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Susan Granger Reviews
Big Miracle, Inspirational

Loosely based on Thomas Rose's 1989 "Freeing the Whales: How the Media Created the World's Greatest Non-Event" about the real-life, Reagan-era rescue that riveted the nation's attention onto the tiny town of Barrow, Alaska, this family-friendly, feel-good story revolves around the plight of three gray whales trapped under a thickening slab of ice in the Beaufort Sea.

Harvey Critic
MOVIE REVIEW, RETURN

The Wall Street occupiers grouse that one percent of the country owns forty percent of the wealth. What's more, many if not most have acquired their fortunes by gambling in equities and real estate. By contrast, one percent of Americans are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, earn a modest wage, and when they return they often find themselves unemployed. Along with the rotten economy, perhaps some of the joblessness occurs because of physical handicaps that unlucky service people acquire, while in other cases, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder makes them unable to fit in with civilian life. The ironic thing about PTSD is that the very wars that are responsible for this psychological ailment make some returning vets eager to rejoin, where their behavior would fit in more readily in combat situations then among the banalities of civilian life. Kathryn Bigelow's "The Hurt Locker" deals primarily with the fighting, but notes that her principal character played by Jeremy Renner re-enlists after seeing that the most exciting thing happening to him in civilian life is looking at scores of brands of cereal in the local supermarket.

Susan Granger Reviews
Red Tails, A Trail-Blazing Tale

George Lucas's CG-enhanced aerial dogfights and a final moment of respect are what's memorable about this tribute to the courageous Tuskegee airmen of World War II.
Having faith in a Marine in one thing, but a Marine in the cockpit of one of the most kick-ass jets on the planet is a whole different story!

Susan Granger Reviews
Man On A Ledge, Fugitive-On-The-Run

When a recently escaped prisoner, wrongly convicted ex-cop Nick Cassidy (Sam Worthington) checks into Manhattan's Roosevelt Hotel, he's on a mission. After devouring a lobster lunch with champagne from room service, he opens the window and climbs out on the ledge, threatening to jump and attracting a gawking crowd. But is he really suicidal?

Latest Movie Reviews
By Harvey Critic


HARVEY KARTEN, Ph.D.,
Member NYFCO
The Wall Street occupiers grouse that one percent of the country owns forty percent of the wealth. What's more, many if not most have acquired their fortunes by gambling in equities and real estate. By contrast, one percent of Americans are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, earn a modest wage, and when they return they often find themselves unemployed. Along with the rotten economy, perhaps some of the joblessness occurs because of physical handicaps that unlucky service people acquire, while in other cases, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder makes them unable to fit in with civilian life. The ironic thing about PTSD is that the very wars that are responsible for this psychological ailment make some returning vets eager to rejoin, where their behavior would fit in more readily in combat situations then among the banalities of civilian life. Kathryn Bigelow's "The Hurt Locker" deals primarily with the fighting, but notes that her principal character played by Jeremy Renner re-enlists after seeing that the most exciting thing happening to him in civilian life is looking at scores of brands of cereal in the local supermarket.
Chico & Rita is a delightful and electric animated love story, which opens in Havana, Cuba in 1948. This little gem, was nominated for Best Animated Feature for the 2012 Oscars, which it deserves.
As an action-adventure movie, 'Man on a Ledge' succeeds only partly: by providing some tension when an ex-cop who has been convicted of the crime of stealing a $40 million diamond goes out on the ledge of New York's Roosevelt Hotel 25 stories in the air. The trouble is that much of the action--particularly the busy goings-on across the street from which the title man on a ledge wants to distract the police--remains stable when it should be ratcheted up. That's not all: the dialogue is as corny as Kansas in August, the young woman who serves as hostage negotiator has hair that always remains in place from the time she is awakened, there is only one newscaster providing visuals to the adventure in our city of eight million, and we find out early on that there is little chance that the man will plunge to his death.
There's really only one reason to see "Rampart, " but it's a good enough one--and that's the awards-worthy performance of Woody Harrelson in the role of a dirty cop. The L.A.-based police drama that may well have been inspired by the Rodney King affair is murky--a downer with a plot that is repetitive, spinning on in a circular way to put us firmly into the mind of the rogue cop, Dave Brown (Woody Harrelson) who is coming apart at the seams both on his beat and within his strange family. The major part of Bobby Bukowski's filming is dark and sometimes dizzying. The neighborhood is bleak and appears riddled with crime, which is all Dave Brown needs to know to release his macho style on everyone he meets. He is so controlling that he even forces a rookie cop in the precinct to eat the fries that she orders, despite her insistence that she is watching her cholesterol. (Never mind the burger that she downs, though the whole scene may be Woody Harrelson's sending up of his own raw-food shtick, having had a role in a DVD about reversing diabetes by eschewing the gas range: the end-credits list his personal nutritionist.)

Other Movie Reviews

  • REVIEW: ARTHUR, Grade: D

    What a week of openings! The big dilemma is trying to decide which is more unfunny: "Arthur" or "Your Highness." This may have to be settled by a coin toss. Here's what the team that made "Arthur" might have been thinking in remaking the terrific 1981 version which starred Dudley Moore and John Gielgud: Our society has become more vulgar, less literate, more attuned to comedy that's shoved on them rather than to the wit and gentle humor that presumably fit in better with bygone days, like the seventies and early eighties.
  • Review: Sucker Punch (2011)

    It would be easy to dismiss Sucker Punch as simply pandering to its audience. Yes, the movie aims at geek culture in general, teenage males in particular; and as such it certainly offers as much skin and anime-style action as it can provide within the confines of a PG-13 rating. But Punch does not want to just pander to its audience; instead, it aims to be something more than just your average Summer Action Movie, hoping perhaps to reach the lofty heights of "art". Unfortunately, this ambition turns out to be the movie's undoing.
  • Review: CAT RUN - Slick n' Sassy

    Everyone wants to get their hands on the computer hard drive with incriminating information about arms dealers, gangsters and politicians who party with high-priced night ladies. Catalina, a high-class call girl has the drive and two neophyte private detectives are trying to protect her. She is being chased by the host of very dangerous people including a ruthless assassin who could be mistaken for Helen Mirren. This is the modern equivalent of classic action comedies like FOUL PLAY. Made for today it just is more chaotic, has more nudity, and had more violence including some slightly nauseating scenes of torture. Otherwise the film is funny and fun, a fast, entertaining ride. Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
  • THE LINCOLN LAWYER, 2011

    Brad Furman directs John Romano's screenplay based on the Michael Connelly novel. A sleazy lawyer has to tread a tricky path to fulfill the law, his responsibility to his client, and his idea of justice in a cleverly plotted legal thriller. Mickey Haller (Matthew McConaughey), is the kind of a lawyer who gives the profession a bad name. He is good at the law and uses it to squeeze the maximum fees from his wealthy clients. When he gets the case of defending a magnate's son charged with rape and assault he finds himself in a tight legal bind that could force him to protect a killer or even get himself killed. This is a tightly-written thriller that at the same time creates a tricky legal puzzle. Rating: high +2 (-4 to +4) or 8/10

  • Arizona Newsroom
    TUCSON - Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords today announced she will resign her seat in the House of Representatives this week. The decision announced one year after a horrific shooting which wounded 13 and left 6 dead.

    Arizona News

    PHOENIX (AZNewswire) - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) joins the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), and other partners at the 2012 SHOT-SHOW to announce the start of a yearlong celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR), one of the most significant and successful partnership approaches to fish and wildlife conservation in U.S. history.
    WASHINGTON D.C. (AzNewswire.com) - Today, Congressman Ben Quayle of Arizona, was joined by two other freshman Members of Congress in sending the following letter urging all Republican Presidential candidates to stop attacking free market capitalism.
    "The plan is a financial disaster as well as an environmental one - it'll make poor-quality air and water around Phoenix even worse," said Cyndi Tuell at the Center for Biological Diversity.
    ARLINGTON, Va. - The design and establishment of an online graduate certificate in sustainability leadership at Arizona State University for soldiers and civilians in the U.S. Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve was inaugurated Jan. 6 during a signing ceremony.
    PHOENIX, Ariz. (AZNewswire.com) - Allan Sobol the aggressive marketer of the Arizona Medical Marijuana Industry, filed a motion in Maricopa County Superior Court today asking Judge Dean Fink, to impose a preliminary and permanent injunction against Arizona Governor, Jan Brewer and Will Humble, Director of the Arizona Health Department . If granted by the Court the Injunction would enjoin the Governor and Humble from expending any public funds to impede, delay or in any way whatsoever, prevent the full implementation of the of the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act. (AMMA).
    TUCSON, Ariz. - Congreswoman Gabrielle Giffords shared this tweet, "The candlelight honoring victims of 1/8/11 to begin soon." Along with this photo of her view.

    In a pre-technological world, many media companies would adhere to standards accepting only standardized press releases authorized for print distribution. While the marketplace for print PR distribution continue to decline, remaining segmented by geographical region and print availability, the emergence of electronic syndicates in a world connected by relevancy, offer greater paradigm changes of staggering proportions to the world of news media.


    Latest Movie Reviews
    By Susan Granger



    Member NYFCO

    Susan Granger Reviews
    Big Miracle, Inspirational

    Loosely based on Thomas Rose's 1989 "Freeing the Whales: How the Media Created the World's Greatest Non-Event" about the real-life, Reagan-era rescue that riveted the nation's attention onto the tiny town of Barrow, Alaska, this family-friendly, feel-good story revolves around the plight of three gray whales trapped under a thickening slab of ice in the Beaufort Sea.

    More Susan Granger Reviews

  • Red Tails, A Trail-Blazing Tale

    George Lucas's CG-enhanced aerial dogfights and a final moment of respect are what's memorable about this tribute to the courageous Tuskegee airmen of World War II.
  • Man On A Ledge, Fugitive-On-The-Run

    When a recently escaped prisoner, wrongly convicted ex-cop Nick Cassidy (Sam Worthington) checks into Manhattan's Roosevelt Hotel, he's on a mission. After devouring a lobster lunch with champagne from room service, he opens the window and climbs out on the ledge, threatening to jump and attracting a gawking crowd. But is he really suicidal?
  • James Mapes
    Quantum Leap Thinking


    An Owner's Guide to the Mind



  • CREATING BREAKTHROUGH TEAMS

    This particular article was prompted by two recent events - speaking to a very special organization and my wife telling me a story.
  • On The Set With Tom Cruise

    There are many metaphors for leadership and limitless examples of teamwork and cooperation. Mounting a play for a theatrical production and producing a movie, can provide a very clear model for excellence. I view producing a play as an illustration of running a small business, and making a movie an example for larger, more complex businesses where rapid, clear and precise communication is mandatory.
  • TELL THE STORY

    When it comes to communication, the story is everything. Whether it's selling, leading, managing, teaching or preaching, the power of story is the power of change. I would like to tell you one of my all-time favorite stories, a story that represents a change in my perceptions and, therefore, my reality.

  • Finding Arizona Reporter


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    In Our Last Issue

  • Tonto National Forest Plan Is Disaster for Air, Wildlife and Watersheds

    "The plan is a financial disaster as well as an environmental one - it'll make poor-quality air and water around Phoenix even worse," said Cyndi Tuell at the Center for Biological Diversity.
  • Soldiers to Learn Sustainability Techniques at ASU

    ARLINGTON, Va. - The design and establishment of an online graduate certificate in sustainability leadership at Arizona State University for soldiers and civilians in the U.S. Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve was inaugurated Jan. 6 during a signing ceremony.
  • Review, Rampart

    L.A. noir has become an atmospheric sub-genre of the cynical crime thriller, one that includes Dashiell Hammett's "The Maltese Falcon," Roman Polanski's "Chinatown" and James Ellroy's "L.A. Confidential." Now Woody Harrelson plays an angry, bullheaded cop on a downward spiral, both professionally and personally.
  • Motion Filed to Enjoin Governor Over Arizona Medical Marijuana Act

    PHOENIX, Ariz. (AZNewswire.com) - Allan Sobol the aggressive marketer of the Arizona Medical Marijuana Industry, filed a motion in Maricopa County Superior Court today asking Judge Dean Fink, to impose a preliminary and permanent injunction against Arizona Governor, Jan Brewer and Will Humble, Director of the Arizona Health Department . If granted by the Court the Injunction would enjoin the Governor and Humble from expending any public funds to impede, delay or in any way whatsoever, prevent the full implementation of the of the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act. (AMMA).
  • Review, Joyful Noise

    Neither character-driven nor plot-driven, Todd Graff's "Joyful Noise" can best be called propelled by its music--a variety of styles including gospel, rhythm and blues, country and pop. The movie features performances from Dolly Parton in her first lead role in 20 years and especially Queen Latifah, whose character embraces hostility to her husband, her pretty daughter and her rival in the church choir of a depressed southern town in Georgia. Yes, the story does not feel authentic--after all, how did the choir of the Pacashau Sacred Divinity Church manage to put across a foot-stomping, award-winning contemporary melody across in a national competition without even a sign of a rehearsal? But "Joyful Noise" has the redeeming feature of its enthusiastic thesps who appear to be having more of a ball that one might expect of any of us in the audience.
  • The Devil Inside - A Satanic Supernatural Stunt

    This derivative, micro-budget exorcism tale is just the latest in the "found footage" sub-genre of fake documentaries, allegedly "inspired by true events," that was launched so successfully by "The Blair Witch Project."
  • Review, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1

    Blame the Part 1 choice on 'Harry Potter.' Stephanie Meyer wrote only four books in this franchise, as opposed to J.K. Rowling's seven. So stretching out the conclusion is understandable - in box-office terms - with Bill Condon ("Gods and Monsters," "Kinsey," "Dreamgirls") helming the final two installments.
  • Review, Angels Crest

    Somber tragedy strikes the snowy, working-class, titular town in the Rocky Mountains when a loving father causes the accidental death of his three year-old son.


  • Giffords "View" at Tucson Memorial

    TUCSON, Ariz. - Congreswoman Gabrielle Giffords shared this tweet, "The candlelight honoring victims of 1/8/11 to begin soon." Along with this photo of her view.
  • Review, Pariah

    Defined as "a person without status, a rejected member of society, an outcast," the titular character, played by Adepero Oduye, is a slight, boyish 17 year-old African-American woman named Alike (pronounced ah-lee-kay) who lives with her bickering parents and 15 year-old sister, Sharonda (Sahra Mellesse), in Brooklyn's Ford Greene neighborhood. A good student, she enjoys writing poetry and is particularly expressive about butterflies breaking out of cocoons.
  • Review, We Need to Talk About Kevin

    Lynne Ramsay's bleak psychological thriller revolves around the relationship between a guilt-riddled mother and her troubled son. Based on Lionel Shriver's best-selling novel of the same name, it explores nature vs. nurture with a different twist.
  • Review, The Innkeepers

    Established in 1891, The Yankee Pedlar Inn in Torrington, Connecticut, has apparently hit hard times. Once known as a popular tavern, it's preparing to shut its doors forever. Only two minimum-wage college dropouts cover the front desk while the owner vacations in Barbados. And, oh, yes, it's haunted.
  • Federal Judge Grants Request to Toss Challenge on Arizona Medical Marijuana

    PHOENIX - (AzNewswire.com) A federal judge today granted a request by The Arizona Association of Dispensary Professionals and the American Civil Liberties Union to throw out a lawsuit filed by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer seeking to strike down the state's voter-approved medical marijuana law that would allow sick patients to access important medicine.
  • Jeanne Robertson - Looking for Humor, Tucson 1/20/12

    TUCSON, Ariz. - Jeanne Robertson Leaves a Trail of Laughter for Young and Old. FOX TUCSON THEATRE, Friday, Jan 2
  • Bonnie and Clyde - Broadway

    New York, NY - No one deliberately sets out to make a flop, but somewhere along the way the multitude of harried producers of this less-than-mediocre $6-million musical must have realized that there was no hope of survival. It makes one wonder why the weaknesses weren't spotted during its tryout at the Asolo Theater in Sarasota, Florida, which also gave birth to the ill-fated "A Tale of Two Cities."
  • 20th Annual Grand Canyon State Winter Games

    TEMPE, Ariz. - The Twentieth annual Grand Canyon State Winter Games already the nations largest amateur Winter Sports Festival, is highlighting 40 sports over 17 weekends. The games will take place all across the state of Arizona from January thru April. Athletes of all ages and abilities are eligible to compete.
  • The End Of The World As We Know It, Good Greif

    We've all heard it, but some believe it without fact or reasonable thinking. To tell the truth, its a little sickening that people are actually expecting the world to end. Oh, we have a brand new bridge in Brooklyn for sale, interested?

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