Cave of Forgotten Dreams
In Cave of Forgotten Dreams, Werner Herzog—a master documentarian by all accounts—chronicles the discovery and study of the paintings inside the Chauvet Caves of Southern France. They are the oldest known paintings in human history, and seeing them illuminated is simply astonishing. This films pleasures end there, unfortunately, and once the novelty of these images […]
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 […]
Buck
It’s easy to see why a lot of people love Buck, but I found it a pretty tepid and shallow film. It’s very “red state”—what with all the tough-talking cowboys—and I’m guessing the films fans are responding to the way the film contrasts this with the emotional confessions interspersed throughout the film. Unfortunately, the filmmakers […]
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front
It’s hard not to be fascinated by If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front. Imagine coming to work on a seemingly normal day and then seeing the quiet guy down the hall get arrested by the feds on terrorism charges. That’s what happened to the wife of filmmaker Marshall Curry, who […]
Under Fire: Journalists in Combat
Films as hard-hitting as Under Fire: Journalists in Combat don’t come along very often. Here’s a documentary that turns its lens toward those with their camera lenses on war and destruction. It’s a talking heads piece that couldn’t be more well-served by this format. The stories told by these broken individuals are horrifying, and photographs […]
Bill Cunningham New York
Few 2011 films—or documentaries in general—are quite as charming as Bill Cunningham New York. Most non-fiction films tackle complicated, hard-hitting issues or complex characters with unforgettable stories. This film, however, is about a man, his bike, and his camera. Yet, there’s something joyful about the film’s simplicity, and its titular character’s smile is just infectious. […]
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 […]
Another Earth Review
RATING: (2 STARS) With Another Earth, director Mike Cahill really goes out on a limb. It’s one thing to make an indie sci-fi film about the discovery of a new planet that exactly mirrors our own, but it’s something else entirely to put that fascinating concept completely in the background and instead focus on two […]
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 […]
Cars 2 Review
RATING: (2 STARS) I know I’m not the first disappointed reviewer to make this statement, but I have no choice: With Cars 2, Pixar has finally made a stinker. I take no joy out of writing these words. I, like many, counted on the beloved animation studio to churn out an exceptional film every year. […]
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 […]
Beginners Review
RATING: (2 STARS) Beginners is a snooze. Plain and simple. And I really don’t like dismissing it so bluntly because it’s a very personal story. Director Mike Mills based Beginners, at least in part, on his own life—specifically, the material dealing with the main character’s elderly father who comes out of the closet after his […]
Tabloid
Though not quite on par with last year’s Exit Through the Gift Shop, Errol Morris’ Tabloid is the perfect antidote to the typical intensity and seriousness among a given year’s crop of non-fiction films. Tabloid doesn’t have high aspirations—it just throws this bizarre and complicated story at you, and let’s you choose what you want […]
