4 Razors

Phoenix & Hoffman deliver a pair of Masterful performances

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: The Master
  • IMDB: link

the-master-posterIt’s only September, but it’s quite possible the latest film from writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson may be the best collection of acting seen in theaters this year. The Master, inspired (in part) by L. Ron Hubbard and the rise of Scientology, is a terrifically produced look into the life of a disturbed young man and his relationship with the leader of a cult.

The film is less concerned about the specific inner workings of a cult than what kind of life it’s leader might live and how he might react to those around him and those in need of his help.

When we meet Naval Officer Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix) in the final days of WWII it’s obvious there’s something very wrong with the man whose violent and blunt interactions with everyone he meets fail to earn him friends. After the war, Freddie travels around the country in various jobs, including a department store photographer and field hand – both of which he’s forcibly removed from due to his poor judgement.

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Phoenix & Hoffman deliver a pair of Masterful performancesRead More »

Phoenix & Hoffman deliver a pair of Masterful performances Read More »

Covert Affairs – Let’s Dance

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Covert Affairs – Let’s Dance
  • tv.com: link

Covert Affairs

While recuperating Annie (Piper Perabo) comes up with a risky plan to find Lena (Sarah Clarke) who the CIA believes has fled to Moscow. Still not cleared for field duty, willing to take far too many risks, and emotionally volatile following Simon’s (Richard Coyle) death, neither Arthur (Peter Gallagher) nor Joan (Kari Matchett) can approve her plan. Joan, realizing there’s no way she can stop Annie from going on her own, approves her mission up to and only finding proof that Lena is in Russia.

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Covert Affairs – Let’s Dance Read More »

Scarlet Spider #9

/ / Comics

scarlet-spider-9-cover“The Second Master” concludes with the Scarlet Spider joining forces with the Rangers to battle Mammon, the monster Roxxon has unleashed while attempting to control an ancient, and sentient, power source that grows more powerful with each human host it takes control of.

Once again writer Christopher Yost and artist Khoi Pham provide lots of action with the smart ass style of humor (Kaine understanding he doesn’t know what he’s doing and plotting Peter Parker’s demise for trying to make him more responsible) we’ve come to expect from the new Scarlet Spider. Although Kaine does a little bonding over the course of the issue, we don’t have to worry about the loner joining the Rangers (or another other group) anytime soon.

The twist at the end involving Zoe Walsh (the woman Kaine saved, slept with, then discovered is all kinds of crazy) is also well thought-out, creating a beautiful but volatile enemy who knows Kaine’s face and has a reason (albeit a crazy-ass one) and near limitless resources to plan her revenge. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]

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Castle – The Complete Fourth Season

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Castle: The Complete Fourth Season
  • tv.com: link

castle-season-five-dvd

The Fourth Season of Castle finds mystery writer Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) working alongside New York Police Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) for another season of crime solving while refusing to admit their mutual attraction to each other. The season is highlighted by the two-parter that introduces Castle’s first muse – CIA Agent Sophia Turner (Jennifer Beals), a Firefly reunion with Fillion and Adam Baldwin, a 40’s film noir episode, Castle and Beckett cuffed together while trying to outwit smugglers and a tiger, Castle and Martha (Susan Sullivan) stuck in the middle of an unusual bank robbery, and the season finale which finally links Beckett and Castle romantically.

Aside from the “will-they”/”won’t-they” arc, other ongoing stories include Detective Ryan’s (Seamus Dever) nuptials, Esposito (Jon Huertas) and Lanie’s (Tamala Jones) failed romance, Alexis’ (Molly C. Quinn) pre-college trauma, and the ongoing investigation into the death of Beckett’s mother and search for the sniper (Tahmoh Penikett) who shot Kate in the Third Season finale.

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Castle – The Complete Fourth Season Read More »

Leverage – The Rundown Job

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Leverage – The Rundown Job
  • tv.com: link

leverage-the-rundown-job

While finishing up a job in Washington, D.C. with Parker (Beth Riesgraf) and Hardison (Aldis Hodge), Eliot (Christian Kane) gets a call from a former associate looking to hire a hitter. Eliot, who no longer does those kinds of jobs, turns the assignment down and recruits his two friends to help save the target (Christa Campbell), an administrator for the 911 Emergency System, from whomever was hired in his place.

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