Melanie Dishman's archive

Clooney’s double duty too much this time

Based on the Beau Willimon play “Farragut North,” a political thriller set on the eve of the Democratic primary in Ohio, this feature starts out with promise but eventually fails to live up to it in the end.

Don’t touch anything in the theater

A gripping drama that addresses the “what if” of an unidentified flu pandemic with no known vaccine, “Contagion” boasts an impressive cast in a variety of roles that give perspective to every facet of such an event. Written by Scott Z.

Mossad agents see that debt is paid

An average thriller elevated by casting choices, this is actually a remake of a 2007 Israeli movie “Ha-Hov, meaning “the debt.” Putting the pieces together differently might have made for a more interesting movie, but director John Madden tells a solid story with the same basic elements, although the younger counterparts have the better story than their older selves.

Photography, music outshine forgettable romance

mance she crafted for “An Education,” Lone Scherfig takes on this best selling book by Brit David Nicholls, who also adapted the screenplay. Unfortunately, lightning rarely strikes twice in the same place.

Change brings nothing new in R-rated comedy

‘The Change-Up’Starring: Jason Bateman, Ryan ReynoldsDirector: Dave DobkinRated: R

The appeal of an R-rated comedy is it tends to be geared more to an adult audience (even if a healthy streak of immaturity is needed to truly enjoy it). The downside is once you’ve seen one, you’ve pretty much seen them all.