The list of Oscar nominees came out Feb. 13, and not surprisingly, film aficionados in Omaha-Council Bluffs once again find themselves out of the loop.
Until “Quills” opened at the 20 Grand on Feb. 16, only two of the five leading actor nominees star in films released in the metropolitan area. For leading actresses, it is [...]

Webster’s dictionary defines sadism as “a sexual perversion in which one receives gratification through torturing one’s loved one.”
The term derives from the 18th century French writer Marquis de Sade, a man who inflamed the passions of his contemporaries.
With the release of “Quills,” the marquis once again gets an opportunity to cause a stir.
Doug Wright wrote [...]

When “Hannibal,” Thomas Harris’s follow-up to “Silence of the Lambs,” came out, fans and critics were less than enthusiastic, particularly about its ending.
Few, if anyone, believed it.
For the feature film adaptation, the ending was reworked. And, although it’s perhaps easier to swallow, it may be difficult for audiences to stomach.
It’s truly one of the most [...]

When the director of “Big Daddy,” “Happy Gilmore” and “Problem Child” comes up with another film, you know what to expect – stupidity galore, cliches aplenty and few laughs.
Even though the writers of “Saving Silverman,” Hank Nelken and Greg Depaul, haven’t any other feature films to their credit, its content indicates they’ve studied the films [...]

“Chocolat” begins with four simple words – once upon a time.
This fairy tale, set in 1959, shows how a woman, fated to follow the north wind, goes from town to town, eradicating tranquillite.
While the townspeople of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes attend church, a wind blows , bringing with it Vianne Rocher (Juliette Binoche) and her 6-year-old daughter, Anouk [...]

If anyone could infuse a martial arts film with art house splendor, it’s Ang Lee.
For “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” he takes a mesmerizing epic story, steeped in myth, and combines it with red hot kung fu action.
It’s been a long, frustrating wait, but it was more than worth it.
His latest is, quite simply, a masterpiece.
After [...]

“You have to make a decision in life: To become a gambler or a croupier.”
Jack Manfred (Clive Owen) chooses to be the latter, preferring to watch others take that throw of the dice or spin of the wheel. Unfortunately, he soon learns that life proves more of gamble with larger stakes than just money.
Manfred shares [...]

To create “The Gift,” writers Billy Bob Thornton and Tom Epperson threw in one part thriller and three parts character study.
Annie Wilson (Cate Blanchett) lives in a small town trying to raise her two fatherless boys. To make ends meet, she gives psychic readings to the locals for a donation.
Valerie Barksdale (Hilary Swank), an abused [...]