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.
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.
Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
July 16, 2011
It all ends… and it’s awesome.
Review: Transformers: Dark of the Moon
July 1, 2011
Transformers: Dark of the Moon is a bad film, but that does not mean you cannot enjoy the spectacle of it all.
Review: Green Lantern
June 17, 2011
Green Lantern is a perfect example of a great tale hijacked by poor storytelling, heavy-handed CGI, bad acting, and poor execution in general.