The Bank Job

Jason Statham is back on the big screen is this "based on a true story" bank heist film. He is joined by Saffron Burrows whose last notable film was Deep Blue Sea. With Jason Statham as the lead actor you would expect this to be another over-the-top action film like The Transporter or Crank but he actually gets to act in this film and he delivers a good performance. Movies with corrupt government officials, sleazy bad guys and a group of likeable but down-on-their-luck bank robbers always makes for a must-see film for me. Check it out because you will be pleasantly surpised.

Click here to check out the official website.

Doomsday

Neil Marshall, the writer and director of Dog Soldiers and The Descent, has hit another home run with Doomsday. Doomsday is a hybrid of The Road Warrior, Escape From New York, and Resident Evil sans the zombies and shortage of fuel. Neil Marshall single-handedly reignited the British horror genre with his inspired and effective low-budget horror films which are destined to be the new cult classics, if not already. The action is non-stop and the violence extensive, visceral and crimson as it should be with crazed cannibals coming to devour you. I lucked in to a free midnight screening of this film with a co-worker and I can't wait to get back to the theater this weekend to ride the snake one more time.

Click here to check out the official website.

The Reduced Shakespeare Company Presents: The Bible - The Complete Word of God (abridged)

My return trip to the Reduced Shakespeare Company's buffet of comedy was just as rewarding as the night before - even if the crowd was a bit smaller. No Austin Tichenor tonight but the show went on fine without him. The crowd was slightly older but that did not keep them from laughing and participating in the humor. The highlight of the show was the reenactment of Noah and the Ark to the tune of Old MacDonald as audience members were brought on stage to play the parts of the beasties that lived to screech another day. I highly recommend checking our the RSC boys while they are still in town and delivering the comic gold at a theater near you.

Click here to check out the official website.

The Reduced Shakespeare Company Presents: The Complete History of America (abridged)

The boys are back in town this month with another of their hilarious productions coming to you live from the Lansburgh Theater. I was introduced to these fellows a few years back when they were performing The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) and All The Great Books (abridged) at the Kennedy Center. Austin Tichenor was the only returning face I recognized with his trademark rapid-fire delivery, ribald wit and vaudeville-like mania. This viewing is the first of two I will be attending this week and the boys did not let me down. From American History to the Bible, is there a subject out there that they can not tun in to comic gold? Hhhmmmm.....

Click here to check out the official website.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom @ The Kennedy Center

My season tickets included attending one of August Wilson's 20th Century staged readings and I chose this one because of my love for the blues. I must admit that I did not know much about August Wilson or his plays and I feel the poorer for it. After attending this performance, I wished I had opted to see all ten of the productions because this one was just that good. The actors really sank their teeth in to their roles and brought the 1920s to life right before my eyes. I highly recommend checking out any one of these plays should you be lucky enough to get tickets.

Click here to check out the Kennedy Center's listing for this show.

In Bruges

The new indy catchphrase will be,"F*^king Bruges". This movie is about three assassins, Brendan Gleeson, Colin Farrell and Ralph Fiennes, and the aftermath of a hit gone wrong with the killing of an innocent and its repercussions. Not the subject matter that you would think lends itself to comedy but it does. The movie has its dramatic moments but the comedy shines through as the assassins must deal with being on the lamb in the Brigadoon known as Bruges. This movie has been relegated to the art-house scene when it so deserves a wider mainstream release to an audience that will only get to appreciate it once it is available from Netflix or the local Blockbuster.

Click here to go to the official website.

Iron Man Trailer 2 Online

For comic books fans everywhere, Iron Man is going to be the must see movie of the summer. This past year's San Diego Comicon had Iron Man as the convention logo so you knew there were high expectations for this film. Jon Favreau came to the convention and did not disappoint the fans. The rough-cut footage was awesome and seeing Iron Man outrunning fighter jets was a fanboy's wet dream. I dare any one to watch this latest trailer and not come away with at least a spark of anticipation for seeing this film. I think I will need to schedule an "off-site team meeting" with my staff on the day it comes out.

Click here to see the movie trailer or here to go to the offical website.

Major Barbara @ Sidney Harman Hall

The Shakespeare Theatre's production of George Bernard Shaw's Major Barbara is stellar. Vivienne Benesch and Ted van Griethuysen, pictured above, are fantastic and Griethuysen's Andrew Undershaft steals the show with his delivery of Shaw's charming and scathing dialogue. After 100 years, it is amazing how this play transcends time and still reflects the world was we all know it. The clash between family and business, religion and state, and wealth and charity are dramatic, intriguing and down right hillarious. Kudos to the Shakepeare Theatre for delivering another great production for a very appreciative season ticket holder.

Click here to go to the offical website.

Jumper

Doug Liman and David Goyer are back on the screen with this latest sci-fi, action thriller. Hayden Christensen throws off the black robes of Darth Vader to play a teenager who discovers he has the ability to teleport and escape his less the ideal homelife for new adventures in the Big Apple until his luck turns for the worse. The action is well done even if the teleporting seems to be a bit excessive at times. Rachel Bilson and Diane Lane complete the cast as the love interest and the absent mother with a secret. I recommend seeing this at a matinee so you get the best value for your money.

Click here to check out the official website.

Diary of the Dead

This is George Romero's fifth installment for his legendary Living Dead film series that all started with the Night of the Living Dead. Romero is the undisputed king of the zombie movie genre and this film delivers with his trade mark style, piercing socio-political commentary, and cutting edge visual effects. It amazes me how Romero can still keep the genre fresh and relevant when you thought you had seen everything possible from a zombie flick. This is a must see film for all horror fans and will be a welcome addition to my personal horror DVD collection after it leaves the big screen.

Click here to check out the official website.