Wendy and Lucy Review
RATING: (3 STARS) Featuring an eye-opening performance from Michelle Williams, Wendy and Lucy is one of 2008’s underseen gems. With minimal plot, the film manages to touch on a number of personal issues such as isolation, desperation, and companionship. And unlike many films, it doesn’t outstay it’s welcome. At a slim 75 minutes, director Kelly […]
The Road Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) John Hillcoat’s The Road couldn’t be more different from recent apocalypse films like 2012 and The Book of Eli. It relies on terrific acting and an inescapable sense of hopelessness and dread to tell a story capable of reaffirming one’s faith in humanity. It also does something many thought impossible: Coherently capture […]
The Hurt Locker Review
RATING: (4 STARS) Real suspense is hard to achieve. It’s easy to throw in a shock or two into a film to keep the audience on edge. To sustain that feeling over a prolonged time is a challenge, but it’s something Kathryn Bigelow achieves in her uncompromising war film The Hurt Locker. Director after director […]
2010 Golden Globes Predictions
Tonight is the 67th annual Golden Globe Awards. The Hollywood Foreign Press Associate (HFPA) is an interesting group. Over the last five years, only one eventual Best Picture winner at the Oscars (Slumdog Millionaire) took home the Best Picture Globe in its respective category. So will this be a litmus test of who’s in the […]
United 93 Review
RATING: (4 STARS) Perfectly capturing the chaos of the defining moment of my generation, “United 93†is not about the events of September 11, 2001 per se. Instead, it celebrates the human spirit. It’s a phenomenal achievement, a film of unparalleled power and emotion. I named the film my favorite from the last decade. A […]
Star Trek Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) I have no connection whatsoever to the “Star Trek†franchise. I haven’t seen any of the first ten films or the television show. I have some passing knowledge of the characters, but that’s about it. In fact, the only thing that really attracted me to this film was J.J. Abrams (I’m a […]
Youth in Revolt Review
RATING: (2 STARS) My love for Michael Cera was seriously waning going into “Youth in Revolt.†I take pride in being one of the few people who watched “Arrested Development†from the beginning. He was brilliant in it, as he was in “Superbad.†I don’t care much for “Juno,†but I thought he was good […]
Gone with the Wind Review
RATING: (3 STARS) How do I go about reviewing a film that feels so much like two separate films, especially one as classic and timeless as Victor Fleming’s (or is it David O. Selznick’s) Gone With the Wind? Separated by an intermission, Gone With the Wind‘s two halves couldn’t be more different, both in content […]
It’s Complicated Review
RATING: (3 STARS) Nancy Meyers is part of a rare breed, directors capable of making a good adult comedy. It’s a hard thing to do, crafting a film full of laughs that’s commercially viable while avoiding gross-out humor and raunchy Apatow-style sex jokes. She did it with “Something’s Gotta Give” (a bloated but enjoyable film), […]
Up in the Air Review
RATING: (4 STARS) Sometimes a film comes along and does more than simply entertain; it speaks to people, sends them a clear message. Jason Reitman’s “Up in the Air” is such a film. It so perfectly captures the zeitgeist of American today, it’s almost scary. It says to those millions of unemployed Americans “It’s OK. […]
License to Direct
I love James Bond. I’ve seen every film in the series at least three or four times. I own all the DVDs and most of them on VHS. This was the series that really got me into film. So whenever there is news from the world of 007, I’m all ears. After the disaster that […]
The Messenger Review
RATING: (3 STARS) Oren Moverman’s “The Messenger†is an effective drama about the tragedy of war. It focuses on two men who might have one of the worst jobs imaginable. They are responsible for delivering death notifications to the families of fallen soldiers. It’s a premise ripe for powerful moments and intense drama. The film […]
Nine Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) I watched Fellini’s “8 1/2,†the inspiration for “Nine,†a few weeks ago in preparation for Rob Marshall’s big and bold musical. It was a heady trip into a film director’s fantasy. “Nine†proves to be a worthy follow-up, and it improves on Fellini’s film in one important way. As interesting as […]
The Best Films of the 2000s
It’s hard to believe how much has changed for me over ten years. This was my coming-of-age decade. At the change of the millennium, I was in sixth grade. Now, with one semester left in college, I’m about to become a real person. In terms of movies, in 2000, I maybe attended two or three […]
The Best Performances of the 2000s
In descending order: 10.) Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Baby) – Most of Clint Eastwood’s films this decade have featured a lead character who, for better or worse, dominates the screen. Sean Penn in Mystic River, Angelina Jolie and Changeling, and Eastwood himself in Gran Torino all demonstrate this. They might not be captivating figures, but […]
The Ten Best Performances of 2009
Below are my ten favorite performances of the year. I wouldn’t dare say they were the ten best, but for one reason or another, I preferred these above any others in 2009. Some will be nominated for Oscars; others won’t be. But these actors and their outstanding work helped make 2009 such a strong year […]
