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‘Under the Banner of Heaven’ a ripping critique of religion

As a rule of thumb, I figure religions are neutral forces. Good or evil people will use religion as an outlet for their ingrained good

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Donner, Murray add nutmeg to a classic in ‘Scrooged’ (1988)

Director Richard Donner’s “Scrooged” (1988) reimagines Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” with a cynical 1980s edge, without sacrificing the timeless message. Bill Murray is the

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‘Don’t Drink the Water’ adapted poorly (1969) and, well, better (1994)

Before Woody Allen gained enough clout to write and direct his own work, he saw some of it in the hands of other filmmakers –

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‘Giants’ Bread’ (1930) a tragedy of love, creative drive

In “Giants’ Bread” (1930, sometimes published as “Giant’s Bread”), her first Mary Westmacott novel, Agatha Christie seems to be as driven to write a non-genre

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‘Beavis and Butt-head’ more smartly stupid than ever in Season 9

Stupidity knows no generational boundary, as “Beavis and Butt-head” proves with the 22 15-minute episodes and one half-hour episode that make up Season 9 (Paramount

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‘Anna and the Apocalypse’ (2017) is fun … until the end

In the musical zombie comedy “Anna and the Apocalypse” (2017), the cliched themes of “High School Musical” meet the tropes of “The Walking Dead” in

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‘Unaccompanied Minors’ (2006) are unaccompanied by laughs

Around the turn of the century, Judd Apatow and Paul Feig collaborated on “Freaks and Geeks” and “Undeclared,” two of the all-time best (and most

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Allen skewers star-making culture in ‘Celebrity’ (1998)

A prolific filmmaker with a home base outside of Hollywood, Woody Allen is positioned to both view and be baffled by celebrity culture. In 1980’s

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‘Elephants Can Remember’ (1972) easy to forget 

“Elephants Can Remember” (1972) isn’t Agatha Christie’s worst novel — “The Big Four” and “Passenger to Frankfurt” are less readable. But it is her thinnest

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Nichols shines as ‘P2’ (2007) gets thrills from sparse setting

“P2” (2007) probably sets a record for most times the movie’s title appears visually on screen. It’s set in a New York City parking garage

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