Brew Views The words “spring break” are repeated so often in Spring Breakers that the phrase takes on a mantralike quality. Still best known for writing Kids and directing Gummo, backwater auteur Harmony K   More

Movies & Television Pain & Gain screened after WW deadlines, but Michael Nordine did his critic's duty. Expecting a great deal of pain and awfully little gain, he was pleasantly surprised.
Critic's Grade: B-
When considering the merits of Dwayne Johnson's cinematic oeuvre, it's helpful to keep one thing in mind: The Rock's movies may not be especially good most of the time, but he ...   More

Movies & Television A Good Day to Die Hard screened after WW press deadlines. Critic Michael Nordine deems it not the best day.

Critic's Grade: C+

2007's Live Free or Die Hard was, to the pleasant surprise of many, the best entry in the Die Hard series since we were first introduced to John McClane nearly two decades earlier. It was self-aware, funny and joyously over-...   More

Movies & Television Neither Parker, starring Jason Statham, nor the Sylvester Stallone vehicle Bullet to the Head screened for Portland critics—rarely a good sign. But critic Michael Nordine thinks they may represent a return to B-movie form.


The Bourne franchise did more than provide Matt Damon's meal ticket for the better part of a decade. Slowly but surely, it also helped spur a s...   More

Movie Reviews & Stories Nearly everything that happens in Rick Alverson’s The Comedy is uncomfortable, off-putting and morally reprehensible. But the events also amount to a hilarious and needed screed against the ennu   More

Movies & Television Broken City is for indiscriminating Mark Wahlberg fans—and for those who prefer Russell Crowe when he's not bursting into song. The film screened after WW press deadlines. The verdict? Passable.
Critic's Grade: C+
Mark Wahlberg has a rare (and marketable) quality: He remains likable even when his films are not. Viewers have seen enough of his work and know en...   More

Movies & Television Texas Chainsaw 3D didn't screen for critics—never a good sign—but critic Michael Nordine found it just mildly bad. 
Critic's Grade: C
There isn't that much chainsaw action in Texas Chainsaw 3D. In a way, this is one of the film’s best qualities. In most other regards, though, it functions exactly as you'd expect. Far be it from me to suggest that 3D, need...   More