Chewing Up the Scenery

Last thoughts on Planet Earth

"...of what's really at stake. The science and the scenery embarrass us with their dignity: Quietly, they make it..."

May 25, 2007 Screens Feature by Shawn Badgley

A Change of Scenery

What It Looks Like

July 16, 1999 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

Barcelona

"...Pep Munne. From its opening montage of beautiful Spanish scenery and terrorist explosions, it is apparent that Barcelona is..."

Aug. 12, 1994 Movie Review by Brian Baker

Land Ho!

This buddy comedy travels all the way to Reykjavik – but does it actually go anywhere?

"...make for interesting character studies – and, besides, the scenery is stunning. Just don’t expect that much will have..."

Sept. 12, 2014 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Dungeons & Dragons

"...of mine asked me what the term “chewing the scenery” referred to – I'm sending him to Dungeons &..."

Dec. 8, 2000 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

The Greatest Showman

Don't be fooled by this whitewashed version of the great huckster

"...du Soleil), the song-and-dance man gets lost in the scenery, his charisma overwhelmed by director Gracey’s misguided preoccupation with..."

Dec. 22, 2017 Movie Review by Steve Davis

Mr. Roosevelt

A comedian returns to Austin to care for her sick cat and confront her past

"...wrote and directed, holds a heavy dose of local scenery: from the Greenbelt to Hyde Park Theatre to that..."

Oct. 27, 2017 Movie Review by Danielle White

Underworld: Blood Wars

Vampires vs. werewolves (again)

"...do a lot worse than watching Selene devour the scenery while both Lycans and the walking dead attempt to..."

Jan. 13, 2017 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

The Last Witch Hunter

The Last Witch Hunter? Promises, promises.

"...Diesel gets to chomp down on the too-often CGI scenery and hassle otherwise ordinary, Williamsburg witches for the Catholic..."

Oct. 23, 2015 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

A Walk in the Woods

Robert Redford and Nick Nolte walk the Appalachian Trail in Bill Bryson's memoir

"...and listening to their wizened characters’ riffs amid gorgeous scenery (filmed by another film veteran, cinematographer John Bailey) is..."

Sept. 4, 2015 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

The Judge

This drama starring Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall sounds better on paper than it is in practice.

"...even better on a theatre marquee: box-office Bobs chewing scenery and spitting it back in each other’s eyes in..."

Oct. 10, 2014 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Tracks

Mia Wasikowska and Adam Driver star in this story about Robyn Davidson's solitary trek across the Australian desert.

"...with little to keep us engaged other than the scenery, Davidson’s occasional flashbacks to vague emotional scars created during..."

Oct. 3, 2014 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

The Trip to Italy

Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon continues their journeys as a couple of guys attached at the funny bone.

"...but you’re nevertheless enchanted, not only by the magnificent scenery and mouth-watering food on display but more so by..."

Aug. 29, 2014 Movie Review by Steve Davis

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

This story of a milquetoast with a wild imagination stars Ben Stiller and is as pretty as it is busy. Opens 12/25.

"...is a very pretty production – pretty colors, pretty scenery, pretty bromides – and a busy one, too, which..."

Dec. 20, 2013 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

Bernie

Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, and Matthew McConaughey star in Richard Linklater's latest film – an East Texas true-crime story with a comic touch.

"...to a startling conclusion that involves Matthew McConaughey devouring scenery whole as local District Attorney Danny "Buck" Davidson. I'll..."

April 27, 2012 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Carnage

Roman Polanski directs this chamber piece about the demise of social decorum that's adapted from the play God of Carnage.

"...terrific as the only parent unburdened by decorum. The scenery may be thin, but Waltz chews it with wolfish..."

Jan. 13, 2012 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

Couples Retreat

Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau prove they are no longer swingers, but since this film is the only new national release this week, it's sure to be "money."

"...director's cut comes out on DVD. Yes, there is scenery that looks good enough to be a screensaver, as..."

Oct. 9, 2009 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Superhero Movie

Superhero Movie is a tonally confused spoof, which, for once, doesn't go far enough comedically.

"...Parker/Spider-Man is very nearly note-perfect – and an appropriately scenery-devouring McDonald (voice of The Iron Giant's G-man, Kent Mansley)..."

April 4, 2008 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

The Marine

WWE wrestling champion John Cena makes his film debut in this action film.

"...of piss, vinegar, and gallows humor. Patrick leaves no scenery unchewed, and, in doing so, he gives life to..."

Oct. 20, 2006 Movie Review by Josh Rosenblatt

Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties

Hide the lasagna: The fat, lazy cat – and his doppelgänger – is back.

"...(talking farm animals! a sneering villain! topiary hedges! London scenery!) and nothing before them (Meyer and Hewitt are virtually..."

June 16, 2006 Movie Review by Marrit Ingman

X-Men: The Last Stand

This third outing in the franchise lays on the subtext even more heavily than its predecessors – racial, gender, and sexual politics are all over the place, as are the multiple strands of the story line.

"...around him, but also has the power to devour scenery and render any scene he appears in instantly entertaining...."

May 26, 2006 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress

This Chinese film presents an uncharacteristically romantic look at the Cultural Revolution.

"...breezy, amiable mien, complemented here by pretty Szechuan peasant scenery from Jean-Marie Dreujou (The Girl on the Bridge). Amidst..."

Dec. 9, 2005 Movie Review by Marrit Ingman

George A. Romero's Land of the Dead

Romero has again crafted a character-driven horror film that doubles as a metaphor for the economic disparity in America and, to a lesser degree, the war on terror.

"...Joy as Riley’s scarred shadow, Charlie. Hopper, unsurprisingly, devours scenery like he’s already dead and loving it, but for..."

June 24, 2005 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Travellers & Magicians

Travellers & Magicians feels a bit like Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales as retold by Siddhartha, as this Himalayan beauty gently delivers a very accurate anti-materialistic Buddhist morality lesson.

"...that’s read the map wrong – but the Himalayan scenery, majestic mountains, and verdant valleys are as breathtaking and..."

March 18, 2005 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

William Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice

Al Pacino stars as Shylock in this film rendition of Shakespeare's thorniest play.

"...(Il Postino), and as the moneylender Shylock, the famed scenery-chewer Pacino delivers a reasonably restrained and impressive performance. Yet..."

Feb. 11, 2005 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid

A Hollywood vessel of doom hunts for the Big Squeeze.

"...sequel plays it straight, whereas its predecessor left no scenery unchewed: Jon Voight’s histrionic hunter, J. Lo’s seductive wet..."

Sept. 3, 2004 Movie Review by Marrit Ingman

Reign of Fire

"...but no, we get Texan McConaughey, devouring far more scenery than any of the ravenous, airborne Geckos From Hell.)..."

July 12, 2002 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Kate & Leopold

"...dinner, references to Breakfast at Tiffany's, moonstruck New York scenery, and wistful debate about whether it's preferable to “face..."

Dec. 28, 2001 Movie Review by Marrit Ingman

Captain Corelli's Mandolin

"...attention remains diverted by the island's incredible beauty. The scenery might have stayed in the background if the film's..."

Aug. 24, 2001 Movie Review by Steve Davis

Godzilla 2000

"...watching a mutant monster breathe fire and chew up scenery. The makers have reverentially stuck by the principles of..."

Sept. 1, 2000 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

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