Film Forum

Episode Recap

Episode 4

May 2, 2006

Films Reviewed: Akeelah and the Bee and The Sentinel

Commentary: Michael Douglas: Actor and Producer

Featurette: Behind the scenes of Stick It

Regarding Akeelah and the Bee:

Matt: This is a genuine surprise!  Academic Sports is given a new playing field (the national spelling bee) and it makes for a fantastic film.  Keke Palmer is fantastic in the title role and it was great to see Laurence Fishburne and Angela Basset sharing the big screen again.  I-L-O-V-E-D-I-T!!  Four stars!

Aron: Well, I really liked it.  Sure, it is the high school sports movie in a new venue, but the actors make it work.  I was really tickled to see Curtis Armstrong (better known for his nerd characters twenty years ago) play a middle school principal.  This is a good family film.  Three stars. 

Average Rating: ***1/2 (out of ****)

Regarding The Sentinel:

Aron: It’s a serviceable thriller with good performances from Michael Douglas, Keifer Sutherland and Eva Longoria.  But there is absolutely no reason why you should go see this right now.  It’s just not very interesting, despite being well made.  Two and a half stars.

Matt: Um, yeah, what you said, Aron.  Granted, we have never seen Kim Basinger play a First Lady before.  But we have seen Michael Douglas play a president before… and that was a much better film.  At least the film didn’t pretend to be a runaway production.  Two and a half stars.

Average Rating: **1/2 (out of ****)

Commentary:  Michael Douglas has produced an Oscar winner for Best Picture and has won an Oscar for Best Actor.  We took a few minutes to review our favorites from him in front of and behind the camera.

Featurette: Behind the scenes of Stick It, featuring Jeff Bridges as a gym coach.