Groundhog Day Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) Groundhog Day is one of those films that can please just about every kind of moviegoer. Its charm is undeniable, and even the most cold-hearted viewer can get swept up in the premise’s cleverness and the romance’s tenderness. It’s got terrific performances, solid direction, and some truly timeless moments—what more can you […]
Gosford Park Review
RATING: (3 STARS) It takes great skill to make a film like Gosford Park. Besides the obvious technical work needed to create the world of this film, director Robert Altman also must work hard to manage a group of nearly 25 important characters. And each actor needs to know his or her place in the […]
The Game Review
RATING: (2.5 STARS) The Game is the kind of film that unfortunately doesn’t follow the old adage “The ends justify the means.†We the viewers are dragged along on this roller coaster ride of suspense that’s so relentless it almost makes you crazy. A really juicy ending could have made the chaotic journey worthwhile. But […]
The Princess and the Frog Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) I’m not sure how this delightful film slipped through the cracks until now, but The Princess and the Frog (like Fantastic Mr. Fox the same year) is proof that Pixar isn’t the only studio that can turn out high-quality animated films that work for both children and adults (granted this is a […]
Panic Room Review
RATING: (3 STARS) Panic Room is arguably David Fincher’s most problematic film. Yet, this is a rare instance in which the technical aspects of the film are so admirable and strong that you can overlook the massive narrative hiccups and actually enjoy the end product. Too often, the needs of the plot drive the actions […]
It’s Kind of a Funny Story Review
RATING: (3 STARS) It’s Kind of a Funny Story might be the most aptly titled film of 2010. It’s sweet, breezy, and kind of funny. It’s not remotely challenging, and I was a little bummed to see writing/directing duo Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck abandon the hard-hitting realism that made their previous features, Half Nelson […]
Secretariat Review
RATING: (3 STARS) All the comparisons to The Blind Side had me cringing. I’ve railed enough against John Lee Hancock’s saccharine Sandra Bullock vehicle on these pages, but suffice it to say, I wasn’t a fan, and I’ll admit to not being too high on Secretariat as I sat down in the theater to watch […]
Solitary Man Review
RATING: (3 STARS) Solitary Man reminded me a lot of an earlier 2010 entry, Nicole Holofcener’s Please Give. Both are message films that use their flawed characters to motivate the viewers to doing something. Holofcener’s film wants you to be kinder; Brian Koppelman and David Levien’s film cautions you against taking family and friends for […]
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Review
RATING: (4 STARS) Until 2008, David Fincher was primarily a genre director—a damn good one, for sure, but a genre director nonetheless. With Se7en and Zodiac, many would argue that his specialty was serial killer films. So I think it surprised a lot of people that he was taking on a project as complex and […]
The Secret in Their Eyes Review
RATING: (3 STARS) Many were surprised when Argentina’s submission to the 2010 Best Foreign Film Oscar race, Juan Jose Campanella’s The Secret in Their Eyes, took home the top prize. It didn’t have even nearly the same buzz as the French submission, A Prophet, or the German submission, The White Ribbon, but the more traditional […]
Zodiac Review
RATING: (2.5 STARS) Ask a random assortment of film lovers what their favorite David Fincher film is and there’s a good chance a majority will vote for Zodiac, the director’s 2007 look at the effects of a serial killer in 1970s San Francisco. Strangely enough, I find Zodiac to be among Fincher’s least successful efforts. […]
Do the Right Thing Review
RATING: (4 STARS) *Caution: Mild spoilers may follow. Spike Lee has directed many joints in his career, but none is as admired and revered as Do the Right Thing. It’s a brilliant slice-of-life that tackles issues of race head on and without fear. It’s the kind of film that earns the label of “controversial,†not […]
Se7en Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) Se7en is one of the darkest serial-killer films of all-time. It contains a truly twisted killer and one of the most brutal endings I’ve ever seen in film. It has obtained real cult status since its release in 1995 and helped put director David Fincher on the map. I don’t believe it’s […]
The Social Network Review
RATING: (4 STARS) Having gone through college while the ubiquitous Web site Facebook went from niche obsession to global phenomenon, I can say that I’ve spent far too many hours scouring its pages for status updates, newly posted pictures, event invites, and private messages. It has undoubtedly changed the way college students interact, and now […]
Casino Royale Review
RATING: (4 STARS) I’ve written around these parts before that I’m a big James Bond fan. I grew up watching the movies, and they turned out to be like a gateway drug for me—after watching them so many times, I began to experiment with other types of movies until I became a full-on film addict. […]
WHICH IS BETTER: The Man Who Knew Too Much
Very generally, The Man Who Knew Too Much is about an assassination, a kidnapping, and an ordinary man who is forced to do extraordinary things to save someone he loves, yet the two versions have a number of quite obvious differences. The original begins in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Bob Lawrence (Leslie Banks) and his wife, […]
