The Hunger Games Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) While reading Suzanne Collins’ novel, The Hunger Games, you’re immediately struck by the story’s cinematic potential. A dystopian future, an elaborate death match, and an angsty young-adult love triangle—what’s not to like? But with the good comes the potentially terrible—opulent cities with multi-colored buildings, the inevitable neutering down of the novel’s bloodier […]
Ranking the 2011 Oscar Nominees
I’m totally stealing this idea from In Contention, but I thought it would be fun to look at the Oscar field as a whole this year. I’ve seen 29 of the nominated features. I’m missing: Another Year, The Wolfman, Barney’s Version, The Way Back, The Tempest, In a Better World, Incendies, Outside the Law, Dogtooth, […]
The Ten Best Films of 2010
10.) The Kids Are All Right Lisa Cholodenko’s dramedy resonates so strongly because she manages to make this “non-traditional†family incredibly relatable. I found myself taken aback with just how insightful it is, how clever the writing is, and how strong the performances are. 9.) Biutiful Only a fool would expect an Iñárritu film to […]
The Ten Best Films of 2010 So Far
Most people compiled lists of their favorite films from January through June—a first-half of the year top 10. I decided to wait. I hadn’t seen enough films through the end of June to make such a list worthwhile. But with the end of summer upon us, I thought it was appropriate to do such a […]
The Kids Are All Right Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) “The Kids Are All Right†is an extraordinary film about the inner workings of a “non-traditional†family. The film, exquisitely directed by Lisa Cholodenko, tells a story that’s unique to these characters, but its ability to capture the messy feelings and relationships inherent in any family is what elevates it from great […]
2010 Summer Movie Preview
As weather heats up, so does anticipation for summer blockbuster season. For many (myself included), this season can be great fun, but it’s also kind of like a minefield—one week you get Star Trek, the next you get Angels and Demons. So consider this your guide to navigate the minefield—my preview and expectations for the […]
2011 Oscar Predictions: Forecasting the Year Ahead
The 2011 Oscars are far off (thank goodness), but it’s always fun to look at the year and guess what might be the best of the year. Of course, many of the films have yet to been seen (hell, some of them might not even be coming out this year), but that’s part of the […]
