The Giant Mechanical Man Review
RATING: (2 STARS) Calling Lee Kirk’s The Giant Mechanical Man slight would be a massive understatement. It’s infinitesimal. It focuses on two kindly individuals going through pre-mid-life mid-life crises. That’s a subject certainly worthy of the screen, but any film this formulaic just isn’t. The characters are flat and frustrating, the beats are totally predictable, […]
The Russian Winter
John Forte was once on top of the music world, helping write and produce songs on The Fugees tremendous, Grammy-winning album The Score. Just a few years later, however, Forte was arrested and sentenced to 14 years in prison for cocaine trafficking. In 2008, his sentence was commuted by President Bush, and though he’s still […]
Babygirl Review
RATING: (2.5 STARS) As a coming-of-age story, Macdara Vallely’s Babygirl is quite successful. Front and center in the film is Yainis Ynoa, an attractive young talent whose Lena is equal parts street smart and naive. These characteristics help her navigate the tricky waters of the Bronx where her mother’s boyfriend lusts after her while she […]
Town of Runners
Who knew the world capital of running was the small rural village of Bekoji, Ethiopia? In Town of Runners, documentarian Jerry Rothwell takes us to this place, where the roads are made of mud, where phones have yet to be introduced, and where children know their only chance at a future outside Bekoji is through […]
Death of a Superhero Review
RATING: (2.5 STARS) For a few wonderful minutes in Death of a Superhero, it appears we’re in for something truly inspired. Films with dying characters trying to complete one final task or fulfill their last wish all play out the same way, but Ian Fitzgibbon’s film appears cut from a totally different cloth. Unfortunately, it […]
A Dangerous Method Review
RATING: (2.5 STARS) A Dangerous Method is a case of a film not equalling the sum of its parts. There were aspects of the film I loved (such as Viggo Mortensen’s brilliant portrayal of Freud), but the film doesn’t really amount to much, ultimately. I think that’s because it doesn’t know what it’s about. Is […]
Micmacs Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) The best word I could use to describe “Micmacs†is delightful. A lovely little French comedy from Jean-Pierre Jeunet, director of “Amelie,†the film details a rag-tag bunch of homeless people who decide to take down two weapons corporations. Consistently hilarious, never too serious, this film will brighten your day and bring […]
Cyrus Review
RATING: (2.5 STARS) Few films received as much positive buzz out of Sundance as “Cyrus,†the latest from the Duplass Brothers, Jay and Mark. Many hailed it as a film of rare emotional honesty. Festival-goers in Austin for South by Southwest responded in kind, but I couldn’t help but think the film didn’t live up […]
Mars Review
RATING: (3 STARS) “Mars†is a slick little festival film, which premiered at South by Southwest and isn’t like to go much further. But to not discuss it for that reason would be doing it a disservice, for it’s unique, quite beautiful, and very enjoyable. The story line is familiar, but the way it looks […]
Kick-Ass Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) “Kick-Ass,†the latest from director Matthew Vaughn, is a wild ride from start to finish. Simultaneously a superhero movie and a riff on superhero movies, the film is full of ribald humor, over-the-top violence, and a surprising amount of heart. It’s a tad long, but it doesn’t once wear out its welcome. […]
SXSW 2010: Day 2
SXSW Day 2, the first full day of the film festival (and sadly my last) began early for me with a panel discussion featuring acclaimed horror directors Neil Marshall (“The Descentâ€), Ruben Fleischer (“Zombielandâ€), Matt Reeves (“Cloverfieldâ€), Ti West (“The House of the Deadâ€), and Robert Rodriguez (“Desperadoâ€). The participation of Marshall and Rodriguez was […]
SXSW 2010: Day 1
Hello from Austin! My first ever SXSW festival began last night with the premiere of “Kick-Ass,” Matthew Vaughn’s adaptation of the popular comic book about a nerdy high school student who dons a wet suit and fights crime in his spare time. The theater was packed as festival attendees circled an entire city block to […]
