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See The Lost Boys From 'Hook' All Grown Up 25 Years Later


Robin Williams Dustin Hoffman

Peter Pan’s Lost Boys from the 1991 movie Hook have staged an epic reunion to mark the film’s 25th anniversary. But the very special reunion, staged by Entertainment Tonight, also had a tinge of sadness, as it occurred on the two-year-anniversary of the death of Hook star Robin Williams.

Continue reading: See The Lost Boys From 'Hook' All Grown Up 25 Years Later

Kung Fu Panda 3 Review

Excellent

This animated trilogy concludes on a very high note with this smart, involving and often hilarious adventure. Both the writing and the animation are especially strong this time around, drawing in bigger themes while still keeping things both thrilling and very silly. But it's the endearing central characters who make it resonate.

As the Dragon Warrior, the panda Po (voiced by Jack Black) is struggling to rise to the challenge to become a teacher, coaxed by his master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman). He'd rather be out fighting battles with his five warrior pals Tigress, Monkey, Mantis, Viper and Crane (Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu and David Cross). Then he meets his long-lost father Li (Bryan Cranston), who tells him of a secret homeland for pandas, where Po might be able to find himself. Meanwhile, the power-mad warlord Kai (J.K. Simmons) has broken through from the spirit realm, determined to collect the chi of every master in the mortal world. So it's rather urgent that Po discovers his own chi before Kai finds him.

This is far more than the usual story about discovering your place in life. It's a complex exploration of how our backgrounds and communities contribute to who we are, and why each of us has a distinct role to play. These themes emerge naturally through the snappy, sometimes exhilarating story and characters. In voicing Po, Black finds the perfect balance between goofiness and honest emotion that often eludes him in live-action roles. His interaction with all of the surrounding characters bristles with humour and insight, with sharply funny one-liners peppering every scene. Most of the side roles are spread very thinly, but both Cranston and Simmons register strongly, while Jolie and Hoffman get some solid scenes all their own. And Hudson's riotously flirtatious ribbon-dancing panda easily steals her scenes.

Continue reading: Kung Fu Panda 3 Review

Thomas Berger, Author Of 'Little Big Man', Dies 13 Days Short Of 90th Birthday


Dustin Hoffman

Thomas Berger, the renowned US author best known for his novel Little Big Man - later adapted into a movie starring Dustin Hoffman - has died aged 89. The novelist died in New York state just 13 days before he was due to celebrate his 90th birthday.

Dustin HoffmanDustin Hoffman starred in Thomas Berger's 'Little Big Man'

Little Big Man, about a white boy raised by the Cheyenne nation during the 19th century, reimagined the American West and would prove to be Berger's biggest hit following its release in 1964. The novel became even more popular following the 1970 Hollywood adaptation, which won Dustin Hoffman a BAFTA for best actor. 

Continue reading: Thomas Berger, Author Of 'Little Big Man', Dies 13 Days Short Of 90th Birthday

Zach Braff's NYC Photobomb Is Pure Internet Gold! [Image]


Zach Braff Donald Faison Kate Hudson Dustin Hoffman Jack Black

Zach Braff may have won the award for the finest celebrity photobombing incident of all time, after an image of him cheekily smiling into the camera during a photo shoot for some newlyweds went viral this week. The image was taken in Times Square, New York City, where the newly wedded couple were having their photo taken on one of the crosswalks, only for Braff to walk past at the perfect moment and, if anything, make the wedding photo a million times better.

Zach Braff
Braff, pictured with his pug, has caused an internet storm with the image

The goofy actor was noticed by wedding photographer Sascha Reinking, who upon discovering the image took to Twitter to call out the actor. On Thursday (21 Nov.) the photographer tweeted, "I might be mistaken but I think Zach Braff totally photobombed my newlywed couple. :) #zachbraff #scrubs #photobomb," later tweeting to Braff and congratulating him on a job well done. Braff later tweeted that the picture was "one of my best photobombs ever," and he even took to his FaceBook page to describe the photobombing incident as his "finest to date."

Continue reading: Zach Braff's NYC Photobomb Is Pure Internet Gold! [Image]

Dearbhla Walsh To Direct Dustin Hoffman In Roald Dahl's 'Esio Trot'


Dustin Hoffman Judi Dench

Irish director Dearbhla Walsh, who won an Emmy for Little Dorritt, is to direct a new BB adaptation of the Roald Dahl novel Esio Trot, starring Hollywood actor Dustin Hoffman and Judi Dench

Walsh, who will direct a script written by Richard Curtis, has worked on children's programming and soap opera Eastenders for 21 years. Her other credits include Funland, The Tudors, and Talk To Me. 

The announcement was made by BBC One controller Charlotte Moore at the Edinburgh TV Festival on Thursday (August 22, 2013).

Continue reading: Dearbhla Walsh To Direct Dustin Hoffman In Roald Dahl's 'Esio Trot'

A Week In News: Willis Quits Expendables 3, Hoffman Beats Cancer And Beyonce Chops Hair Off


Bruce Willis Dustin Hoffman Beyonce Knowles Miley Cyrus Lady GaGa Usher Amber Tamblyn Amanda Seyfried

Bruce Willis

$1 Million A Day? Bruce Willis is officially out of The Expendables 3, having been replaced by Harrison Ford. The thing is, there appears to have been an almighty dispute over money, leaving Sylvester Stallone at odds with his former friend. Is Bruce worth $1 million a day? Check out our defense here!

Kramer vs Cancer: Dustin Hoffman has well and truly given cancer the slip after being "surgically cured" from the disease. The legendary Hollywood star is recovering at home with his family, though was given the all-clear recently. Check out the full story here

Continue reading: A Week In News: Willis Quits Expendables 3, Hoffman Beats Cancer And Beyonce Chops Hair Off

Oscar Winner And Cancer Beater, Dustin Hoffman's Surgery Goes Well


Dustin Hoffman

Dustin Hoffman has been successfully treated for cancer, People Magazine has reported. The two-time Oscar winner, according to his rep, is healing up nicely.

The type of cancer that Hoffman had is unknown, but whatever it was, they caught it early and he seems to be cured of it.

"It was detected early and he has been surgically cured," said his rep to the gossip mag. "Dustin is feeling great and is in good health."

Continue reading: Oscar Winner And Cancer Beater, Dustin Hoffman's Surgery Goes Well

Dustin Hoffman Gives Cancer The Slip After Being "Surgically Cured"


Dustin Hoffman Scarlett Johansson Robert Downey Jr Sofia Vergara

Actor Dustin Hoffman can now breathe a sigh of relief after the surgery he underwent to treat his cancer was a success. With little confirmed information regarding the nature or type of cancer, Hoffman's fans should simply be relieved that the twice Oscar-winning actor is still alive and well.

Dustin & Lisa Hoffman
Dustin's Wife Lisa Has Supported The Actor Through Cancer.

In a statement reported by People magazine, Hoffman's publicist Jodi Gottlieb confirmed that the 75 year-old is doing well: "It was detected early and he has been surgically cured," she said, "Dustin is feeling great and is in good health." Apparently the actor and director will undergo doctor-recommended preventative treatments to minimise any chance of a recurrence of what was allegedly throat cancer in the future.

Continue reading: Dustin Hoffman Gives Cancer The Slip After Being "Surgically Cured"

Dustin Hoffman 'Feeling Great' After Treatment For Throat Cancer


Dustin Hoffman

Oscar-winning actor Dustin Hoffman, one of the true giants of the Hollywood game, has been successfully treated for throat cancer and is "feeling great," his spokeswoman confirmed to People magazine.

Publicist Jodi Gottlieb said the Kramer vs Kramer actor had been "surgically cured" after his cancer was detected at an early stage. No further details were provided though Hoffman is thought to be recovering well and is in "good health."

The two-time Oscar winner and director , 75, will undergo doctor-recommended preventative treatments to minimize the chance of a recurrence of cancer in the years ahead. 

Continue reading: Dustin Hoffman 'Feeling Great' After Treatment For Throat Cancer

Dustin Hoffman Secretly Battling Cancer, But Responding Well To Treatment


Dustin Hoffman Jon Favreau Judi Dench

Dustin Hoffman has secretly been battling cancer for an unspecified amount of time. He has kept the life-threatening news a secret from the public until a recent announcement from one of his PR team, which alerted us not only of his illness, but that he has undergone treatment and is responding well to the medical intervention. His rep, Jodi Gottlieb, exclusively spoke to People Magazine to reveal the mixed bag of good and bad news this Tuesday (6 August).

Dustin Hoffman
Hoffman has responded well to his recent cancer treatment

"It was detected early and he has been surgically cured," she told the magazine, failing to disclose how long exactly it had been since Dustin was told that he was suffering from cancer. She reassuringly added, "Dustin is feeling great and is in good health."

Continue reading: Dustin Hoffman Secretly Battling Cancer, But Responding Well To Treatment

Dustin Hoffman "Feeling Great" After Cancer Treatment


Dustin Hoffman Robert Downey Jr Judi Dench Scarlett Johansson Sofia Vergara

Dustin Hoffman has undergone successful cancer treatment, his representative announced on Tuesday 6th August.

Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Hoffman at the AFI Festival's screening of Quartet, held at Grauman's Chinese Theater, L.A.

His representative, Jodi Gottlieb, announced Hoffman's cancer "was detected early and he has been successfully cured." However, reports suggest the 75-year-old will continue with preventative treatments in the next few years, as recommended by his doctor. Further details on the procedure have, as yet, not been disclosed to the press.

Continue reading: Dustin Hoffman "Feeling Great" After Cancer Treatment

Dennis Farina Remembered By 'New Girl' Stars Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson


Dennis Farina Zooey Deschanel Jake M. Johnson Dustin Hoffman

Dennis Farina, the best-loved American actor best known as Detective Joe Fontana on Law & Order, is being remembered in the television and movie world following his death at the age of 69 this week. Farina - whose style was so inimitable that producers and directors called for 'Dennis Farina types' when casting cops and mobsters - died in Scottsdale, Arizona after suffering a blood clot in his lung.

Farina, who worked as a real life police officer before turning to television and movies, was gifted with a naturalistic acting presence that flourished in the likes of Saving Private Ryan, Snatch and on Crime Story.

One of his last television roles came on Fox's smash-hit sitcom New Girl, on which he played Jake Johnson's character's flamboyant and estranged con man father whose attempts to reconnect with his sibling turn out to be an elaborate scam. 

Continue reading: Dennis Farina Remembered By 'New Girl' Stars Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson

What Is Dustin Hoffman Trying To Say In That Strange Video?


Dustin Hoffman

We don’t pretend to understand Dustin Hoffman here at Contact Music – he’s an enigma wrapped up in a big mystery ball. We enjoy his work – sure – but we sure as well don’t get what comes out of his big actor mouth.

Dustin Hoffman and wifeHoffman looks grumpy with his wife

His latest viral content – a video in which he divulges the emotional turmoil he went through when dressing up as a woman for a Sydney Pollack film – has got us even more stumped than usual. "I went home and started crying talking to my wife. I said I have to make this picture, and she asked why?” explained Hoffman, after telling us that he wanted his female demeanour to be more beautiful but they couldn’t achieve it.

Continue reading: What Is Dustin Hoffman Trying To Say In That Strange Video?

Good Genes Or Good Ops: Which Male Celebrities Don't Show Their Age?


Anthony Kiedis David Beckham Tom Cruise Jim Carrey George Clooney Eddie Murphy Wayne Coyne Colin Firth Antonio Banderas Bono Kevin Spacey Prince Donny Osmond Tom Hanks Christoph Waltz Anthony Bourdain Bruce Willis Jeff Daniels Rowan Atkinson Chris Noth Denzel Washington Liam Neeson Jeff Goldblum Bruce Springsteen Lionel Richie Jeff Bridges Samuel L Jackson Jeremy Irons David Letterman Ted Danson Harrison Ford Amitabh Bachchan Morgan Freeman Dustin Hoffman Dick Van Dyke Roger Moore Rolling Stones

We've all had that moment; looking at photos of our favourite celebs and then jumping out of our seats screaming, 'He's HOW old?!' Well, we've been doing a lot of that here at ContactMusic. Some stars seem to have crept up the age ladder pretty sneakily, the odd wrinkle and grey hair barely registering on our radar, while others don't seem to have aged at all! English football player David Beckham was in his twenties when he rose to global popularity and, looking at his recent H&M underwear advert, it seems that his iconic hairstyles and tattoos are our only way of working out the old from the newer pictures of him. However, he is only 37 and has plenty of time to catch up yet. It's the over-50s that have really had our mouths agape in recent times as we've been scouring the net for the most youthful looking middle to old aged stars. 

Anthony Kiedis, Tom Cruise, Jim Carrey

(Anthony Kiedis, Tom Cruise, Jim Carrey)

Continue reading: Good Genes Or Good Ops: Which Male Celebrities Don't Show Their Age?

Dustin Hoffmans' Directorial Debut, 'Quartet', How Did He Do?


Dustin Hoffman Maggie Smith Billy Connolly Sheridan Smith Tom Courtenay

Double Oscar winner Dustin Hoffman has, at the age of 75, finally switched to directing. While many were surprised it had taken him so long, others were distinctly apprehensive about what Hoffman may offer. As the reviews roll in it appears that Quartet is a light hearted delight and that Hoffman has triumphed.

As well an A-lister as a director, Hoffman brought in some of Britain's best loved actors and actresses. Maggie Smith, Billy Connolly, Sheridan Smith and Tom Courtenay star in a sweet story set in an home for elderly and retired musicians. When an old star turns up, a group in the home attempt to get her to perform again in their quartet, but with old romances and a worn ego to get in the way, it's a struggle for them to persuade her.

Rolling Stone puts Hoffman's skill down to his long career, saying he "directs with elegance" and describes the movie as "flushed with humor and tenderness." Likewise, USA Today was also impressed by the veteran actor's directorial skill: "Hoffman directs with elegance, allowing the denizens to be dignified, as well as adorable. We get a strong sense of each major character." 

Continue reading: Dustin Hoffmans' Directorial Debut, 'Quartet', How Did He Do?

Quartet Is A 'Labrador' Of A Film: Average Reviews For Dustin Hoffman's Directorial Debut


Dustin Hoffman Maggie Smith Sheridan Smith Michael Gambon Billy Connolly

Very little of the criticism levied at Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut, Quartet, are serious. Largely because it's not a particularly serious film. The whole thing is lighthearted fun, behaving like a bit of a playground for the above-middle-age cast and director, all of whom who have enjoyed successful careers and don't necessarily need to push themselves in anything dark and mysterious. 

Quartet is the story of a quartet of ageing musicians, living in a home together. In their younger days they had performed together, and they would like to again. Starring Maggie Smith, Billy Connolly, Michael Gambon, Tom Courtenay and Sheridan Smith as support. Reviews have been fairly average so far. 

The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw gave it a desultory 2/5 stars saying that it "is stale, lifeless and often weirdly humourless," but praising Sheridan Smith, who he says "actually steals the film, just a little, with a quietly affecting final speech."

Continue reading: Quartet Is A 'Labrador' Of A Film: Average Reviews For Dustin Hoffman's Directorial Debut

A Week In Movies Feat: Naomi Watts Powerful In The Impossible, Dustin Hoffman Directs Quartet And Screenwriter Dan Fogelman Talks Barbra Streisand


Naomi Watts Dustin Hoffman Tom Courtenay Pauline Collins Billy Connolly Pierce Brosnan Barbra Streisand Ryan Gosling Bradley Cooper Eva Mendes Ryan Reynolds Paul Giamatti Samuel L Jackson Maya Rudolph Snoop Dogg

Django Unchained

After the holiday season, the movie world is slowly cranking up to speed. Although the really big news doesn't start until next week, with the announcement of the Oscar and Bafta nominations.

This week's biggest nominee announcement came from the Producers Guild of America, seen as a taste of the Best Picture Oscar race. The PGA's 10 feature film nominees are: Argo, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Django Unchained, Life of Pi, Lincoln, Les Miserables, Moonrise Kingdom, Silver Linings Playbook, Skyfall and Zero Dark Thirty.

Continue reading: A Week In Movies Feat: Naomi Watts Powerful In The Impossible, Dustin Hoffman Directs Quartet And Screenwriter Dan Fogelman Talks Barbra Streisand

HBO's Cancelled Show Luck Facing Lawsuit


Dustin Hoffman

A lawsuit filed against HBO for the mistreatment of horses on the show has been dismissed by the show's head trainer, The New York Daily News reports.   

American Humane Association staff member, Barbara Case, asserted in the suit that the horses used on the show drugged and abused. "It appears to be a desperate attempt to squeeze money out of the producers. It's sad," Matthew Chew - the head trainer - said after the suit filed in Los Angeles claimed that the horses were sick, underweight and "often drugged to perform." Chew added, "The horses were never drugged to perform. She's lying. We were drug-tested 100 times, randomly. Not one of the tests came back bad. She called as a friend," Chew told The News. "The part that strikes me as funny is that she never expressed any concerns to me." He admitted the horses were given anti-inflammatory medication after they exerted themselves, but he said it was an industry-standard measure for the comfort and protection of the animals.

The show was cancelled on March 14, 2012, soon after a third horse died during production, although the suit also claims that number was actually 4. The first season's remaining episodes continued to air and the complete series was released on DVD and Blu-ray on November 27, 2012. "There are allegations, and there are facts. There were three AHA reps and two vets, all very qualified, checking these horses every day," Chew said. "This show was just very unlucky. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. I understand why it was canceled."

Alleged HBO Coverup: Woman Sacked For Exposing Horse Abuse On 'Luck'


HBO Dustin Hoffman

In March of last year 'Luck', a show about horse racing starring Dustin Hoffman, was cancelled amid a scandal surrounding the treatment of the horses that appeared on the show. Now, HBO - the network upon which the show was seen - is being sued by an ex-employee of the American Humane Association for the treatment of the horses, as well as the AHA wrongful termination after she was sacked.

As the Hollywood Reporter writes, Barbara Casey claims that "the AHA observed drugged horses, underweight and/or sick horses routinely used for work on the show, the misidentification of horses by producers so that animal safety reps couldn't track their medical histories". Despite the deaths of four horses, both HBO and the AHA claimed no horses were harmed. Eventually, though, the show was cancelled in the light of the complaints. One in particular was from PETA. HBO's statement read: "We took every precaution to ensure that our horses were treated humanely and with the utmost care, exceeding every safeguard of all protocols and guidelines required of the production. Barbara Casey was not an employee of HBO, and any questions regarding her employment should be directed to the AHA."

Casey also claims that "AHA bowed to political and financial pressure and... engaged in efforts to conceal and cover up the production defendants' criminal activities." 

Continue reading: Alleged HBO Coverup: Woman Sacked For Exposing Horse Abuse On 'Luck'

Barack Obama Amongst The Quick-witted To Address The Kennedy Center Honourees


Dustin Hoffman Barack Obama Robert De Niro Led Zeppelin

As entertainers from stage and screen were recognized for their contributions to the arts and American culture at the Kennedy Center Honors, it seemed as though a competition was forming: who could grab the most laughs with a witty address. Reuters had the scoop. 

"I worked with the speechwriters - there is no smooth transition from ballet to Led Zeppelin," joked President Barack Obama in deadpan while introducing the honorees at a ceremony in the White House East Room. And while Obama is one charismatic cat, we're pretty sure Robert De Niro can outgun him. "Dustin Hoffman is a pain the ass," said the former honoree, introducing the film star. "And he inspired me to be a bit of a pain in the ass too," De Niro continued with a big smile. "It's most incredible because it looks like I lived two lives," Natalia Makarova told reporters before the event. "I've come a long way, baby, no? That's the way someone said it for me." We're not sure we get that one.

Here's comedian Tina Fey, who was honoured with the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2010, on Letterman: "David Letterman is a professor emeritus at the 'Here's Some More Rope Institute,'" while the man himself decided to save the quips for his show. "I was full of trepidation, but now I am full of nothing but gratitude," he said. "I don't believe this, but it's been nice for my family." So who wins? We're going to plump for The President of The United States. 

Kung Fu Panda 2 Review


Very Good
Jack Black's cuddly alter-ego is back for another epic adventure in this lively, colourful sequel. It pretty much has the same plot as the final act of the 2008 original, and it's not quite as funny, but it's beautifully animated and thoroughly engaging.

Now that Dragon Warrior panda Po (voiced by Black) has joined the Furious Five (Jolie's tigress, Rogen's mantis, Chan's monkey, Liu's viper and Cross' crane), there's peace in the valley again. But in a distant kingdom, the villainous peacock Lord Shen (Oldman) has developed a secret weapon with which he plans to take over China and put an end to kung fu. Although he's been rattled for decades, since his soothsayer (Yeoh) told him he'll be conquered by a panda.

And he knows the Dragon Warrior is on his way.

Continue reading: Kung Fu Panda 2 Review

Kung Fu Panda 2: The Kaboom of Doom Trailer


What more can come for the Panda who has it all? Since gaining the respect of his heroes - Master Shifu and the furious five - and defeating the evil snow leopard Tai Lung, Po's life in the Valley of Peace is perfect but it isn't to last.

Continue: Kung Fu Panda 2: The Kaboom of Doom Trailer

Kung Fu Panda Review


Very Good
It's surprising that Hollywood has taken until 2008 to come up with Kung Fu Panda. Taking your factory-issue period-piece martial arts plot -- wherein schlubby protagonist finds his inner warrior as a means of expressing filial piety and ensuring the harmonious survival of his village -- and combining it with supercharged computer animation, PG-friendly combat, and a flurry of cute animals just makes good business sense. One could argue about the logic of surrounding Jackie Chan (voicing a monkey who's also a kung fu master) with a Hollywood stew of A-list talent eager to scoop up some easy voice-actor money, but when the film's star is an overweight panda voiced by Jack Black, such kvetching is almost beside the point.

Blazing across the screen with eye-popping, sublime artwork, Kung Fu Panda sets itself apart from the modern domestic animation trend with its sheer beauty. From an opening dream sequence whose abstract style seems culled straight from a modern manga, the film enters instant classic status as some of the most gorgeous animation Hollywood has produced since the golden age of Disney. Eschewing the cold and severe art of Dreamworks' Shrek films, the makers of Kung Fu Panda fill the screen with painterly backdrops of mountain vistas and fluttering leaves that give Zhang Yimou a run for his money. It somehow makes it all the funnier to have the titular panda, Po (Black), come huffing and wheezing through the impeccable and non-specific ancient China landscapes like a less-active relative of Hurley on Lost.

Continue reading: Kung Fu Panda Review

Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer Review


Bad
Like chugging a $200 bottle of pinot noir while feeding a steady methamphetamine habit, Tom Tykwer's take on Patrick Suskind's perverse classic Perfume takes out all the novel's dark teases and replaces them with his patented conniption-fit editing streaks and flashy color sweeps.

Since birth, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille (newcomer Ben Whishaw) has had a curiously strong sense of smell, bordering on superhuman. Born and continuously dropped-off under bad signs, Jean-Baptiste eventually makes his way to Paris where he becomes the apprentice of Baldini (Dustin Hoffman), an elderly perfumer who was once famous for his flourishing scents. Baldini wants to be able to compete with modern perfumers, but Jean-Baptiste has loftier ambitions. After murdering a young fruit girl, Grenouille becomes obsessed with cultivating the scent of women by any means possible. He leaves Baldini and heads for Grasse, the supposed kingdom of scent, where he encounters Antoine Richis (Alan Rickman) and his fiery, redheaded daughter (Rachel Hurd-Wood). It is here that Grenouille perfects away of capturing the scent of women and begins collecting the 12 women that will compose his ultimate scent... by paying with their lives.

Continue reading: Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer Review

Confidence Review


Extraordinary
If Heist held your attention and The Score kept you guessing, you need to see Confidence, James Foley's stunningly original sting movie that puts the majority of sting movies to shame. Who knew that Foley, the man responsible for brainless thrillers like The Corruptor and Fear, would helm a genre film that outwits even those from acclaimed filmmakers David Mamet and Frank Oz?

Confidence has triple the pizzazz of any caper movie released in the past several years. To say that it keeps you guessing would be misleading; the film has so many twists, turns, and reveals them in such an order that you don't even know where to start guessing. You'll need a scorecard to keep everything in order. Yet, remarkably, in the end, everything adds up without any apparent plot holes. It's astonishing.

Continue reading: Confidence Review

Sleepers Review


Excellent
How on earth did Kevin Bacon get top billing in a cast that includes Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Brad Pitt, and Jason Patric -- just for starters? That's just one of the disturbing aspects of Sleepers (and I don't mean that in a bad way), Barry Levinson's new drama/thriller that finally redeems him for the idiocy of Disclosure and Toys.

Based on the extremely controversial novel, Sleepers tells what is purported to be a true story of revenge in Hell's Kitchen in New York City. Four early-teenaged friends (played as adults by Patric, Pitt, Ron Eldard, and Billy Crudup -- who I have to mention just because I like to say "Crudup") are sent to a juvenile center when a prank goes wrong and almost kills a bystander. The brutality that occurs in the center does not need to be expounded upon, but suffice it's very horrible, and that guard Sean Nokes (Bacon) is the baddest of the bad guys.

Continue reading: Sleepers Review

Papillon Review


Very Good
There's a lot to like about Papillon. Compared to the witless blockbusters of today, with their explosions and CGI trickery, Papillon is the type of outsized escapist adventure tale that Hollywood once had down pat. It's well acted, gorgeously shot, and generally exciting -- all of which makes its mediocrity an even greater disappointment.

The trouble lies in its placement in the evolution of the Hollywood action film. Papillon is a transitional species. At the same time it soars on old-fashioned virtue, it also suffers from modern vice. Its 150-minute running time, false endings, and mind-numbing repetitions make it an early predecessor of the indulgent blockbuster of today.

Continue reading: Papillon Review

Rain Man Review


Essential
Do you know about "high level" autistic people? They are amazingly intelligent. They can carry on conversations, memorize phone books, follow schedules, recite statistics, calculate square roots, and count the number of toothpicks spilled on the floor in just a few seconds. But they can't think abstractly -- they can't tell you the price of a car in comparison to the price of a candy bar. Also, they get rather disturbed when someone interrupts their routine.

Raymond Babbitt (Dustin Hoffman) is a "high level" autistic man living in a mental hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. When his father dies, he inherits $3 million, much to his brother's dismay. Raymond's brother, Charlie (Tom Cruise), never knew about him. He was very angry to hear that their estranged father left everything to Raymond except for a 1949 Buick Roadmaster. Charlie leaves his shaky car business in Los Angeles and travels to Ohio to find out where his father's estate went. When Charlie discovers Raymond, he decides to abduct him and bring him back to his home in L.A. until he gets his share of the money.

Continue reading: Rain Man Review

Straw Dogs Review


Extraordinary
The movies you love best aren't always the ones whose ideas you agree with. D.W. Griffith's Birth of a Nation is easy to admire for its technical innovation but easy to despise for its virulent racism; the Nazi hagiography Leni Riefenstahl's Triumph of the Will has similar pleasures - and problems. Sam Peckinpah's 1971 masterpiece Straw Dogs isn't as overtly problematic as those films. It's not viciously racist, nor does it glorify totalitarianism. But it's messy stuff all the same. The surface violence that made it famous in 1971 looks more or less timid now, but the deep cynicism at the core of the movie - this is a world where intelligence is suspect, murder equals redemption, and rape is almost tolerable - is still chilling.

Dustin Hoffman plays the hero, David Sumner, and at first he seems to be continuing in the string of nebbishy neurotic roles he took previously in The Graduate and Midnight Cowboy. A mild-mannered American college professor, he's arrived in western England with his wife Amy (a brave and brilliant Susan George) so he can have peace and quiet to work on his "astral mathematics." The small town, full of sad stone houses and often cloaked in fog, is where Amy grew up, and she's almost immediately stalked by a passel of alcoholic locals. The film's first five minutes has some virtuosic foreshadowing in it, giving us shots of David and Amy carrying a large and intimidating "mantrap" (basically a man-sized bear trap); tight shots of thuggish locals like Charlie (Del Henney) getting too close to the pair; a shot of Amy's sweatered chest, noticeably bra-less, which will become an important plot point later. Subtly and quickly, Peckinpah announces his three themes: sex, intimidation, and violence. It's gonna be interesting, but it's not gonna be easy to get through.

Continue reading: Straw Dogs Review

I ? Huckabees Review


Good

The one philosophy behind the existential screwball comedy "I ? Huckabees" (pronounce the ? as "heart") is that there is no one philosophy. A satire of spiritual gurus, self-help and other psychological gimmickry, it makes its point by being so esoteric and cerebrally akimbo that it will likely divide audiences between those who find its deliberately abstruse discombobulation amusing and to the point, and those who find it just abstruse and discombobulated.

Written and directed by David O. Russell, the observant and darkly comical wit behind the Gulf War derision "Three Kings," the ensemble storyline whirlpools around Albert Markovski (Jason Schwartzman), an unhinged and obsessive young environmentalist who has seen the open-space preservation group he chartered slip through his fingers and into the hands of a snake-oil-charming corporate stooge named Brad Stand (Jude Law). Brad is, in fact, an executive at Huckabees -- a slick, corporate retailer with a habit of moving into small towns and building megastores where there had once been open space.

With his failure causing him to question his whole life, Albert seeks metaphysical peace of mind from Bernard and Vivian Jaffe (Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin), a pair of unconventional, off-kilter and out-of-sync private eyes who specialize in solving the mysteries of their clients' inner turmoil. Soon they are, quite conspicuously, following Albert to work, peering through his windows, digging through his trash, and pairing him up with another lost soul as a partner in intellectual recovery -- Tommy (Mark Wahlberg), a blue-collar lug of a firefighter whose eye-opening visit inside his own head has rapidly become a slide into bemused Nihilism.

Continue reading: I ? Huckabees Review

Dustin Hoffman

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Dustin Hoffman

Date of birth

8th September, 1937

Occupation

Actor

Sex

Male

Height

1.67


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Dustin Hoffman Movies

The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) Movie Review

The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) Movie Review

Noah Baumbach (Frances Ha) is on his way to becoming the new Woody Allen, which...

The Meyerowitz Stories New And Selected Trailer

The Meyerowitz Stories New And Selected Trailer

Harold Meyerowitz (Dustin Hoffman) is a celebrated New York artist, whose quick-temper and filter-less conversation...

Kung Fu Panda 3 Movie Review

Kung Fu Panda 3 Movie Review

This animated trilogy concludes on a very high note with this smart, involving and often...

Kung Fu Panda 3 Trailer

Kung Fu Panda 3 Trailer

Po and The Furious Five return in Kung Fu Panda 3! Po might now be...

The Program Movie Review

The Program Movie Review

A whooshing pace and snappy dialogue help bring this true story to life, tracing the...

The Program Trailer

The Program Trailer

Lance Armstrong was an athlete the entire world loved to support. Having beaten testicular cancer...

The Choir Trailer

The Choir Trailer

Stet is just 11-years-old and struggling to come to terms with his mother's death. He...

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Kung-Fu Panda 3 - Teaser Trailer

Kung-Fu Panda 3 - Teaser Trailer

Po the giant panda may be ever increasing his prowess at kung-fu, but he still...

The Program - First Look Trailer

The Program - First Look Trailer

Lance Armstrong is a cycling legend, with seven Tour De France wins under his belt...

The Cobbler Trailer

The Cobbler Trailer

Some people are far more important than you might think. For one lowly cobbler, things...

Chef Movie Review

Chef Movie Review

Like comfort food, this movie has very little nutritional value, but it sure goes down...

Chef Trailer

Chef Trailer

Carl Casper is a chef working at one of the top restaurants of Miami. Food...

Chef Trailer

Chef Trailer

Carl Casper is a well-known chef from Miami who works in a trendy LA restaurant...

Kung Fu Panda 2 Movie Review

Kung Fu Panda 2 Movie Review

Jack Black's cuddly alter-ego is back for another epic adventure in this lively, colourful sequel....

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