I loved Blue Jasmine, but I will not be able to watch it again for quite some time. Though it is wildly entertaining and impeccably made, it is not a particularly easy film to sit through, with its harsh tone and difficult subject matter. Nevertheless, it is a stunning addition to Woody Allen’s already impressive oeuvre….
Short film round-up
If you’ve seen Spike Jonze’s Her, you’ll definitely want to check out Her: Love In The Modern Age, Lance Bangs’ documentary short that chronicles some of the reactions to the movie. The 15-minute film takes a look at love in the modern age through the eyes of various actors, writers, musicians, and culture experts, including Olivia Wilde,…
Entertainment news round-up for Feb. 8
A new study conducted by the Journal of Management Inquiry suggests that while actresses in their 20s earn more than their male counterparts, the ratio reverses once they hit their mid-30s. “While the difference is fairly small, it’s indicative of the other side of the double standard,” said one of the study’s authors, Notre Dame…
Entertainment news round-up for Feb. 6
Longtime Oscars sponsors Coca-Cola and Hyundai have dropped their support of the event, for reasons undisclosed. PepsiCo and General Motors will take their places. Other advertisers set to appear during the March 2 telecast are Johnson & Johnson, AARP, American Express, Mars, McDonald’s, Samsung, Sprint, and Unilever. For more information, click here. Evangeline Lilly is…
Critic falls in love with “About Time”
I’m not entirely sure that there are adequate words to describe the way I feel about About Time. To put it in 21st century parlance, boy, did it give me the feels. I left the theater sniffling like an idiot and craving a substantial quantity of comfort food. Written and directed by Richard Curtis, the film…
Critic irked by ‘Philomena’
It always makes me sad when older actors must play roles that require them to simply be old. Unfortunately for Judi Dench, Philomena casts her in just such a role. While not a bad film, it is an underwhelming bore that reduces real people to mere caricatures. Directed by Stephen Frears, the movie tells the true…
Entertainment news round-up for Jan. 31
Friends actor David Schwimmer is returning to the small screen in ABC’s upcoming comedy pilot Irreversible. In addition to starring, Schwimmer will also produce the project, which is based on the Israeli series Bilti Hafich. The original series’ co-creator Segahl Avin co-wrote the American adaptation and may direct the pilot. For more information, click here. Emma Thompson has…
Entertainment news round-up for Jan. 30
Jerry Seinfeld has confirmed that he is planning a Seinfeld reunion. In a radio interview, the actor and comedian described the project as a “short-ish form,” “one-on-one thing” with Larry David. He mentioned that other actors from the show will also be involved. For more information, click here. Former Saturday Night Live actor Bill Hader is in talks to…
Critic finds ‘Frozen’ enjoyable, but not exceptional
I’m among the few people who did not completely adore Frozen. Don’t get me wrong – I thought it was a sweet, charming film with a refreshingly modern message. However, I don’t believe it lives up to the standard set by earlier Disney films. Directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, the film follows “Anna” (Kristen…
Short film round-up
For a delightfully whimsical and slightly melancholy treat, take a look at Cicada Princess, a seven-minute short from Mauchi Baiocchi that blends nature and fantasy to stunning effect. Using remarkably detailed puppetry, Baiocchi presents the life cycle of the cicada as a Cinderella story, narrated beautifully by the always excellent Stephen Fry. It’s a gorgeous little…
Entertainment news round-up for Jan. 26
The Directors Guild gave this year’s top prize to Alfonso Cuaron for his sci-fi thriller Gravity. The award was presented at the organization’s 66th DGA Awards ceremony at the Century Plaza Hotel on Saturday. “This is truly an honor and I’m humbled by it,” Cuaron said in his acceptance speech. “I still have this teen…
Short film round-up
If black comedy is your cup of tea, take a look at DEAD…, a brightly macabre little film from Royal College of Art student Joe Bichard. The four-minute animated film takes a darkly gleeful look at death and grief through the eyes of a young boy who has lost his entire family. Bichard isn’t afraid to…
Critic finds ‘Nebraska’ dull and overrated
I don’t think I’ve ever been quite so bored during a movie as I was during Alexander Payne’s Nebraska. It’s the cinematic equivalent of watching paint dry. I spent most of its nearly two-hour runtime squirming in my seat and trying not to fall asleep. Though it seems to have some sort of emotional impact in…
Entertainment news round-up for Jan. 21
Apple is currently the sole distributor of Sundance documentary Sepideh. The film, which appeared at Sundance on Sunday, is available for rent or purchase on iTunes for an undefined period of exclusivity. “The really exciting thing for me is that, with iTunes, the most number of people will be able to see this film,” director Berit…
Critic unimpressed by ‘Anchorman 2’
I wanted so badly to find Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues funny. The trouble is that it just isn’t. A boring, bloated mess that does little but tread old ground, it’s so jam-packed with lazy gags and half-hearted plot development that it garners more groans than giggles. Will Ferrell returns to the franchise as “Ron Burgundy,”…
Entertainment news round-up for Jan. 14
Johnny Depp is in talks with Marvel Studios to play Steven Strange in the upcoming Doctor Strange film. Whether or not the actor will take the role will depend on his schedule, which currently includes soon-to-be-greenlit projects such as a fifth Pirates of the Caribbean film and an Alice in Wonderland sequel. For more information on the project and on…
Entertainment news round-up for Dec. 7
· Jehane Noujaim’s The Square has won the best feature award from the Inernational Documentary Association. The Egyptian Revolution documentary also won the Audience Award for World Cinema at Sundance and the People’s Choice Award in its category at the Toronto Film Festival. ““I am dedicating this award to my fellow Egyptians,” Noujaim said. For…
Short film round-up
For a quirky and surprisingly touching animated treat, take a look at Wind, Robert Löbel’s four-minute short set in an incredibly windy world. Löbel is a master of the quietly brilliant sight gag, creating an incredibly detailed atmosphere without a stitch of dialogue. What’s more, the film’s conclusion is wonderfully poignant. To see the…
Entertainment news round-up for Dec. 9
Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity and Spike Jonze’s Her were both named best picture of the year by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. It is the first tie for best picture since 1978, when Network and Rocky shared the honor. Other shared awards given by the association include Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine) and Adele Exarchopoulous (Blue…
Entertainment news round-up for Dec. 6
Disney has taken over the distribution and marketing rights for the Indiana Jones franchise from Paramount. This means that Paramount will still control the rights for the original four films, while Disney will be responsible for any future projects in the franchise. Disney has not yet announced that a fifth Indiana Jones feature is in the works….
Entertainment news round-up for Dec. 5
Universal has selected Breaking Bad scribe Gennifer Hutchinson to write a film adaptation of Victoria Aveyard’s novel The Red Queen, about a world in which society is divided by the color of blood. Hutchinson was recently nominated for a Writers Guild of America award. For more on the film and on Hutchinson’s career, click here. Martin Scorsese…
Critic revels in the world of ‘Amélie’
If you’re looking for a film to brighten your day, If you’re looking for a film to brighten your day, Amélie is just the ticket. Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and released in 2001, it’s a modern day classic that is wonderfully whimsical without being too twee. Audrey Tautou stars as “Amélie Poulain,” a young French…
‘There Will Be Blood’ disturbs,enthralls
I have a feeling that I’m supposed to like There Will Be Blood, but I can’t say that I do. I can say, however, that I respect it. Released in 2007, it’s not exactly an enjoyable or entertaining movie, but it’s got a certain watchability that is uniquely its own. Directed and written by Paul…
Critic irked by writing in ‘Philomena’
There’s something rather depressing about Judi Dench playing the role of “Precocious Old Lady.” Unfortunately, in Philomena, she is forced to do just that. Based on a true story, it’s a sweet little film, but it doesn’t give any of its actors much to do. Dench stars as “Philomena Lee,” who conceived a child out…
Short film round-up
For a delightfully twisted treat, take a look at Status Update, an 11-minute short from Daniel Reisinger. The film follows a lovesick office worker who suddenly discovers that everything he posts on Facebook comes true. Of course, he quickly begins putting his newfound power to use, with hilarious and shocking results. Reisinger uses the element of…
McConaughey makes ‘Dallas Buyers Club’ worth watching
I think it’s probably safe to say that the old Matthew McConaughey – he of the rom-coms and slacker films – is long gone. In recent years, the actor has proven himself to be much more than his previous filmography suggests, what with his stunning turns in 2011’s Bernie and Killer Joe and 2012’s Mud,…
