D.C. MOVIE GUYS

Director David Fincher has been a leader in bringing more edge and grit to the thriller genre in recent years. Starting with “Seven,” Fincher has taken the basic elements of the scary movie and added a layer of everyday drabness to them that seeks to heighten the horror and tension. His visual sense, whether in “Alien 3,” “Fight Club” or “Panic Room,” emphasizes grime and drabness, giving a physical look to the ordinariness of sometimes unspeakable evil. In his latest film, “Zodiac,” he moves from imaginary terror to the real life fear that gripped Northern and Southern California in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s as a serial killer carried out vicious attacks while taunting authorities with bizarre messages. (more…)

Brian Jackson, the hero of the new comedy “Starter For 10,” is a firm believer in the old saw that “knowledge is power.” Early on in his working class childhood, he realized he wasn’t all that handsome or charismatic, so the only way he’d find a place in the world was to gather all the knowledge he could and use it to his best advantage. Absorbing facts large and small like a sponge, he sets his sights on getting into a top college and building a new life from there. As this charming coming of age tale unfolds, Brian discovers even the best intentioned of plans can be derailed by two things-life and love. (more…)

Diane Keaton is a wonderful actress. Her numerous awards, as well as the continued popularity of her old and recent films as she moves into the fourth decade of her career testify to just how talented and beloved she is. But, after sitting through her latest effort, “Because I Said So,” even her most devoted of fans will be moved to as: “What were you thinking ?” (more…)

As anyone who has loved through the last several days trying to avoid all the media hubbub over the death of tabloid celebrity Anna Nicole Smith can tell you, the American people are fascinated with fame. As time has gone by, we seem to have lost our taste for rewarding folks with our curiosity over what they’ve accomplished and have zeroed in on celebrating famous folks merely for being famous. As the new film “Factory Girl” makes abundantly clear, there is a price for unearned fame-and that price can be awfully high. (more…)

Cinema has shaped our view of spies and espionage since the birth of the feature film nearly a century ago. From “The 39 Steps” to “Notorious, ” from “The Spy Who Came In From The Cold” to “The Constant Gardener,” we have been dazzled, dumbfounded and taken aback by the human chess game of lies, deception and shifting alliances that, seemingly, comprise the spy game. James Bond is a whole other part of the forest to be heard from. Director Billy Raqy, whose “Shattered Glass” gave us a fascinating insider’s view of deception and betrayal in journalism, takes us on a somewhat similar jourey in his new film, “Breach/” Based on the true story of FBI agent Robert Hanssen, considered the most damaging turncoat in United States history, the film is a throughly absorbing and compelling thriller with first class work from a top flight cast. (more…)