Watchmen (2009)
The film version of what many consider to be the apex of creative superhero comic book writing finally gets made, after nearly a decade of starts and stops, most notably by the likes of...
2000s / Action / Science Fiction / Superhero
by Vincent Leo · Published March 30, 2009 · Last modified June 12, 2019
The film version of what many consider to be the apex of creative superhero comic book writing finally gets made, after nearly a decade of starts and stops, most notably by the likes of...
A magnificent effort all around by Tim Robbins (Bob Roberts, Cradle Will Rock), both as writer and director, very loosely adapting this book of the same name from real-life nun (and later an advocate...
1980s / Comedy / Drama / Romance
by Vincent Leo · Published March 15, 2009 · Last modified August 6, 2018
The 1980s were full of “wrong side of the tracks” romances, from Valley Girl to Say Anything, and in Pretty in Pink, screenwriter John Hughes (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Mr. Mom) tells the story from the perspective of a lower-class...
1980s / Adventure / Drama / Family / Fantasy / Science Fiction
by Vincent Leo · Published February 27, 2009 · Last modified August 20, 2020
E.T.: The Extraterrestrial starts in a forest outside a California suburb. An alien spacecraft lands, and several extraterrestrials emerge, gathering flora samples. Suspicious humans arrive, the aliens escape, leaving one behind. He hides in...
by Vincent Leo · Published January 13, 2009 · Last modified February 28, 2019
Based on the William Adler novel, The War of the Roses, an allusion to the bloody Middle Ages battle between the Houses of Lancaster and York, is director (and co-star) Danny DeVito’s (Hoffa, Duplex) second theatrical directorial...
2000s / Drama / Fantasy / Romance
by Vincent Leo · Published January 6, 2009 · Last modified February 20, 2019
Very loosely based on the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald of 1921, the film version pushes forward the timeline of the story to the bulk of the 20th Century. We start the film...
1980s / Action / Comedy / Martial Arts / Romance
by Vincent Leo · Published November 13, 2008 · Last modified November 25, 2018
A jumbled mix of various genres popular among African-American moviegoers, Motown king Berry Gordy lent his name and label’s music to this film that blends blaxtploitation, martial arts, and music videos into a lowbrow...
by Vincent Leo · Published October 18, 2008 · Last modified February 10, 2019
A politics hawk like myself will find the premise of W. fascinating above and beyond the merit of its filmmaking value. Oliver Stone (World Trade Center, U-Turn) has been an uneven director throughout his career, and if...
2000s / Action / Science Fiction / Superhero / War
by Vincent Leo · Published October 10, 2008 · Last modified April 26, 2019
Multi-billionaire Tony Stark (Downey) is the best in the world at what he does — designing and selling high-powered weaponry to the world, literally changing the face of warfare through his ability to deliver...
1980s / Horror / Science Fiction / Thriller
by Vincent Leo · Published September 29, 2008 · Last modified July 4, 2018
Based on the novel by Stephen King, Firestarter stars Drew Barrymore (E.T. the Extraterrestrial, Cat’s Eye) as youngster Charlie McGee, the super-gifted offspring of “Jedi mind trick”-using father Andy (Keith, Major League II) and mind-reading mother Vicky (Locklear, Money...
Reviews from film writer Vince Leo, covering all eras and genres of films from classics to the latest releases.
Film reviews from Vince Leo, from classics to new releases, since 1996.