The Oscars 2007 USA (2007-03-19) Scorcese has his Best Director Academy Award, good for him. He should've gotten it for Mean Streets, or Taxi Driver, or certainly Raging Bull or Good Fellas, but, hey, he's got that sucker. And The Departed was an excellent candidate for Best Picture. I didn't see Marty get his statue, or Jack and Diane announcing Best Picture. I was asleep.

Factotum USA (2007-03-19) Factotum is a duplication of a similar one in Barfly. (clip) Factotum is a faithful adaptation of Bukowski's novel, which is my favorite of his. The story is updated from the 40s to modern times, but the material is still ultraviolet black in its humor.

Alpha Dog USA (2007-03-19) Alpha Dog become infamous for a lawsuit that was filed against the real life prosecutor who gave the producers access to his files on the genuine Johnny Truelove, Jesse James Hollywood, whose story has been featured on TV shows like Dateline, America's Most Wanted, and Unsolved Mysteries.

Shortbus USA (2007-03-19) Shortbus Five years ago John Cameron Mitchell had a sleeper hit with the independently produced rock opera Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Two and half years ago, Mitchell announced that his next film would be a sex film project

Notes on a Scandal USA (2007-03-19) Notes on a Scandal is a perfect, compact movie at 92 minutes, with masterful performances by Judi Dench and Kate Blanchett. Directed by Richard Eyre, and written by Patrick Marber, Notes on a Scandal has the most overwhelming sinister tone throughout

Pan's Labyrinth USA (2007-03-19) Pan's Labyrinth, the widely acclaimed film by Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, is finally screening in West Michigan. This week the film was nominated for six Oscars, in Best Foreign Film, Original Screenplay, Art Direction, Cinematography, Original Score, and Makeup.

Scott's Best and Worst of 2006 USA (2007-03-19) 2006 was an ok year for movies. It wasn't particularly bad, but it also wasn't particularly outstanding. In fact, there was an atmosphere of mediocrity throughout. Despite this, there were several films that I thoroughly enjoyed, plus some that I hated. And here they are.