review Archives - Page 10 of 11

’22 Jump Street’ a rare sufficient comedy sequel

By Mason Lazarcheff / For The Pitt News • July 1, 2014

"22 Jump Street"Starring: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum and Ice CubeDirected by: Phil Lord and Christopher MillerGrade: B“You boys are going to college.” Those were the last words we heard in the 2012...

‘Lego Movie’ a stop-motion success

By Ian Flanagan / Staff Writer • February 5, 2014

"The Lego Movie"Directed by: Phil Lord, Christopher MillerStarring: Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth BanksFrom afar, “The Lego Movie” may seem like a shameless cash-in on a recognizable toy brand...

‘Lone Survivor’ encapsulates complexities of modern war

By Shawn Cooke / Staff Writer • January 29, 2014

You could argue that the climax of “Lone Survivor” occurs just halfway into the movie.After Marcus Luttrell (Mark Wahlberg) and his team of Navy SEALs are discovered by three mountain herders (two...

Pittsburgh Public Theater’s ‘True West’ suffers from campy excess

By John Lavanga / A&E Editor • November 14, 2013

Sam Shepard’s “True West,” which is being performed at the Pittsburgh Public Theater through Dec. 8, is a brilliant, darkly comic play about envy, alcohol and that classic pastime of searching for...

Julian Assange biopic tries, fails to exploit his infamy

By Jeff Ihaza / Senior Staff Writer • October 24, 2013

"The Fifth Estate"Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel BruhlDirected by: Bill CondonGrade: DPerhaps the shining achievement of Wikileaks was releasing a leak preventing people from seeing a decidedly...

‘Captain Phillips’ skillfully retells true tales of piracy

By Andrew Fishman / Staff Writer • October 16, 2013

“Captain Phillips”Starring: Tom Hanks, Barkhad AbdiDirected by: Paul GreengrassGrade: B+ “Have a safe trip.”This simple farewell is spoken to loved ones nearly every time they leave on a flight...

Dr. Dog’s latest release lacks stand-out sound

By Matt Singer / Senior Staff Writer • October 14, 2013

B-Room Dr. DogANTI- RecordsGrade: CSounds like: That one Dr. Dog song you'll never like enough to buy on vinyl.When a band ceases to be innovative, its reliability often makes up for its lack of groundbreaking...

PPT’s rendition captures ‘Our Town’s” existential depth

By Grace Kelly / Staff Writer • October 9, 2013

“Our Town”Pittsburgh Public Theater621 Penn Ave., Cultural DistrictThrough Oct. 27Admission: $29 - $55 general, $15 with Student ID“Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?” The...

Joseph Gordon-Levitt makes directorial debut with ‘Don Jon’

By Dylan Abbott / For The Pitt News • October 9, 2013

"Don Jon"Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne MooreDirected by: Joseph Gordon-Levitt B+Joseph Gordon-Levitt bares all in his feature-film directorial debut, “Don Jon,” an R-rated...

Haim sisters make waves on surfer sourced, immersive debut

By Grace Kelly / Staff Writer • October 7, 2013

HaimDays Are GoneGrade: A-Sounds Like: LA pop band meets Fleetwood MacWith much of the new pop music produced either blending into ubiquitous obscurity or hitting high marks through media promotion, it...