Review: Martha Marcy May Marlene
October 21, 2011
Martha Marcy May Marlene is a movie whose subject matter is less its subject and more a feeling. It is a film that makes you think, but is not intellectual. It relies its audience to react to and interpret what is on-screen rather than just sit back and experience it.
Review: The Ides of March
October 7, 2011
The Ides of March is nothing more than a political drama. There is nothing extraordinary about it as a whole. The premise is as old as politics itself. However, the individual pieces – the performances, the cinematography, the dialogue, the characters – all are excellent in-and-of-themselves. This makes the sum of its parts greater than the whole.
Review: Moneyball
September 23, 2011
It’s good to see a movie about baseball after such a long time without one. That’s not to say this is a traditional feel-good sports film, however. Moneyball is a sports drama rife with complex characters, smart dialogue, and is a delight to behold, especially for baseball fans.
Review: Drive
September 16, 2011
After premiering at Cannes, Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive received critical acclaim and became my most-looked-forward-to film of the year. Then, I was shocked to see ads for the film on television that suggested it was being given a wide release. This deeply engaging, beautiful, entertaining film is a unique picture that hopefully points towards the future of movies. Its combination of European art house sensibility and mainstream appeal is fascinating, and a joy to witness.
Review: Contagion
September 9, 2011
Contagion snuck up on me almost as quickly as the virus in the film snuck up on its victims. It was only a few weeks ago I began seeing ads for the movie, which seemed like a simple disaster movie. However, with Soderbergh at the helm and so many incredible actors, you know that that is not the end of the story. In fact, Contagion is an expansive, sweeping tale whose major focus is humanity itself.
Interview: Mike Cahill discusses intertwing science fiction and drama in Another Earth
July 25, 2011
In Another Earth mankind discovers that another version of Earth is also spinning around the sun. This monumental discovery serves as the backdrop for the moving story of Rhoda (Brit Marling, whose interview is on its way) whose life is fundamentally changed by this celestial body. When I sat down for a roundtable interview with Mike Cahill (co-writer, director, director of photography, and editor of the film) we discussed blending the grand science fiction elements of the film, which ultimately is a personal human drama, as well as the process behind creating the film and being bought at Sundance by Fox Searchlight. Click through for the full, unedited interview Read the rest of this entry »
Review: Tabloid
July 22, 2011
Errol Morris’ latest documentary, Tabloid, features a downright wacky story that not only entertains but also confronts the audience with questions of true love and the nature of truth.
Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest, is an engaging and entertaining documentary which features an interesting look at the legacy of one group, and its impact on Hip-Hop. Read the rest of this entry »
Interview: Michael Rapaport
July 20, 2011
Michael Rapaport, known for his roles on television and in film including on Prison Break and Boston Legal as well as in Special, SLC Punk, Hitch, and many others, makes his directorial debut with Beats, Rhymes & Life which illuminates the history and legacy of the rap group A Tribe Called Quest which is released by Sony Pictures Classics this Friday. I had the fortune to sit down with him in a roundtable interview a few weeks ago where we discussed the controversy surrounding the film, his inspiration for crafting a documentary, the experience of growing up in New York as a beat boy, and his favorite music films. Continue reading for a transcript of the full, unedited interview which features questions from a number of journalists including myself.
Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
July 16, 2011
It all ends… and it’s awesome.