Goosebumps, Review: BlackJack Stine and the ‘loose’ characters It’s enough to give you goosebumps: over 400 million Goosebumps books have been sold worldwide, in 32 languages, with author R.L. Stine recognised as one of the highest rated, bestselling, children’s authors in history. Goosebumps had its TV adaptation running from 1995 to 1998. Now, here comes the movie, with so much material that the makers were spoilt for choice. A clever technique is used to get past th...

A Bridge of Spies, Review: Spyelberg on spy-swapping--one of theirs for two of ours Old school film-making at its charming best is what Steven Spielberg delivers in this potential thriller, that is, instead, crafted as a compelling commentary--on the sordid business of spying, the acceptance of the hard truth that a foreign spy operating in your country is as loyal as your spies indulging in espionage abroad, and the sacred right of every accused in America to a fair trial, be it a US citizen...

Birdman/The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance, Review: The Expected Vice of Knowledge Back in the 1980s and 1990s, actor Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton) was known for his superhero role, Birdman, which spawned two sequels. He refused to do the third. Now a-used-to-be-big-star, Riggan is trying hard to make a comeback through drama, by staging Raymond Carver’s “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love.” He will be co-starring with Lesley (Naomi Watts), who is also a movie star...

What do you get when you take Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, a script by the Coen Brothers, a musical score by John Williams, and a plot based on one of the most pivotal events of the Cold War? You get St. James Place, the director's latest production, which just wrapped its first leg of principal photography in New York. St. James Place tells the story of what became the first spy prisoner exchange between the United States and the Soviet Union, following the shoot-down on May 1, 1960, ...

By Maria Esteves – October 25, 2014 The 52nd New York Film Festival 2014 (NYFF52) Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), press conference with director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, cast members actor Michael Keaton, Academy Award nominated supporting actor Edward Norton, actor/stand-up comedian Zach Galifianakis, English actress Andrea Riseborough, Academy Award nominated actress Amy Ryan, actress/model Emma Stone and British actress Naomi Watts moderated by director of...

TO READ POST WITH ACCOMPANYING PHOTOS VISIT TINSEL & TINE  Tom McCarthy (The Station Agent, The Visitor) has once again written and directed a picture that’s been touted at the festivals; however, his newest film has enough mainstream appeal to be backed by Fox Searchlight Pictures. Win Win is the story of an attorney, wrestling coach and most importantly, family man, Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti) living in a middle class Jersey suburb trying to keep things going in these diffic...

In past years, the SBIFF has shown a midweek movie, with varying degrees of success. In 2007, it was Amazing Grace, with director Michael Apted in the audience (and also serving a role as a special curator/director). The film went on to garner critical acclaim. In 2006, Dave Barry’s Guide to Guys featured the stars and John Cleese in attendance.   This year, the fest has gone the route of adding yet another award ceremony, complete with a red carpet, star wattage and on-stage interviews and v...