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‘Begin Again’ star set to join latest young adult adaptation

First it was Jennifer Lawrence, then Shailene Woodley. Now it seems like another up-and-coming actress is set to join the world of young adult adaptations with the latest movie, Carrie Pilby. Hailee Steinfeld, known for her Oscar-nominated turn in True Grit, is set to star in the adaptation of the popular book. The book centers …

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‘The Homesman’ sees Tommy Lee Jones direct the weirdest western in quite some time

Set during the pioneer era, The Homesman subverts the usual trajectory of westerns set in this time by instead focusing on a journey from what will eventually become Nebraska territory in the West to more Eastern Iowa, wherein defeat via the frontier is a primary concern, whether it be a defeat of the mind, body, soul, or all together. Director Tommy Lee Jones’s last theatrically released film was The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005), a contemporary neo-western with shades of Sam Peckinpah in its flavour. The Homesman may have the set dressing of a more traditional, old-school genre entry, but this film, adapted from Glendon Swarthout’s 1988 novel, is much more offbeat than one might expect.

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‘Begin Again’ is pure pop perfection

Begin Again Written and directed by John Carney 2013, USA Movies that make you feel good on their own terms are a rare breed.  John Carney’s latest film, Begin Again, doesn’t need to pander or lobotomize itself to entertain you.  It doesn’t need villains twirling their mustache or hysterical spouses throwing plates against the wall …

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‘Hateship Loveship’ too loose and superfluous to make much of an impact

Hateship Loveship Written by Mark Jude Poirier Directed by Liza Johnson USA, 2013 Alice Munro is one of the finest living fiction writers, consistently able to create tight stories with hidden depths about uniquely aching and awkward characters. A few years ago, Sarah Polley adapted one of her stories from the collection Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, …

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‘3 Days to Kill’ is a hot mess of a movie

It’s possible that the filmmakers aren’t even responsible for this film’s many problems: the bizarre editing reeks of studio interference. But since McG’s name is still on the film as director, and Luc Besson’s as producer, it must be said that both men have seen better days and delivered more coherent films.

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‘Ender’s Game’ a suitably entertaining, if very condensed, young-adult adaptation

Condensing a popular young adult book to its most basic and necessary parts is an unenviable task. No matter how passionate the filmmakers are to the original text, someone’s bound to be disappointed. No film adaptation can satisfy every fan; it doesn’t matter how hard you try. Take out one character or rewrite them to be minimal, and you’re doomed.

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