More Articles Irv Slifkin

• The Namesake
  FOX Street: Nov. 27 Prebook: > Indian filmmaker Mira Nair returns to her roots for one of her most accomplished films to date. After a mixed reception to Reese Witherspoon-starrer Vanity Fair, filmmaker Mira Nair (Mississippi Masala, Monsoon Wedding) returns to her roots with this touching, sumptuously produced effort. More
  
• Waitress
  FOX Street: Nov. 27 Prebook: Oct. 31 > Whimsical romantic sleeper should charm home audiences. One of the sweetest movies of the year, Waitress is a genuine delight. This charmer stars Keri Russell as Jenna, a server in a small-town Southern diner whose specialty is making scrumptious pies. As sweet as her life is in that respect, things are sour at home, especially after her newly discover... More
  
• Paris, Je T'Aime
  FIRST LOOK Street: Nov. 13 Prebook: Oct. 9 > Arthouse anthology has strong crossover appeal thanks to name cast and directors. A collection of 18 short films from world-class directors all set in and around Paris, this unusual project's already healthy following should expand on DVD. The anecdotal nature of the film may turn off some less adventurous viewers, but others will likely show str... More
  
• John Waters: This Filthy World
  MPI Street: Oct. 30 Prebook: now > Waters' stand-up act is just what you'd expect: outrageous, cinema savvy and often hilarious. Directed by HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm co-star Jeff Garlin, this straightforward document of a one-man show in New York featuring “The Bergman of Baltimore” will please Waters' rabid fans, who will no doubt find the offbeat humor divine. More
  
• Amazing Grace
  FOX Street: Nov. 13 Prebook: Oct. 17 > Forceful tale about the man who abolished slavery in the U.K. This stirring true story focuses on William Wilburforce (Ioan Gruffudd), a member of British parliament who doggedly tried to end slavery in England during the 19th century. The film begins after Wilburforce has struggled for years to abolish the practice, his health suffering in the process. More
  
• Talk to Me
  UNIVERSAL Street: Oct. 30 Prebook: Sept. 25 > Terrific acting and period design spark this funny and touching look at a legendary disc jockey. A mostly successful comedy and social drama, Talk to Me focuses on the colorful life of Petey Green, the Washington D.C. African-American disc jockey who became legendary for not only spinning records, but for keeping it real over the airwaves throug... More
  
• The Tripper
  Fox Street: Oct. 23 Prebook: Sept. 26 > Directing debut from David Arquette is an oddball mix with cult appeal. One part slasher film that seems to have emerged from an ’80s time capsule, another part ’60s drug feature à la The Trip and still another part anti-Republican rant, this movie by neophyte director David Arquette is something you just don’t see every day. More
  
• Black Sheep
  IFC/GENIUS Street: Oct. 9 Prebook: now > Outrageous horror spoof delivers the comic and gory goods. Wild and wooly, this New Zealand import takes the preposterous idea of zombie killer sheep and turns it into a viable, in-your-face flick with disgustingly clever special effects and an irreverent sense of humor. More
  
• Havoc 2: Normal Adolescent Behavior
  NEW LINE/WARNER Street: Oct. 16 Prebook: Sept. 11 > This in-name-only sequel about a group of sexually active teens should reel in fans of the first film. There’s teen sex (minus any nudity) and an absence of caring parents in this serious look at the games high school students play, but Havoc 2 has no other organic connection to the original 2006 Anne Hathaway-Bijou Phillips starrer. More
  
• Severance
  MAGNOLIA Street: Sept. 18 Prebook: now > Witty mix of horror, comedy and social satire from England does well in the gore score and more. The Office meets Eli Roth’s Cabin Fever in this oddball genre bender that has garnered attention with fright fans from its festival circuit run and limited theatrical release. More
  
• Crazylove
  MTI Street: Sept. 18 Prebook: now > Tender romantic comedy in a mental hospital could stand to be a bit zanier. Not to be confused with Magnolia Pictures’ documentary Crazy Love, this Crazylove stars 24’s Reiko Aylesworth as Letty, who winds up in a Los Angeles mental institution after suffering an emotional breakdown (brought on by a dead-end romance, her younger sister’s... More
  
• Away from Her
  LIONSGATE Street: Sept. 11 Prebook: now > Knockout performances and assured direction propel this acclaimed drama about the effects of Alzheimer’s. A remarkable writing and directing feature debut by 28-year-old actress Sarah Polley (Go, Dawn of the Dead), Away From Her has received many deserved accolades and will likely gain new fans in its DVD incarnation. More
  
• Closure
  SONY Street: Sept. 18 Prebook: now > Revenge drama delivers exploitable goods and an X-Files star to boot. The shadow of Sam Peckinpah’s controversial Straw Dogs and even Michael Winner’s Death Wish looms large over this British study of rape and vengeance. Gillian Anderson plays Alice, an icy businesswoman whose dalliance with surveillance expert Adam (Danny Dyer) leads to a ca... More
  
• The TV Set
  FOX Street: Sept. 25 Prebook: Aug. 29 > Sneaky humor and a top-notch cast highlight this inside spoof of a TV production. “The Player watches TV” would be an apt description of this humorous spoof of Hollywood with the focus on the small screen. David Duchovny is Mike Klein, a TV scribe/producer whose latest comedy project—a personal one involving his brother’s death... More
  
• Reel Talent: Films by Legendary Directors
  FOX Street: Aug. 21 Prebook: now > An intriguing compendium of famous directors’ initial efforts geared for film fanatics. What did the student films of George Lucas and Robert Zemeckis look like? How did Stephen Sommers (The Mummy) and Shawn Levy (A Night at the Museum) impress producers so they could get a break into Hollywood? The answer to these and other questions can be found in... More
  
• Even Money
  FOX Street: Sept. 11 Prebook: Aug. 7 > Multi-character gambling drama boasts strong cast and compelling situations. The effect of gambling of all sorts and how it affects a variety of characters is the theme of this criss-crossing tale in the Crash and Babel mold. A strong cast keeps things fairly gripping throughout. More
  
• Broken English
  MAGNOLIA Street: Aug. 21 Prebook: July 24 > Low-key romantic comedy will reel in indie fans with its star turn by Parker Posey. In this feature debut by Zoe Cassavettes, daughter of John Cassavettes and Gena Rowlands, Parker Posey is Nora Wilder, a guest relations expert at a trendy Manhattan hotel. More
  
• The Lives of Others
  SONY Street: Aug 21 Prebook: now > Oscar-winning foreign-language entry is an intense espionage-filled drama with a strong human element. The winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, this incredibly accomplished first effort by director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck is set in East Germany in 1948 and centers on Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Mühe), an agent for the secret ... More
  
• Kickin’ It Old Skool
  FOX Street: Aug. 28 Prebook: Aug. 8 > Breakdancing makes a comeback in Jamie Kennedy’s goofy ’80s salute. Bad reviews, lethargic box-office response and quick in-and-out theater play don’t necessarily mean a bad thing for this surprisingly funny farce. Jamie Kennedy portrays Justin, a 12-year-old who goes into a coma during a 1986 breakdance talent show. More
  
• Year of the Dog
  PARAMOUNT Street: Aug. 28 Prebook: July 17 > Low-key dramedy offers moments of humor and sadness for adventurous moviegoers. The first directorial effort from screenwriter Mike White (The Good Girl, The School of Rock) is a bona fide success, sensitively straddling the line between dark humor and pathos. More