The Piano
RATING: (4 STARS) If you subscribe to the notion that the greatest movies transport you to a place you’ve never been and introduce you to people you’ve never known, The Piano is one of the greatest movies. Not your m.o.? Fine, but anyone who loves rousing melodramas, who appreciates impeccable acting, or who swoons over […]
True Romance Review
RATING: (4 STARS) True Romance is a fever dream. Who knew that combining the sensibilities of Quentin Tarantino the writer with those of Tony Scott the director would result in something that most closely resembles a 70s Terrence Malick movie? And what if that movie had one of the strongest, deepest casts of any movie […]
The War Room
Presented in a shockingly hands-off fashion, The War Room is the most insightful look at politics ever put to film. Documentarians Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker don’t judge their subjects, nor do they weigh in on the politics of the moment. Both would be mistakes, robbing The War Room of its most interesting quality—its unabashed […]
Manhattan Murder Mystery Review
RATING: (2.5 STARS) Few would dispute that Woody Allen’s most fertile period was the late 1970s. Annie Hall and Manhattan are two of cinema’s most valued treasures, and for good reason. They are transcendent films, full of several magical moments. Allen’s 1980s pictures are also (mostly) exceptional. Crimes and Misdemeanors might be my favorite Allen […]
Cronos Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) The horror genre is one I don’t get. The mainstream stuff is mind-numbingly stupid and full of pointless gore. The low-budget stuff is typically too low-budget to have any redeeming production values. That being said, it’s an undeniably important genre, more for the influence it’s had on some great directors. One of […]
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 […]
Philadelphia Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) I went into “Philadelphia†knowing exactly what was going to happen and expecting it to be a manipulative courtroom drama – kind of like Kramer vs. Kramer. I was quite surprised, therefore, when I actually found it genuinely moving and honest. The three-dimensional characters and the bold way they confront the issues […]
