Summer 2015 is quickly shaping up to be the season of the self-loathing, lecturing blockbuster. It was just a few weeks ago that “Tomorrowland” gave audiences a high-flying adventure wrapped in an oddly scolding tone about how the world has grown too pessimistic. Now comes “Jurassic World,” in which director Colin Trevorrow delivers a loud, […]
Adam Lubitow
Film critic for CITY Newspaper, writer, iced coffee addict, and dinosaur enthusiast.
Posted inMovies
Film Review: “Spy”
If you’re a fan of Melissa McCarthy, watching her career has been a frequently frustrating experience. Yes, she’s found success as an actress — starring in an impressive string of box office hits — but in each of these films, she’s called upon to play characters who are dowdy, bumbling, crass, bullying, or some combination […]
Posted inMovies
Film Reviews: “Love & Mercy” and “Saint Laurent”
Biopics have long been a surefire ticket for filmmakers to earn awards, recognition, and acclaim (or at least get themselves mentioned in the award season conversation). It’s not hard to see why these types of films are so popular: they naturally provide a sense of history and drama, and with actors portraying an actual, real-life […]
Posted inSpecial Sections
Summer movie preview 2015
It’s summer. Finally. And with warm weather comes the opportunity to see what cinematic delights the multiplex has to offer as the studios bust out their biggest entertainments. In the coming months, we’re going to get dinosaurs, superheroes, and a naked Channing Tatum. In other words, it’s a great time to be alive. Since deadlines […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
FILM | Best of the Fests
It’s no secret that Rochester is home to some terrific film festivals, and with so many great options it can be difficult for even the most diehard of film buffs to get to them all. To make things a little easier on those with a passion for cinema, three of Rochester largest film festivals will […]
Posted inMovies
Film Review: Tomorrowland
It’s no secret that our world can be an overwhelmingly cynical place. As a society we’ve become so entrenched in negativity and pessimism that it’s easy to become disillusioned with where we’re headed. This mindset has extended even to the way we imagine our future: Once, we dreamt of a great big, beautiful tomorrow, but […]
Posted inMovies
Film Review: “Iris”
The penultimate film from renowned documentarian Albert Maysles, the delightful “Iris” profiles nonagenarian fashion icon Iris Apfel. With her trademark look (owl-like eye glasses, half a dozen gaudy bangles on each arm, and ropes of enormous necklaces) adorning her tiny frame, it often seems a wonder that she doesn’t topple over. But it’s that playful […]
Posted inMovies
Film Review: “Mad Max: Fury Road”
During a Q&A following the premiere of “Mad Max: Fury Road,” director George Miller namechecked film historian Kevin Brownlow and his seminal book, “The Parade’s Gone By,” citing it as a crucial instructional tool for any director of modern action films. That book, focusing on the silent film era, provides a clue as to why, […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Theater review: RBTL presents “Kinky Boots”
Arriving in Rochester amid a storm of glitter, sequins, and throbbing bass, the crowd-pleasing musical “Kinky Boots” will be on stage at the Auditorium Center through Sunday, May 17. Marrying joyous, high energy production numbers with a heartfelt story about acceptance and staying true to oneself, the show is adapted by Harvey Fierstein from the […]
Posted inMovies
Film Review: “Fรฉlix and Meira”
When it comes to tales of forbidden romance in the movies, audiences tend to expect a certain amount of passion. They want sexy stories about couples whose desire for one another burns up the screen, so we never question that they must be together no matter what the cost. But French-Canadian director Maxime Giroux’s somber […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Theater Review: “Into the Woods” at JCC CenterStage
Mounting a stage production shortly after the release of a lavish, big-budget film adaptation of the same material is always a tricky proposition. On the one hand, the publicity surrounding a movie release brings in a lot of new eyes, attracting people who are curious to see what the original material might look like. But […]
Posted inSpecial Sections
Cue marks
The late, great film critic Roger Ebert often described movies as “empathy machines,” allowing us to understand different hopes, aspirations, dreams, and fears. I can’t think of a better explanation of the film medium’s unique ability to make us identify with another human being, putting us completely in their shoes. But that machine only works […]
