I probably should have put up my actual Oscar predictions a week ago, but let’s be honest: nobody is using what I say to place any bets in office betting pools. There are certainly a lot better qualified people to use as a basis for gambling, say Nate Silver, for example (whose predictions I still haven’t looked at beyond bookmarking the page). Hell, I still haven’t even seen all... 

From the moment I saw Les Misérables unfold on stage over a decade ago, I became enamored with Victor Hugo’s story. I’ve seen the musical adaptation on tour several times (including the first time when I went back the next day and snuck around backstage to see the behind-the-scenes workings of the production), I’ve attacked Hugo’s original work several times (although finishing... 

It’s that time of year again: time to see which movies the Academy of Arts and Sciences has selected as nominees for this year’s Oscar awards. I like to think of it as the time of year to see how many movies of substance you actually saw last year. Of course, there are those who critique the Academy for being a bit snobbish and this year should be no different, with high honors being paid to Spielberg’s... 

I bet you thought we wouldn’t have a review of Snow White and the Huntsman this week, didn’t you? Well, so did we, but it turns out Kelly saw the flick and is more than happy to talk about it (with a slightly different take than Doc Rotten’s review). We also continue our Highlander conversation from last week before moving on to discussions of the Les Miserables trailer, the latest... 

Ever since the first time I saw it on stage as a teenager, I’ve been a huge fan of Les Miserables. The musical adaptation of Victor Hugo’s story of revolution and romance, and particularly his heroic, downtrodden Jean Valjean enraptured me instantly. I’ve seen the show at every opportunity, purchased the incredible Symphonic edition and the DVD of the concert performance (the incredible 10th Anniversary... 

Based on Richard Matheson’s short story “Steel” (1956), Real Steel (2011) modernizes the story with top-notch visual effects, a terrific cast and an emotional core circling around a bond between a father and son, ex-boxer Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman) and 11-year-old Max Kenton (Dakota Goyo). Director Shawn Levy (Night of the Museum) manages to overcome a cheesy script and deliver a fun, emotional... 

If you’re like me, you may have noticed a distinct lack of Hugh Jackman in film lately. Regardless of what anyone may think or feel about Wolverine or the third X-men movie, in my opinion we need Jackman in Hollywood to sort through the bad scripts and bring to light real excellence. That being said, I happily clicked my way to the trailer for Real Steel when I saw Hugh’s face in the picture. Now,... 

Critics pretty universally liked the first super-hero movie of the summer, with Thor getting good buzz from most websites. More than one tossed around the phrase “Marvel Studio’s best picture to date,” which I’m not sure I agree with, but it’s a darn good movie. The characters are strong, Branagh brings good depth with his direction, and the story is entertaining with enough action thrown...