"Margin Call" is a riveting drama taking place behind the scenes of a fictional Wall Street investment bank during the initial stages of the 2008 financial crisis. Similar to real-life companies, this firm found itself massively over-leveraged in mortgaged-backed securities. "Margin Call" depicts the "dumping" of [..]

Matthew McConaughey stars as a criminal defense attorney who works out of his black Lincoln Town Car in "The Lincoln Lawyer." He travels around the city and county of Los Angeles meeting and helping out clients. Good direction by Brad Furman ("The Take" 2007) and a [..]

"Paul" is a science fiction comedy movie which features two English sci-fi fans encountering an alien from outer space on a road trip through the western states of America. This surprisingly humorous film, directed by Greg Mottola ("Adventureland" 2009), was written by two stars of the show, [..]

"Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" is a Cold War drama about the search for a Soviet double agent in the British Secret Service. The film is mostly a big bore, as it is difficult to follow, poorly written, and a strenuous and difficult slog for movie-goers who did [..]

"The Island President" is a documentary film about Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed's efforts to alert world leaders about climate change. (Nasheed held office from Nov. 2008 to Feb. 2012.) Most of his appeals at various conferences around the globe fell on deaf ears. Nasheed was [..]

Meryl Streep won her third Oscar for her stunning portrayal as Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady." Director Phyllida Lloyd ("Mama Mia!" 2008) and screenwriter Abi Morgan keep the movie well organized, especially with the numerous flashback scenes. Streep's performance is so convincing that the viewer [..]

"The Intouchables" is a French language comedy-drama buddy film about a poor black man hired to be a caregiver to a wealthy quadriplegic. Young and energetic Driss Bassary seems to bring the middle-aged Philippe Maserati a new lease on life. The chemistry between the two principal [..]

Is the third time a charm for "A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas?" It is if your standards are very low. Director Todd Strauss-Schulson and screenwriters Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg have come up with the same stoner comedy with the charm of Harold Lee and [..]

Jesse Stone has "retired" as police chief and is replaced with the son-in-law of one of the city councilmen. This does not stop him from investigating his usual pair of murders (in each episode); Stone seeks some official endorsement by asking the state police captain to deputize [..]

Jason Statham stars as a professional assassin for hire who specializes in making his hits look like accidents or suicides. "The Mechanic" has no shortage of action and drama, well managed and evenly paced by director Simon West ("Con Air" 1997) and screenwriters Lewis John Carlino and [..]