Life around the fire hall is from where Larry Valentine and Chuck Levine know each other. Home base for the pair is Brooklyn, New York. Outside work, however, these men's lives are like polar opposites. Chuck is quite the lady's man while Larry hasn't quite gotten over the loss of a wife. Two young children weight heavily on Larry and he gets the shock of his life when he discovers that he's about to lose his pension benefits.
1962 was a pretty eventful year. That year saw the Cuban Missile Crisis take hold as well as the first James Bond film, Dr. No. Racial tensions were mounting across the United States and one lowly Baltimore lass somehow gets caught in the cross fires. Revolution wasn't just the name of a late 60s Beatles album for that term about sums up the life of one Tracy Tumblad.
Harry going back to school, with lots of manipulative machinations spring forth with Harry being tempted to enter the dark side.
Adolescence is a tough time for anyone and 16 year old Sam Witwicky has more than his share of girl problems and transit woes. Such dilemmas pale in comparison to the ride Sam gets taken on when cars come to life and hardened military men perish as the government doesn't quite know what they're dealing with.
State of the art animation is a hallmark of Pixar. Imagination lets them trump all others as this tale again exemplifies.
Explosions, non-stop action and a story that is plausible make Live Free or Die Hard heart-pumping fun.
Life in the fast lane is nothing new for top model/actress Jennifer. Born beautiful this young lady enjoys life to the fullest as a cover girl for countless magazines. Stardom can be good or bad and in this case lots of nutcases and stalkers have a habit of honing in on the rich and glamorous with this lovely being no exception.
Vietnam is still a bogeyman for many. Hot on the heels of the Iraq dilemma countless comparisons are now being made between this current conflict and the quagmire America found itself in during the 1960s.
Child protégées are nothing new. Few and far between are kids who learn to master anything at an early age. Six year old Vitus is in a class by himself. Born with a gift for music this rather aloof young lad is the toast of his hard working parents.
Above all else nothing matters like your health. Canadians should thank their lucky stars for our national health care program, waiting lists and all. Contrast our system with what happens south of the border and you'll be glad you live in the land of the free.
Marriage is perhaps the biggest decision one makes in life. Scores of jitters confound young couples about to head down the alter – old folks too. Fear of making a mistake haunts a young woman in Evening.
Fresh in the minds of many is the horrific abduction of Wall Street reporter Daniel Pearl from the streets of Carachi, Pakistan. Director Michael Winterbottom (The Claim) smartly concentrates on telling this horror story through the eyes of Pearl's French-born wife Mariane.
Nerds need love. Odds are not good for a sad sack looking guy to hit it off with a hot babe. Only in the movies can writers come up with wacky plots to make dreams come true.
Supposed to be in the genre of Napoleon Dynamite this quirky vision from director Talka Cohen concerns two odd ducklings looking for romance in all the wrong places.
Master of horror Stephen King finally gets one of his best short stories in front of the camera with 1408.
Discrimination can take many forms. Being able to overcome adversity is a trait to be admired. Hard fought battles were waged to give women equal access to men in a variety of disciplines. Female empowerment comes of age in Gracie.
Edgy technology blends seamlessly with a creative science fiction story here that revolves around a psychological company that has perfected a dream machine.
When Nancy and her dad leave for the coast it doesn't take long for trouble to follow. While in Los Angeles this dynamic girl runs smack dab into a new mystery with the usual bad guys. Armchair detectives will get a charge out of this girl's sheer tenacity.
Ocean's Thirteen actually involves a heartfelt story which makes it better than the previous installment and almost as good as the original. All the gang are brought back to take one for the gipper as one of their own, Reuben, now lies in a state of comatose.
Nothing but jarring describes the plight of this man as told through 90 minutes of chilling drama. Don't let the humble abode and rather ordinary lifestyle of this man fool you. Behind the façade of ordinariness lay a deep dark secret kept all but to himself and his masters.
Pirates number three has a plot that somehow links up a group of sea pillagers in an effort to stave off defeat by the devious British fleet. Back from the dead resurfaces devilish Jack Sparrow who locks horns with old and new rivals.
Relationships can be quite burdensome. Follow the plight of two diametrically opposed Californians and you'll get the picture.
Smart story-telling with a decided Hollywood slant is the order for the day in this story that involves friendship, competition and good old-fashioned love.
Good old Shrek is sent on a mission to find a new ruler for the land as Queen Fiona's dad is on his death bed.
Comic strip fun blends well with modern day dilemmas as we continue to follow the pursuits of New York City's one man crime fighting machine. When the red leotard wonder is not soaring through the skies he's busy trying to make ends meet as Daily Bugle photographer Peter Parker.
Danger has been known to befall unsuspecting tourists. International travelers may well have second thought about going to Europe dare they venture out to see Hostel: Part 2, a follow-up to the surprise shocker of a few years back.
Fights to the finish are standard Hollywood fare. Survival is the order of the day for the participants in Day Watch, a stylish sequel to the box office hit Night Watch from a few years back.
Serial killers are a dime a dozen. Chances are in the past you've been thrilled or turned off by these bloodlettings. Rare is a tale of demented souls that's so twisted and original that its fun. Consider Mr. Brooks to be a fresh take on this well-tried genre.
Fans of travel and night life get their full share in this tale of romance French style. No less than 22 directors contribute to this story of a diverse group of people who come together under unusual circumstances in a whirlwind two hour journey.
Orphaned by a tumultuous civil war and traveling barefoot across the sub-Saharan desert, John Bul Dau, Daniel Abol Pach and Panther Blor were among the 25,000 "Lost Boys" (ages 3 to 13) who fled villages, formed surrogate families and sought refuge from famine, disease, wild animals and attacks from rebel soldiers.
Big time glamour gal Ashley Judd does a Charlize Theron makeover in her role as Agnes White, a low life honky tonk worker saddled with all sorts of personal problems.
A woman trapped in a life from which she dreams of escape, Jenna's secretly hopes to save enough money from her waitressing job to leave her overbearing and controlling husband.
Chances are you may have caught the original 28 Days Later that came out a few years back. Once again the plot-line from this first shocker is revived. Where we last left off a band of zombies was terrorizing London.
Age is no barrier when it comes to affairs of the heart. Director Ed Blum opens our eyes to a number of couples in the British countryside who encounter all sorts of "possibilities" at a local park. Substitute Stanley Park, Central Park, or any other idyllic outdoor setting for males and females to congregate and it's easy to relate to the plight of our romantic pursuers.
Ireland makes hope for an aspiring street person who tries what he can to make ends meet. Turning out songs for the masses is in this man's blood and like other beggars has his hat out for handouts. Quite by chance one day an attractive woman takes an interest in his vocalizations and before you know it this guy is smitten.
Know your neighbour. Good advice like that comes in handy for a family that learns those who live across the street may hold a dark secret or two in Disturbia, a smart thriller from sending chills down audiences’ spines.
Grandma Georgia runs her flock and friends as if they were in the army. Complete with a never ending series of "rules" this matron is never at a loss when it comes to unleashing advice.
Hell hath no fury like a scorned athlete. Thanks to some wicked judges two washed up skaters get a new lease on life in Blades of Glory, a hilarious new comedy from Dreamworks Pictures now earning a perfect score at The Paramount, Empire Studio 12, Colossus and Famous Players Silver City cites across B.C.
Straight out of the playbook of City Slickers comes this tale of four tired, hen-pecked residents in Cincinnati ready for a new lease on life. Each man's life is full of issues.
Lawyers are often the brunt of bad jokes and plain jealousy. New life is breathed into the legal system as a storyline in Fracture, a clever story of judicial exposure.
Marriage can be trying. Just to cope with the prospects of a spouse beginning to face uncertainty over memory can be downright daunting. Muddled flashbacks reveal a once happy life for 44 year old married couple Grant and Fiona. Once a fabled university professor Grant now spends his days caring for his wife who seems to have lost it. Lots of people ultimately must face the prospects of putting a loved one in a care home and Grant is no exception to this eventuality.
Mystery revolves around the life of Nick Powell. Raised by a loving single mom Nick seems to have it all: brains, a foxy girlfriend and natural charisma. Many would consider that lone wolf status to be all empowering. Kids with it all sometimes have a habit of wanting more which is something that sort of sets this 18 year old apart.
Good things come in fairs. Dry and sly British humour returns to the fore in this riotous look at policing run amuck. Not since the hip Storm Troopers has the fight to combat crime gone so down hill.
Gaudy Las Vegas is a place of dreams. Illusions and games of chance have a habit of catching on in this fabled desert oasis with famed magician Frank Cadillac getting his share of notoriety. Known as Chris Johnson this master illusionist has the knack of being able to predict the future.
Being diverse is accepted by many in today's modern world. Old values, however, die hard in some cultures. Clashes between folks from different backgrounds go on to this very day. Instances of hatred currently inflame the Middle East and other third world regions. Less hostility is observed by an Indian family trying to adjust to modern times in America in The Namesake.
Children always seem to have a sense of wonderment. Combine the natural curiosity of a child with alien life forms and you're in for quite a surprise with The Last Mimzy, a delightful fairy tale of sorts for audiences.
Horrors of history are things that must be remembered. Hollywood director returns to his roots in Europe to deliver us insight into the evil of the 1940s German war machine with Black Book, a tantalizing thriller.
Director Zack Snyder (Dawn of the Dead) has a field day here with all the actors as we go back in time to ancient Greece to see some sparring gone astray. Battle cries come early and often as the Spartans seem headed on a collision course with some nasty Persians who have annexation on their minds.
Busy bodies are common in lots of professions. Newspapers thrive on reporters who go all out to get the story. Media capital of the world New York can be a trying time for the best of them. Young reporter Rowena finds her life thrust into a fishbowl of pursuits in Perfect Stranger, a sizzling potboiler.
East Germany during the era of the Berlin Wall saw citizens pitted against one another at the behest of the government of the days. Shades of terror return to cinematic screens with The Lives of Others, a brilliant recounting of those dreadful days when spy versus spy pitted neighbour against neighbour.
Happy times are a hallmark of festive events. Men and women face the biggest day of their lives when they decide to become husband and wife. News of a blessed event becomes quite the ordeal for all concerned in After The Wedding, a sizzling eye-opener.
Chances are filmmakers will never run out of interesting subjects to chronicle. Wonders never cease with the Maple Films release of Air Guitar Nation.
Struggles are a cornerstone of democracy. Every few years the film business takes on once historic battles in hopes of shining light on troubled pasts.
Career agent Robert Hanssen seems like the ideal government employee. Appearances, however, can be deceiving. Some higher ups believe this coveted intelligence operative may in fact be a double agent and working for outside forces. Out to get the goods on this potential mole in Washington is a by the book superior office.
Bridge to Terabithia offers great insight into current adolescent issues and shows the tough road kids have to hoe to overcome such adversity.
Angry and depressed over losing his job, accountant Terry Allen begins to suspect his new neighbor, a single Islamic grad student with a penchant for unexplained late night activities, is at the center of a terrorist conspiracy. Although both Terry's wife and the FBI agent to whom he reports his suspicions are skeptical about his fears, Terry becomes increasingly obsessed with uncovering the man's true identity. Convinced he's all that stands between this Middle-Eastern stranger and a deadly terror attack, Terry finally decides to take matters into his own hands - with shocking results.
Brought to you by the team that invented the diabolically clever Saw franchise Dead Silence explores the sick minds of some town folk caught in a bit of a time warp. .
Closet arm-chair soldiers may be able to relate to three weekend warriors. Good old boys Larry and Everett are the lead players in this reservist contingent who accidentally get pressed into action.
The Robinsons have new neighbours led by macho man Jonathan Bottoms who suspects that appearances may be deceiving. Efforts at "bonding" with that new family member foster meaning and beliefs that prove you can teach an old dog new tricks.
Warm and fuzzy Firehouse Dog has some edge concerning the danger element and this makes the film stronger.
Fate has a funny habit of sneaking up on you. First time director Mark Fergus makes a fitting debut having graduated from writing (Children of Men) to unleash an interesting story of a man seemingly at wit's end. Embrace the not so obvious inner terror in First Snow.
Just like the famed Certs commercial says this film is two, two, two movies in one. Broken up by some smartly produced theatrical trailers and forewarned by the all too familiar restricted label our stories follow the plight of some true blue sickos.
Hot shot writer Carter Webb seems to have the world on a string. Unfortunately a romantic break-up sends this Los Angeles yuppy into a downward spiral ending finally when he makes tracks to Michigan to check up on an aging relative. Once happily settled in suburbia Carter falls under additional female spells, first from his senile grandmother Phyllis and then by some neighbours who open up to him in unusual ways.
By all accounts Nikki Grace is beautiful and wealthy but she yearns for that new starring vehicle. Good luck comes her way when she wins the part in a new film.
Stewart Kane, an Irishman living in the Australian town of Jindabyne, is on a fishing trip in isolated hill country with three other men when they discover the body of a murdered girl in the river.
Odds are good that most people have taken a chance once in their lives. Some people love to throw caution to the wind and immerse themselves fully in whatever strikes their fancy. Lots of hype and desire for easy money has made gambling big business on a world wide basis.
Folks looking for the perfect date movie need search no further than this Marc Lawrence (Two Weeks Notice) crowd-pleaser. Story-wise this film follows the upside down life of once upon a time singing sensation Alex Fletcher. Fame struck early for Alex when he was part of a highly successful rock band called Pop. Just like other heart-throbs women flocked to their catchy concerts and ate up their recordings.
Brave filmmaker Jafar Panahi goes behind the scenes to explore the fight for freedom in Offside, an enlightening revelation from Mongrel Media and Sony Pictures Classics.
Prepare for the unexpected from of all places Spain with the emergence of Pan’s Labyrinth, undoubtedly the best adult fairy tale to grace movie screens in decades.
Relationships can be a complex affair. Just to keep the flames warm takes quite a bit of work for most couples. Lost in love Jim and Linda Hanson provide much food for fodder in Premonition, the latest memory lapse escapade from TriStar Pictures trying to make people remember.
Radiant City exposes the myth of a better standard of living in the suburbs and, more importantly reveals the reasons why those one idealistic places of residence have come up way short in our modern world.
Emotional baggage explodes during this 124 tale of struggle which never directly singles out bad people for the plight of Charlie. Evocative and full of hope, Reign Over Me delicately touches on the aftermath of a terrorist attack with grace humility and humanity.
With Sharkwater we experience a man's lifelong battle to correct the erroneous image portrayed by Hollywood and the like. Through interviews with leading scientists all the myths of sharks as monsters are effectively debunked while we see the lure of the dollar to literally decimate a once proud and bountiful fishery – with likely calamitous results.
Timely and topical with some risqué political injokes Shooter follows the plight of a sorry government operative in one heap of trouble.
Just like The Dirty Dozen our film begins with some prisoners who are given a reprieve: participate in our venture or finish off your state imposed death sentence.
Life in the New York can be testy for the smartest and Tom does not exactly stand out as a mega provider. Bad luck sees the pair pack up and leave for the much more relaxed Ohio to live close to Sofia's parents.
Current problems American and Canadian soldiers are facing in war torn Iraq and Afghanistan are child’s play compared to the goings on a group of combatants are facing in New Mexico in The Hills Have Eyes II.
All Clifford Irving wanted was to publish a book. Little at the time did this scribe know that his simple fabrication of a story allegedly panned by Hughes himself would land him on a joy ride whose bumps are legendary. Aided and abetted by ace researcher Dick Susskind this unlikely duo fashion the ultimate con job when they try to get funds to write a book on the mysterious money man.
Lovely shops line the small community where folks get along nicely. Owners of a small food stall, the Park clan, take center stage when a series of calamities strike. Fear is struck into the hearts of the area and entire nation when a sea serpent rises from the depths of the Han River and menaces everything in its path. Somehow Hyun-seo Park and her dad Gang-du become public enemy number one when they have quite a close encounter with the sea thing
An idealistic doctor from Scotland Nicholas Garrigan is full of hope and adventure with a sincere interest in helping the less fortunate in that poverty-stricken Uganda. How amazing it is to see people change when this new arrival has a chance meeting with new President Idi Amin.
Born to privilege young Chris makes a terrible mistake and now must pay for it. After a bad accident the once promising scion to the wealthy Pratt clan must now make his way in the world as a struggling loser. Unable to really progress beyond menial tasks Chris gets a break of sorts when he lands a job at a local financial institution. Being slow is not necessarily a handicap as Chris undergoes the requisite counseling and course work to better himself.
Haunted houses have been a fixture of movies and books for years. With The Marsh we are led on a merry chase to confront past demons that may be about to reappear. Freaky things begin to happen to Claire that just may have their roots in past goings on in this closely knit farm community.
Strange occurrences reminiscent of that classic 10 plagues Bible tale confound a university professor and her colleague who spring into action with news of trouble in the south.
Hot spots seem to be everywhere nowadays. Conflicts between nations and ethnic groups have been with us for eons. One of the oldest sources of consternation among nations and religious factions has been the plight of Ireland.
Lazy days of summer are a time to rejoice. Try telling that to a family whose lives get disrupted big time with so many arrivals in Who Loves the Sun, a tale of messed up relationships.
Shot on location in Newfoundland, this story takes place in 1942 and follows the plight of a nerdy member of the Newfoundland Rangers who is a bumbler in the extreme. Often made fun of on a consistent basis by colleagues young Ranger Alan Hepditch gets the chance of a lifetime when he's appointed to investigate some nastiness at a rural outpost.
Inspectors David Toschi and William Armstrong sure have their hands full as the bodies begin to pile up in the bay area. Leave it to the media to press on in their efforts to unmask the killer. Up to their ears in the story are the San Francisco Chronicle's lead crime reporter Paul Avery and cartoonist turned investigative sleuth Robert Graysmith.