Mark Sells Movie Reviews & Previews

Critics » Mark Sells

Mark Sells

""I gave her my heart. She gave me a pen.""

Agrees with the Tomatometer 85% of the time.

Biography:: Mark has been writing film criticism for The Oregon Herald, The Denver Herald, The New York Daily Times, The Boston Sun, The California Herald, Film Threat, and many more for the last five years under the moniker, "The Reel Deal." And this year, he was selected as one of the top ten critics in the country by the Critic Doctor. Mark is an active member of the Denver Film Society, the Rotten Tomatoes community, the Online Film and Television Association, and the Internet Entertainment Writers Association. An avid writer and film fanatic, Mark has written multiple screen and teleplays for the large and small screen. He has also worked on the set of numerous films while running his own multimedia company. The company, HFMedia, specializes in film production, copy writing, promotions, and screenwriting and recently produced its first short film entitled "Forever". Prior to working in film, his background includes writing promotional copy for radio and television.
Favorites:: Almost Famous, Rudy, Hoosiers, Star Wars, Road to Perdition, Conan the Barbarian, Blade Runner, Jerry Maguire, Back to the Future, Million Dollar Baby, and many many more!
Publications:: CineScene.com , Film Threat , Oregon Herald , The Reel Deal

Total Reviews:: 285
Total QuickRatings:: 37

Listing Of All Reviews & Articles

Showing 51 - 100 of 285

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Rating	T-Meter	Title \| Year	Add Date
4.5/5	77%	Melancholia (2011)	" A deeply meditative film with stunning visuals, Melancholia brilliantly captures the chaos and calm before the storm." — The Reel Deal Posted Nov 9, 2011
3/5	69%	Tower Heist (2011)	" Presents nothing new in terms of story and can't always sustain its energetic pace, (but) it does provide a lot of action and plenty of laughs." — The Reel Deal Posted Nov 4, 2011
4/5	84%	Puss in Boots (2011)	" For a fairy tale slash prequel slash spinoff, Puss in Boots is the cat's meow." — The Reel Deal Posted Oct 26, 2011
4/5	90%	Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)	" An ambiguous, yet startling tale of post-cult trauma. " — The Reel Deal Posted Oct 17, 2011
4/5	85%	The Ides of March (2011)	" Smart and skillfully directed, The Ides of March depicts the ugly reality of modern day politics. " — The Reel Deal Posted Oct 4, 2011
4.5/5	83%	Warrior (2011)	" With great intensity, Warrior is a pleasant surprise, capturing the heart and spirit of a champion. " — The Reel Deal Posted Sep 6, 2011
3.5/5	76%	The Debt (2011)	" A nifty little puzzler that satisfactorily pays off." — The Reel Deal Posted Aug 29, 2011
4.5/5	100%	The Interrupters (2011)	" Demands your attention, all the while demonstrating what great documentary filmmaking is all about - a hopeful vehicle for change." — The Reel Deal Posted Aug 24, 2011
3.5/5	62%	Griff the Invisible (2011)	" With lots of charm and humor, Griff the Invisible is a quirky and sophisticated romance in disguise." — The Reel Deal Posted Aug 16, 2011
4.5/5	92%	Senna (2011)	" One of the most fascinating, yet sobering views on the sport of auto racing." — The Reel Deal Posted Aug 8, 2011
4/5	73%	The Whistleblower (2011)	" Powerful and purposeful. " — The Reel Deal Posted Aug 1, 2011
3.5/5	78%	Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011)	" One of the most clever and enthusiastic romantic comedies of recent memory." — The Reel Deal Posted Jul 26, 2011
4.5/5	80%	Life in a Day (2011)	" With meticulous editing by Joe Walker, Life in a Day is a wonderfully uplifting account of what it means to be human." — The Reel Deal Posted Jul 20, 2011
4.5/5	96%	Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 (2011)	" An abbreviated, yet exhilarating finale that is equally satisfying as it is bittersweet. " — The Reel Deal Posted Jul 11, 2011
4.5/5	84%	The Tree of Life (2011)	" An extraordinary achievement in storytelling that will captivate your inner sense of being. " — The Reel Deal Posted Jul 6, 2011
3/5	86%	Terri (2011)	" There is a tranquil beauty in Tobias Datum's cinematography and a wholesomeness in the film's main characters that rises about the cliches." — The Reel Deal Posted Jun 28, 2011
4/5	38%	Cars 2 (2011)	" Hits the gas with a simpler story about friendship, bolder visuals, good natured humor, and wall to wall action." — The Reel Deal Posted Jun 20, 2011
4/5	88%	Buck (2011)	" A fascinating look at one man's approach to life through horses, hard work, and compassion. " — The Reel Deal Posted Jun 15, 2011
4/5	82%	Super 8 (2011)	" While Super 8 lacks some of the emotional punch and heart so masterfully orchestrated by Spielberg, it does capture some of the magic, surprise, and excitement of his early works." — The Reel Deal Posted Jun 6, 2011
4/5	88%	X-Men: First Class (2011)	" Represents a successful reboot and a welcome return of the summer blockbuster." — The Reel Deal Posted May 31, 2011
3.5/5	61%	The Beaver (2011)	" Regardless of what you've read in the tabloids and have come to know about Mel Gibson off screen, on screen, he is still a man with many talents." — The Reel Deal Posted May 17, 2011
3.5/5	90%	Bridesmaids (2011)	" Playing out like a typical Judd Apatow film, Bridesmaids foregoes fantasy and instead, chooses the actions, language, and attitudes of real women." — The Reel Deal Posted May 9, 2011
4/5	77%	Thor (2011)	" An epic adventure of the classical sense, blending Norse mythology with human drama, romance, and a splash of hammer time!" — The Reel Deal Posted May 3, 2011
4/5	96%	13 Assassins (2011)	" There is plenty of blood in 13 Assassins, but Miike quietly builds his characters and their dilemmas, leading up to a grand spectacle of swordplay that includes a whopping 45 minute action finale. " — The Reel Deal Posted Apr 25, 2011
5/5	94%	The King's Speech (2010)	" A British production featuring meticulous period detail, outstanding performances from Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, and Helena Bonham Carter, and inventive staging and visuals" — The Reel Deal Posted Apr 23, 2011
4.5/5	71%	Hanna (2011)	" Includes a pulsating soundtrack by The Chemical Brothers and tremendous fight and chase choreography that will absolutely, leave you on the edge of your seat. " — The Reel Deal Posted Apr 23, 2011
4.5/5	92%	Incendies (2011)	" Flashing backwards and forwards through time, the film includes enough emotional firepower and startling revelations to keep you guessing at every turn." — The Reel Deal Posted Apr 23, 2011
4/5	88%	Rango (2011)	" A smart, satirical, and expertly animated adventure aimed at adults and children alike." — The Reel Deal Posted Apr 23, 2011
4/5	72%	Rio (2011)	" With bold, tropical colors, salsa sounds, and refreshing voiceovers from Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, and more, Rio is pure, light hearted fun." — Film Threat Posted Apr 23, 2011
3.5/4	48%	Super (2011)	" Gunn's unique approach, combining twisted humor, dark drama, and over-the-top violence, offers a great change of pace for audiences tired of mainstream comic book fare." — The Reel Deal Posted Apr 23, 2011
4/5	80%	Cyrus (2010)	" A humorous experiment in social discomfort." — Oregon Herald Posted Jul 19, 2010
2/5	69%	The Runaways (2010)	" 'The Runaways' lacks an anarchistic punch - an authenticity and angst so distinctive of the band's rock n' roll revolution." — Oregon Herald Posted May 3, 2010
3/5	98%	How to Train Your Dragon (2010)	" A visually stimulating, but slightly inconsequential "how to" tale." — Oregon Herald Posted Apr 5, 2010
2.5/5	66%	The Blind Side (2009)	" A sports drama that's more about the melodrama and less about the sport." — Oregon Herald Posted Feb 3, 2010
1.5/5	27%	The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)	" Superficial soup for the teenage soul." — Oregon Herald Posted Jan 19, 2010
3/5	37%	Angels & Demons (2009)	" For all the hype and hurrah, Angels & Demons is a tame thriller, requiring several leaps of faith."" — Oregon Herald Posted May 21, 2009
4/5	95%	Star Trek (2009)	" Mixing warp speed action with tongue in cheek humor, this Trek beams brighter than a supernova." — Oregon Herald Posted May 14, 2009
5/5	98%	The Wrestler (2008)	" Fluctuating eloquently between hope and sorrow, tenderness and isolation, 'The Wrestler' packs an emotional punch - a deeply personal story of one man's search for truth, love, and life outside of the ring." — Oregon Herald Posted Feb 4, 2009
2/5	85%	Rachel Getting Married (2008)	" Wandering aimlessly, it immerses the viewer in a never-ending series of song and dance, wedding toasts, and family feuds." — Oregon Herald Posted Jan 28, 2009
4/5	62%	Valkyrie (2008)	" Although the casting of Cruise takes some getting used to, the film makes ample use of a strong supporting cast and a tightly knit story to maintain suspense." — Oregon Herald Posted Jan 26, 2009
4.5/5	78%	Doubt (2008)	" Mercilessly, it immerses its characters in the depths of certainty and the consequences of blind faith." — Oregon Herald Posted Jan 14, 2009
4.5/5	94%	Slumdog Millionaire (2008)	" From simple, childhood glee to teenage trouble and heartache, it's the kind of universal story that will leave you breathless." — Oregon Herald Posted Jan 14, 2009
4/5	88%	Bolt (2008)	" A formula that has worked ever since Lassie came home in 1943." — Oregon Herald Posted Dec 10, 2008
4/5	79%	Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)	" A constant, highly engaging entry in the Harry Potter saga." — Oregon Herald Posted Aug 6, 2007
3.5/5	57%	Transformers (2007)	" A mad rush of blood to the adolescent head." — Oregon Herald Posted Jul 23, 2007
3.5/5	91%	Knocked Up (2007)	" A highly scathing jolt of relationship reality." — Oregon Herald Posted Jul 17, 2007
3/5	44%	Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End (2007)	" Bland, bloated, and at times, bewildering, this third serving is merely yo-ho-hum." — Oregon Herald Posted Jun 25, 2007
2.5/5	40%	Shrek the Third (2007)	" Maturing all too quickly into adulthood, Shrek the Third, is over burdened with responsibility and a yearning for simpler, carefree times." — Oregon Herald Posted May 21, 2007
3.5/5	63%	Spider-Man 3 (2007)	" Falls prey to Hollywood sequel subterfuge - namely, that bigger is always better." — Oregon Herald Posted May 14, 2007
3/5	69%	Blades of Glory (2007)	" An elongated comedy sketch, without any depth or development." — Oregon Herald Posted May 7, 2007
4/5	34%	TMNT (2007)	" Never strays too far from its inner turtle." — Oregon Herald Posted Apr 2, 2007
3.5/5	60%	300 (2007)	" A film whose primary purpose is to entertain the male ego." — Oregon Herald Posted Mar 17, 2007
—	93%	An Inconvenient Truth (2006)	— Oregon Herald Posted Mar 10, 2007
2.5/5	8%	The Number 23 (2007)	" A cop out of chaotic inconsequence." — Oregon Herald Posted Mar 5, 2007
2/5	47%	Miami Vice (2006)	" Hits on notes lower than the Smuggler's Blues." — Oregon Herald Posted Aug 10, 2006
2.5/5	76%	Superman Returns (2006)	" Quite capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound, [but] does so without much care or conviction." — Oregon Herald Posted Aug 7, 2006
3/5	75%	Over the Hedge (2006)	" Can't seem to rise above to see the hedge for the trees." — Oregon Herald Posted May 29, 2006
2.5/5	70%	Mission: Impossible III (2006)	" Runs too fast, overloaded with pointless action to the brink of exhaustion." — Oregon Herald Posted May 22, 2006
5/5	84%	Akeelah and the Bee (2006)	" Joyfully uplifting, 'Akeelah and the Bee' is quietly, one of the year's finest." — Oregon Herald Posted May 19, 2006
2.5/5	41%	American Dreamz (2006)	" A sociopolitical satire with a lot of bark, but not enough bite." — Oregon Herald Posted May 1, 2006
2/5	——	Threat (2005)	" Even when violence erupts, there is no explanation, no logic, and no reckoning." — Oregon Herald Posted Apr 21, 2006
2/5	57%	Ice Age 2: The Meltdown (2006)	" Finds itself on thin ice, unable to support a 10-ton mammoth, let alone a 9-ton possum." — Oregon Herald Posted Apr 11, 2006
4/5	73%	V for Vendetta (2006)	" Deliberately blurs the line between heroism and terrorism." — Oregon Herald Posted Apr 3, 2006
4.5/5	72%	Syriana (2005)	" Adept at delivering macro and micro perspectives without moralism or conviction." — Oregon Herald Posted Feb 21, 2006
4/5	93%	Good Night, And Good Luck (2005)	" Methodically and purposefully demonstrates the importance of impartial journalism." — Oregon Herald Posted Feb 5, 2006
3/5	84%	King Kong (2005)	" It was an overabundance of enthusiasm that killed the story." — Oregon Herald Posted Jan 23, 2006
4.5/5	87%	Brokeback Mountain (2005)	" Lee strips away all the pizzazz for something that is much more pure - a rough and tough emotional journey." — Oregon Herald Posted Jan 9, 2006
5/5	82%	Walk the Line (2005)	" A stirring, straightforward musical masterpiece." — Oregon Herald Posted Jan 2, 2006
3.5/5	55%	The Ladykillers (2004)	" Good but not great, The Ladykillers is simple, somewhat funny and 'nothing more.'" — Film Threat Posted Dec 6, 2005
4/5	65%	The Last Samurai (2003)	" A harrowing tale of honor, simple beauty, self-discovery, and ferocious conviction." — Film Threat Posted Dec 6, 2005
3.5/5	84%	Pieces of April (2003)	" Holmes, Clarkson, and Platt steer the course through the straight and narrow and keep the film from becoming an inedible holiday leftover." — Film Threat Posted Dec 6, 2005
4/5	88%	Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)	" As exhilarating as it is daunting, 'Goblet of Fire' is all grown up." — CineScene.com Posted Nov 21, 2005
3.5/5	75%	Zathura (2005)	" Boldly goes where no board game has gone before." — Oregon Herald Posted Nov 20, 2005
4/5	61%	Shopgirl (2005)	" Walks a fine line between pensive and frail as it attempts to comprehend expectations from love." — Oregon Herald Posted Nov 14, 2005
3/5	59%	The Weather Man (2005)	" An engrossing character study of the oppressive kind." — Oregon Herald Posted Nov 11, 2005
4/5	83%	Tim Burton's Corpse Bride (2005)	" Delightfully ghoulish!" — Oregon Herald Posted Nov 2, 2005
3.5/5	87%	A History of Violence (2005)	" Never does it deviate from Cronenberg's primal instincts." — Oregon Herald Posted Oct 31, 2005
4/5	82%	Hustle & Flow (2005)	" There is not a lot of bling bling in this surprisingly engaging and inspired effort." — Oregon Herald Posted Aug 8, 2005
4/5	82%	Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)	" It's just like being a kid again...in one gigantic candy store." — Oregon Herald Posted Jul 21, 2005
4/5	60%	One Crazy Summer (1986)	" Quirky, fun comedy with John Cusack - classic 80's summer fare" — Oregon Herald Posted Jul 14, 2005
1.5/5	25%	Bewitched (2005)	" Lacks cohesion and chemistry, essential ingredients to the original's success." — Oregon Herald Posted Jul 14, 2005
3/5	74%	War of the Worlds (2005)	" A thrilling but frivolous ride." — CineScene.com Posted Jul 7, 2005
4/5	77%	The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)	" For all its good intentions, this Sisterhood is divine." — Oregon Herald Posted Jun 29, 2005
4.5/5	85%	Batman Begins (2005)	" Riveting and refreshingly somber, this is the amazing story of the man behind the mask." — Oregon Herald Posted Jun 22, 2005
4.5/5	80%	Cinderella Man (2005)	" A humbling and stirring account of an upstanding American hero." — Oregon Herald Posted Jun 13, 2005
4/5	80%	Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith 3D (2013)	" To Star Wars fans everywhere, a celebration of galactic proportions." — Oregon Herald Posted Jun 1, 2005
3/5	42%	Kicking & Screaming (2005)	" Plenty of chuckles and charm to keep the ball rolling." — CineScene.com Posted May 25, 2005
5/5	75%	Crash (2004)	" A masterful morality tale with a lot of guts." — Oregon Herald Posted May 22, 2005
5/5	87%	Millions (2005)	" One of the year's most lovable and family friendly films." — Oregon Herald Posted May 17, 2005
3/5	26%	The Game of Their Lives (2005)	" Enough enthusiasm, authenticity, and spirited soccer play to offset the missing ingredients." — Oregon Herald Posted May 11, 2005
4.5/5	78%	Sin City (2005)	" For those with a penchant for pulp, Sin City is one guilty pleasure." — Oregon Herald Posted Apr 27, 2005
5/5	88%	Hoosiers (1989)	" One of the greatest sports movies ever made!" — Oregon Herald Posted Apr 12, 2005
4/5	75%	The Upside of Anger (2005)	" Achieves a harmonious balance between truth and consequence." — Oregon Herald Posted Apr 12, 2005
3.5/5	64%	Robots (2005)	" Cleverly clanky and colorful." — Oregon Herald Posted Mar 30, 2005
4/5	97%	Bull Durham (1988)	" Great chemistry between Costner, Sarandon, and Robbins - one of the Top 10 baseball movies." — Oregon Herald Posted Mar 23, 2005
2.5/5	30%	Be Cool (2005)	" The fastest way to turn cool into drool." — Oregon Herald Posted Mar 23, 2005
5/5	90%	Hotel Rwanda (2004)	" The most significant event of the year." — Oregon Herald Posted Feb 9, 2005
5/5	91%	Million Dollar Baby (2004)	" One of the finest character dramas ever made." — Oregon Herald Posted Jan 27, 2005
4/5	87%	The Aviator (2004)	" An intricate character study of fame and misfortune." — Oregon Herald Posted Jan 24, 2005

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