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On Politics| For Your Consideration: Piranha 3D

Monday, August 30, 2010
By james.cooper

“Hello,” begins the latest viral video making the Internet rounds. “I’m Hollywood treasure Jerry O’Connell and I’ve worked on some serious projects in the past.  ‘Stand By Me,’ ‘Crossing Jordan,’ ‘Sliders,’ ‘Kangaroo Jack,” the young actor explains before a brief pause. “But none of them hold a candle,” O’Connell argues, “to ‘Piranha 3D.’” And... »

Piranha 3D

Friday, August 27, 2010
By james.cooper
Piranha 3D

If for some reason you live in Oklahoma City and your travels have taken you near Penn Square Mall in recent days, then chances are you’ve seen the marquee advertisement for screenings of “Piranhas in 3D” overlooking the city’s Northwest Expressway. That “Piranhas in 3D” is actually “Piranha 3D,” director Alexandre Aja’s remake of... »

On Politics|The Piper Will Lead Us To Reason

Monday, August 23, 2010
By james.cooper

“I think the president’s problem is that he was born a Muslim, his father was a Muslim,” explained the Rev. Franklin Graham. “The seed of Muslim is passed through the father like the seed of Judaism is passed through the mother. He was born a Muslim; his father gave him an Islamic name.” Those... »

Inception

Sunday, July 18, 2010
By james.cooper
Inception

Since the earliest days of its inception in the late nineteenth century, those interested in analysis or interpretation of cinema—particularly Freud—saw in the medium a correlation between it and dreams.  In recent decades, of course, psychoanalytic film theory has taken up Freud’s work, exploring the ways in which the cinema functions similarly to dreams,... »

Toy Story 3

Friday, June 18, 2010
By james.cooper
Toy Story 3

If for no other reason than citing past precedent, “Toy Story 3” and Pixar deserve a special scratch-and-sniff sticker for pulling off what few film franchises rarely accomplish: delivering a third film worthy of its predecessors. The first two “Toy Story” films share the enviable and rare honor of having a perfect 100% over... »

Lost Series Finale “The End”

Tuesday, May 25, 2010
By james.cooper
Lost Series Finale “The End”

And, thus, came the conclusion to the television phenomenon known as “Lost,” a satisfyingly poignant, thrilling, and nearly pitch perfect end to the show’s six-season run. »

A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)

Friday, April 30, 2010
By james.cooper
A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)

One week into its release, Platinum Dunes’ “A Nightmare on Elm Street” remake has met with considerable box office success, a C+ Cinemascore score, and a lukewarm reaction amongst horror fans. In its way, this new “Nightmare” film plays out like a greatest hits compilation of iconic moments from Wes Craven’s original 1984 film.... »

Best Films of the 9/11 Decade

Friday, January 22, 2010
By james.cooper
Best Films of the 9/11 Decade

The beautiful nightmare decade came to an uneventful end.  Three numbers and bastards flying planes into the World Trade Center haunt the aught years.  Not to make too big a deal of it but the images of folk meandering, dazed down the gray streets of downtown New York City stuck.  And, say what you... »

Top Ten Films of 2009

Wednesday, December 23, 2009
By james.cooper
Top Ten Films of 2009

The first decade of the 21st century enters its waning days.  The proverbial curtain prepares to close.  But, before we move onto much more provocative lists such as the requisite ‘Best of the Decade,” we have 2009 to contend with first. This year saw the stark nihilism of Zach Snyder’s “Watchmen” adaptation, J.J. Abrams’... »

Nine

Wednesday, December 23, 2009
By james.cooper
Nine

“Nine” has precisely one truly great moment in it and that moment comes late in the film when a vivacious Kate Hudson bursts into a performance of “Cinema Italiano.” “I love the cinema Italiano,” sings Stephanie (Ms. Hudson), an American fashion journalist in director Rob Marshall’s new musical “Nine, a film that wants desperately... »

Oklahoma Film Critics Circle Names “The Hurt Locker” Best Movie of 2009

Tuesday, December 22, 2009
By james.cooper
Oklahoma Film Critics Circle Names “The Hurt Locker” Best Movie of 2009

Oklahoma City — The Oklahoma Film Critics Circle has announced its fourth annual list of awards for achievement in film, giving top honors to “The Hurt Locker” as the best motion picture of 2009. OFCC members are Oklahoma-based movie critics who write for print and online outlets that publish or post reviews of current... »

Avatar

Monday, December 21, 2009
By james.cooper
Avatar

If director Kathryn Bigelow made the definitive film on the Iraq war this year with “The Hurt Locker,” then James Cameron has just attempted the penultimate film on the war in Afghanistan with “Avatar,” his first film since 1997’s “Titanic.” Where Bigelow’s “The Hurt Locker” takes to the battlefields of Iraq to explore what... »

Ten Scariest Films of the Decade

Friday, October 30, 2009
By james.cooper
Ten Scariest Films of the Decade

10. Let the Right One In (Tomas Alfredson, 2008) Cold, tense and beautifully shot, the Sweedish vampire tale “Let the Right One In” is perhaps the most haunting and most beautiful vampire tale to come along since “Nosferatu.” The film takes the anxieties of growing up and lets loose on where the wild things really... »

Where the Wild Things Are

Sunday, October 18, 2009
By james.cooper
Where the Wild Things Are

“And now,” cried Max (Max Records), “let the wild rumpus start!” »

Zombieland

Thursday, October 8, 2009
By james.cooper
Zombieland

It ruins nothing to reveal that the final showdown in “Zombieland” takes place in an amusement park.  To note that some characters in a zombie movie do incredibly silly and stupid things even in the face of impending zombie mayhem breaks little new ground in  film criticism. To point out, however, that “Zombieland” may... »