Josh Tate

Considering his films are rarely screened at theaters in the United States, most people haven't heard of the great Portuguese auteur and digital video innovator, Pedro Costa. Happily, a remedy for that is arriving tomorrow when the first comprehensive retrospective in North America of his work unspools at REDCAT. His documentary-style films often center on life in the slums of Lisbon and have received wide international acclaim. Screening schedule and extensive film info after...

Though my allegiance has switched over to the Landmark, many film lovers in Los Angeles regard the Arclight as the best multiplex in town. It programs studio pictures right alongside esoteric indies, it offers great concessions, its screenings are commercial-free and it schedules cool events with celebrated films and filmmakers. This Wednesday, tickets go on sale for one of those very events. In fact, this one may be the coolest in awhile. To celebrate...

Jodie Foster's rather inexplicable box-office appeal was on half-display this weekend as The Brave One pulled in a mediocre 14 million dollars to top the charts. Early forecasts had suggested a 17-20 million dollar haul but mixed reviews, an R-rating and rather dark subject matter cut into those expectations. 3:10 to Yuma held strong in its second weekend, stealing an additional 9.15M and raising its treasure chest to 28.5M. The pitifully-reviewed Mr. Woodcock came...

It's a fairly busy release schedule tomorrow with a few studio pictures and a bunch of indies hitting the screens. Neil Jordan directs Jodie Foster in The Brave One (or, as it was originally titled, Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang: The Lady Bernie Goetz Story). Reviews are mostly positive and it does have the supremely underrated Nicky Katt (and the formerly underrated, now probably properly rated Terrence Howard), so I'll give it a...

Though its title suggests exceedingly humble aspirations, I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With really is an unexpected little gem. Curb Your Enthusiasm's Jeff Garlin writes, directs, produces and stars (whew!) as the Marty-esque James, an overweight, under-employed, 39 year-old actor who still lives with his mother. His biggest concerns in life appear to be extolling the virtues of rice pudding to a convenience store clerk, keeping a great parking space near Wrigley Field...

Away From Her is one of the best movies I never want to see again. As if getting old and losing your mind weren't depressing enough! Still, Sarah Polley (already a superb actor) is now a director I'm planning to watch. Are you like me? Were you deeply in love with Barbara Crampton as a young lad? Has The Graduate aged well? I think not so much, but find out for yourself with this...

In the slowest weekend since the early spring, 3:10 to Yuma blasted its way to the top of the box office with a decent haul of 14.1 million dollars. Considering its largely positive reviews and the general softness of the September schedule, the Russell Crowe-Christian Bale western should hang around for a few weeks and approach its 55 million dollar budget. Last week's winner, Halloween suffered a precipitous decline in its second weekend, tumbling...

We need more movies like The Nines. While it may only make complete sense to its creator, John August, there's enough in it to puzzle and delight that I recommend it without reservation. It raises and (sort of) answers questions about the nature of existence, the multiplicity of universes and the role of a Creator in both. It features one of the best performances of the year by--of all people--Ryan Reynolds and heralds the...

With the fall TV season just around the corner, a flood of your favorite series hit the stores today. What better way to whet your appetite for what promises to be a long, great Season 4 of The Office, than to check out Season 3 again. I should finally catch up with Sunny in Philadelphia. 30 Rock would be even better without the unfunny Tracey Morgan and the creepy Jack McBrayer. Is Desperate Housewives...

I'm not sure which is more confusing: that Halloween was released over Labor Day or that there are apparently a lot of people who wanted to see it. Obviously (for the first time in awhile) the Weinstein brothers knew what they were doing as Rob Zombie's "re-imagining" of the Michael Myers' franchise took in a better-than-expected (record-setting, in fact) 26.5 million dollars for the weekend. Thankfully, in a rare show of taste, audiences chose...