The General Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) This year, I’ve seen my first Charlie Chaplin, Marx Brothers, and Buster Keaton films. First was The Gold Rush, an incredibly charming gem by Chaplin. Next was Duck Soup, which upped the ante in terms of comedy with its hilarious one-liners and musical numbers. Now that I’ve seen a Buster Keaton film, […]
The French Connection Review
RATING: (4 STARS) Possibly the defining film in the gritty urban cop genre, “The French Connection†astonishes with its amazing direction, writing, and performance from Gene Hackman. The film grips you from beginning to end with its realistic portrayal of 1970s New York and its wild man lead character, Jimmy “Popeye†Doyle. It represents one […]
Kramer vs. Kramer Review
RATING: (2.5 STARS) “Kramer vs. Kramer†stars Dustin Hoffman, one of the greatest actors of his generation, and Meryl Streep, probably the greatest actress ever. Both actors won Academy Awards. Robert Benton won two Academy Awards (for directing and writing the picture), and the film won the big award back in 1979, Best Picture. With […]
Duck Soup Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) Comedy today is such a dicey genre for me. There are a few I just love – “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,†for example. On the whole, however, I think most comedies are obvious, overlong, generic, and simply unfunny. If I’m in need of a laugh, I usually pop in one of my old […]
The Graduate Review
RATING: (4 STARS) The reason realism is such a sought after trait in movies is because having realistic characters and realistic scenarios is the key to bringing the audience in and allowing them to relate to what’s on screen. Being able to relate heightens one’s emotional and intellectual connection to a film. Mike Nichols’ classic […]
Annie Hall Review
RATING: (4 STARS) “Annie Hall†was the beginning of Woody Allen as most know him. It marked the beginning of a career transition that moved him from pure comedy to the realistic romantic dramedy – the genre he’s most closely associated with. Part of the reason he is so well-known for it is because of […]
The Lady from Shanghai Review
RATING: (4 STARS) Ask anyone other than a serious film buff, and they will tell you Orson Welles only made one great film, his first, “Citizen Kane.†That’s understandable. “Kane†is arguably one of the greatest films ever made. But the actor/writer/director’s resume is more than just that, and saying otherwise is a great disservice […]
All the President’s Men Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) We all know the story. President Richard M. Nixon and “all of his men†conspired to bug the offices of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate Hotel, operated a secret slush fund within the White House, and obstructed justice during the investigation. Alan J. Pakula’s “All the President’s Men†is the […]
2001: A Space Odyssey Review
RATING: (4 STARS) “2001: A Space Odyssey†is a transcendent experience. Calling it a film is an injustice, for it is so much more than that. It is a thought-provoking piece of art. No film has stuck with me the way this one did the first time I saw it. It’s hypnotic in a way. […]
The Asphalt Jungle Review
RATING: (3 STARS) It’s hard to believe it took until 1950 to tell a crime story from the point of view of the criminals. John Huston’s “The Asphalt Jungle†did just that and opened up the door for later films like “Reservoir Dogs†and the “Ocean’s†films. The film goes on too long, which prevents […]
Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) “Mutiny on the Bounty,†Academy Award winner for Best Picture all the way back in 1935, is surprisingly powerful stuff, not because it’s filmed in black and white, but because everything else about it is black and white. There are no shades of gray – no three-dimensionality among its principal characters. Two […]
The Gold Rush Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) “The Gold Rush†is charming, funny, and full of heart. It’s immensely enjoyable (I have a hard time imagining someone who wouldn’t like it) and contains some truly timeless scenes (like the one with the cabin teetering on the edge of a cliff). I’ve actually never seen a Charlie Chaplin film until […]
Psycho Review
RATING: (4 STARS) Alfred Hitchcock is usually regarded as one of film’s most talented directors. With a resume as strong as his, it’s hard to argue. “Vertigo,” “Rear Window,” “North by Northwest,” “Rebecca,” “Strangers on a Train,” “The Birds.” The list goes on and on. I haven’t seen all of Sir Alfred’s films (I haven’t […]
Midnight Cowboy Review
RATING: (3 STARS) The first X-rated film to ever win Best Picture, Midnight Cowboy, is unique and shocking. It features great acting and is exceptionally directed. It’s possibly the definitive fish-out-of-water film, as well as one of the most quintessentially “sixties” movies ever. But it’s a hard movie to love. It does a lot of […]
Deliverance Review
RATING: (2.5 STARS) Deliverance is part rousing adventure, part cautionary tale, part criminal cover-up, and part fish-out-of-water story, all thrown together and mixed with a little violence and humor. And that’s the film’s problem; It doesn’t have a strong identity (though its sense of place is exceptional), and its tone is all over the place. […]
The Last Picture Show Review
RATING: (3 STARS) The Last Picture Show is a very interesting film about, among other things, boredom. I know that sounds like an oxymoron. In fact, there are some long, drawn-out, boring passages in this film about boredom. But it’s what these people do as a result that is interesting. They explore their sexuality, sometimes […]
