Albert Nobbs Review
RATING: (3 STARS) It took Glenn Close almost two decades to get Albert Nobbs to the big screen, and for such a talent to dedicate so much heart and soul to something, viewers have a right to expect something truly special, right? Well, if you go in with that mindset, you’ll certainly be disappointed. However, […]
A Separation Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) A Separation is an absolute tour-de-force of storytelling. Long after the credits have rolled, I still have hard time comprehending how writer/director Asghar Farhadi managed to fit so much into just two hours. The film touches on a number of potentially melodramatic issues with real clarity and poise, and the cultural differences […]
The Adventures of Tintin Review
RATING: (3 STARS) Though The Adventures of Tintin is breezy fun, one can’t help but think the pairing of Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson should have turned out something more exciting than this. Much has been made of the meeting of the minds of Indiana Jones and The Lord of the Rings, but not a […]
War Horse Review
RATING: (3 STARS) Steven Spielberg’s films are often so recognizable that they could make up their own genre. They’re always impeccably crafted, and you can usually see him trying very hard—sometimes painfully so—to make you feel something. I tend to think part of the reason films like Munich and Minority Report were so admired was […]
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) Review
RATING: (3 STARS) David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is about as good as its nauseatingly dense source material would allow. I’m no fan of Stieg Larsson’s novel, nor the original Swedish film version. Fincher, however, is able to milk this puppy for all its worth. It’s pulp for mass consumption. It hides […]
Young Adult Review
RATING: (3 STARS) I’m one of those heartless individuals still bitter that Diablo Cody won an Oscar for her turgid Juno screenplay in 2007. But honest to blog, her writing for Jason Reitman’s latest is the highlight of the film. This is the work of someone who’s clearly matured over time. Gone is the insufferable […]
Rampart Review
RATING: (3 STARS) Rampart is another in a long line of 2011 character studies focusing on a man or woman on his or her her way to hitting rock bottom. Drive did something similar, as did Martha Marcy May Marlene. Perhaps the most apt companion piece would be We Need to Talk About Kevin. Disregarding […]
Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol Review
RATING: (3 STARS) Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol is hopefully the beginning of a beautiful friendship. It’s hard to say whether Brad Bird needed Ethan Hunt more, or if it was the other way around, but regardless, their first collaboration is one hell of an action movie. Bird is the director of such animated hits as […]
Carnage Review
RATING: (2 STARS) With names like Roman Polanski, Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly, Christoph Waltz, and Kate Winslet front and center, Carnage has no right being such a wet blanket of a movie. Its premise is golden—two sets of parents meet to discuss a physical altercation between their children. Chaos, of course, ensues, but it’s […]
We Need to Talk About Kevin Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) We Need to Talk About Kevin is the best horror movie in years. It’s the antithesis of a Saw or a Paranormal Activity film in that it’s based in the real world rather than one full of ghosts or, you know, murderous puppets. It depicts a parent’s worst nightmare: That his or […]
The Descendants Review
RATING: (3 STARS) Call Alexander Payne’s films slight if you must, but the man has an uncanny knack for tackling the human condition with complexity and honesty, levity and sadness. With The Descendants, he reaches a new level. All the elements I and many others loved about Sideways and About Schmidt are executed here to […]
The Muppets Review
RATING: (3 STARS) It’s hard to make the argument that The Muppets is a kids movie. It’s certainly family-friendly, but the film will work best for those, like me, who grew up loving Kermit, Piggy, Fozzie, and the rest of the gang. It’s like a reunion of old friends, and though you don’t have to […]
J. Edgar Review
RATING: (2 STARS) Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar reminded me of all the reasons I hate biopics. This is a totally uninspired film—a paint-by-numbers history lesson that, yes, features good performances but takes no chances. A film needs to be extraordinarily well-made to overcome the trappings of such a familiar narrative trajectory, and this one just […]
Hugo Review
RATING: (4 STARS) Martin Scorsese’s Hugo is this joyful love letter to youth, discovery, and the magic of movies. It’s also a visual feast for the eyes like we haven’t seen in years. Though a complete departure on so many levels for Scorsese, Hugo is just as good as some of his best works, both […]
The Way Review
RATING: (2.5 STARS) If you’ve ever seen a road trip movie, you know what you’re going to get out of Emilio Estevez’s The Way. Just because the characters travel by foot doesn’t mean it doesn’t follow a very familiar and pretty stale formula. And yet, The Way isn’t a total waste of time. It’s a […]
Take Shelter Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) Psychological character studies seem to be all the rage right now on the indie circuit, but as compelling as this subgenre often is, it’s also one that feels a little played out. I love films like Shutter Island and, more recently, Martha Marcy May Marlene, but somewhere in the back of my […]
