Author – The Durango Herald

‘The Conjuring 2’: Scary, but overstuffed

At one point deep into the slick and undeniably scary but annoyingly overstuffed “The Conjuring 2,” Patrick Wilson’s 1970s ghostbuster takes out an acoustic guitar that has been sitting unto...

DATE: Jun 8, 2016 | CATEGORY: Film, TV and Streaming

‘Mother’s Day’ offensively stupid

Over the last 20-plus years and some 4,000 screenings, I have tried to hold sacred perhaps THE cardinal rule of the moviegoing experience, and that of course is: NO TALKING. ...

DATE: Apr 28, 2016 | CATEGORY: Film, TV and Streaming

‘Demolition’ is one big mess

Jake Gyllenhaal is in that zone where he’s about as interesting as any actor of his generation, but even Gyllenhaal’s best efforts aren’t enough to save “Demolition” from itself. ...

DATE: Apr 14, 2016 | CATEGORY: Film, TV and Streaming

It’s time for another ‘Big Fat Greek Wedding’

When they turned the 2002 feature film “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” into a CBS sitcom called “My Big Fat Greek Life” just a year later, the premiere episode drew a whopping 22.9 million viewer...

DATE: Mar 24, 2016 | CATEGORY: Film, TV and Streaming

Fey shows talent in ‘Whiskey Tango Foxtrot’

In The New York Times’ 2011 review of The Taliban Shuffle, Kim Barker’s darkly funny memoir of her time covering war in Afghanistan and Pakistan in the 2000s, Michiko Kakutani wrote: ...

DATE: Mar 3, 2016 | CATEGORY: Film, TV and Streaming

‘Zootopia’ a great, memorable film

Just a few days after the stardust has settled on the 88th Annual Academy Awards, allow me to tell you about the first surefire candidate for a nomination for next year’s Oscars. ...

DATE: Mar 3, 2016 | CATEGORY: Film, TV and Streaming

‘Eddie the Eagle’ is ‘Rudy’ on skis

The reason I’m hardly likely to be the only reviewer to say “Eddie the Eagle” is “Rudy” on the ski slopes is because “Eddie the Eagle” is “Rudy” on the ski slopes. With more than ...

DATE: Feb 25, 2016 | CATEGORY: Film, TV and Streaming

‘Triple 9’ is fabulous trash

If you’re in the right frame of mind for a lurid, blood-soaked B-movie with an A-list cast, “Triple 9” is just the ticket. Just about every scene features an Oscar winner or an Os...

DATE: Feb 25, 2016 | CATEGORY: Film, TV and Streaming

‘Anomalisa’ – You’ve never seen anything quite like this

Whether you’re at the airport or stuck in traffic on the way to work or in a crowded restaurant, you’re the star of the movie of your life. You might have a co-star in the form of...

DATE: Feb 11, 2016 | CATEGORY: Film, TV and Streaming

Pride and Prejudice – now with zombies!

Question: Is there no end to the tsunami of material that has sprung from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice? Answer: Apparently not. All great respect to Ms. Austen and...

DATE: Feb 4, 2016 | CATEGORY: Film, TV and Streaming

‘Hail, Caesar!’ is a movie to celebrate

Here is a movie to celebrate. Here is a movie to celebrate our love of the movies – even the kitschy fare, like the corny Westerns and the unintentionally campy biblical epics and the dancin...

DATE: Feb 4, 2016 | CATEGORY: Film, TV and Streaming

‘The Finest Hours’ brings the sap

Props to the cast of “The Finest Hours,” most of whom spend about three-quarters of their onscreen time soaking wet. Yeah yeah yeah – they’re pampered actors and they’re really no...

DATE: Jan 28, 2016 | CATEGORY: Film, TV and Streaming