Alan Arkin

News, Reviews & Features

Review: Spenser Confidential is a bad film so I wrote a bad review

Movie Review | Luke Whiston | 20th March 2020

This is going to be one of those reviews that mostly just describes what happens in the film, with no real insight into the plot or themes - not that there are much of either - but it's the only way I can think to get across how monumentally idiotic Spenser Confidential is. Another way would be telling you it's a direct-to-Netflix action movie starring Mark Wahlberg and directed by Peter Berg and letting you make up your own mind, but I had to suffer through it and now so do you.

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Million Dollar Arm

Movie Review | Ed Williamson | 26th August 2014

The movies' use of sports as a metaphor for personal growth far outstrips the idea's efficacy in real life. Your team's against-the-odds victory in the Rumbelows Cup is unlikely to inspire a realisation that you have your priorities all wrong and lead to a marriage proposal to your long-suffering girlfriend.

But there's something in it. No, watching the snooker doesn't really mimic the ups and downs of real life, but there's a real euphoria and a despondency that sports can inspire, which can convince you momentarily that your life is amazing or terrible. Translate that to the big screen, framed around a guy who's learning to be a bit less self-centred or to pull himself out of a humdrum existence, and you've got yourself the template for a sports movie.

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Grudge Match

Movie Review | Ed Williamson | 24th January 2014

You join me as I battle the triple threat of fatigue, hangover and a burgeoning cold in attempting to semi-satisfactorily review Grudge Match in the two hours I have before I collapse. This tight schedule is caused by a three-night midweek run in which I saw the film, then contributed drunkenly to Team Shiznit's glorious triumph at the Picturehouse Podcast Comedy Film Quiz, and now am attempting to write the review by the release date. Now, when a film is press-screened three days before it comes out, you fear the worst, but they needn't have worried: Grudge Match is pretty good fun when it bothers trying.

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The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

Movie Review | Neil | 12th March 2013

In order to raise this review to an intellectual level beyond all others, I learned the word 'prestidigitation', which means 'sleight of hand': the cunning technique by which magicians fool you into thinking you really do have a neverending supply of loose change behind your ears. That done, all I need to do now is slip it casually into my prose, like, oh, I don't know, a magician employing prestidigitation. That was pretty smooth, right? (*runs away in a puff of smoke*)

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#LFF2012: Argo

Movie Review | Ali | 17th October 2012

How could it be that Ben Affleck – he of being the bomb in Phantoms, yo – has become the most exciting American director working today? The former himbo and male half of Bennifer made one of the all-time greatest career turnarounds when he ditched the smug action hero roles and gave honest to goodness filmmaking a shot; first with sensational kidnapping drama Gone Baby Gone, then with palm-sweatingly tense heist thriller The Town. Affleck has gone one better with his third film as director, moving from the frying pan of Boston into the fire of Iran for his most ambitious – and awards-worthy – movie yet.

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This shouldn't be exciting, but is

Movie News | Ali | 13th June 2011

If I had told you a decade ago I was excited that casting had begun on Ben Affleck's new movie, you would have laughed at me and called me a girl. Well, here we are, a decade later - Ben Affleck is casting his new movie, and I'm excited. Now who's a girl?

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Sunshine Cleaning

Movie Review | Ali | 24th June 2009

The easiest and most obvious comparison to make with Sunshine Cleaning is with Little Miss Sunshine - both films come from the same producers, both are feel-good indie comedies, both feature Alan Arkin as a world-weary granddad imparting his wisdom to a young 'un and, um... both have the word 'Sunshine' in the title. That'll do,...

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Marley & Me

Movie Review | Ali | 11th March 2009

Rather like how Jennifer Aniston 'comedy' The Break-Up wasn't actually a comedy at all, the former Friend is heading up another fake-out - sold as a warm and bright shaggy rom-com, Marley & Me is actually a thoroughly depressing drama following man, woman and hound as they grow old together. Cat people likely won't give two smal...

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Get Smart

Movie Review | Rob | 21st August 2008

Mel Brooks' long-running '60s TV spy-com gets a big-screen re-jig for a ADD-afflicted generation that's most likely unaware of its existence. Director Peter Segal (The Longest Yard, 50 First Dates) takes on the tricky task of adapting a TV show for a Cold War era into an action comedy aimed at a younger audience, but it's fair t...

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