Despite its lack of a strong ending, The Secret of Kells is a charming story told beautifully – and bravely. Directed by Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey, it may be aimed at a younger audience, but it pulls no punches in content or quality. The film follows “Brendan” (voiced by Evan McGuire), a young boy…
Critic finds classic “American Psycho” disturbingly good
Almost 14 years after its release, American Psycho still holds up. While its heavy satirization of yuppie culture may not ring quite so many bells with audiences of today, the performances and artful treatment of disturbing subject matter still shocks, horrifies, and utterly captivates. Directed by Mary Harron based on Bret Easton Ellis’ novel of…
Critic finds cult classic “Dogma” a little dated
Kevin Smith’s 1999 film Dogma was probably groundbreakingly irreverent for audiences in its day. However, much like some of the tenets of organized religion that the movie pokes fun at, it doesn’t feel like it’s stood the test of time. Although the timing and structure of Smith’s writing still hits its mark, the actual content…
Critic frightened and fascinated by ‘No Country for Old Men’
Do not watch No Country for Old Men by yourself. More specifically, do not watch No Country for Old Men by yourself, at night, when the wind outside is howling something like a banshee. If you do – and if you’re a wimp, like I am – you will end up cowering under your covers, because there are parts…
Critic dazzled by ‘A Single Man’
Tom Ford must make more films. It’s his calling. Though he is best known for his long and illustrious career in the fashion industry, his 2009 movie A Single Man makes it clear that should he continue with filmmaking, he stands to make his mark as a great auteur. Not only is it a stylistic masterpiece, it…
Critic takes a look back at a Disney classic
After being wildly underwhelmed by Frozen, I thought it appropriate to take a look back into Disney’s catalogue to see what the newer film might have been missing. I chose Mulan, a movie I loved as a child, and my suspicion was confirmed: Disney used to be much, much better at the musical aspect of its movies….
Critic deems ‘Brick’ a true modern classic
Rian Johnson’s Brick is, to my mind, the very definition of a modern classic – not only because it’s fantastic, but also because it dares to combine the old and the new in a smart, sexy, and stylish way. A neo-noir story dropped smack into a contemporary setting, Brick is an effortlessly engaging visual and aural delight. Released in…
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 fascinated and frightened by ‘Trainspotting’
Danny Boyle may have won his Oscar for directing Slumdog Millionaire, but I wholeheartedly believe 1996’s Trainspotting is his best work to date. A strange and wonderful film, it is at once buoyantly joyful and bitterly dark, yanking the viewer into a world that terrifies and enthralls. The film follows “Renton” (Ewan McGregor), a Scottish…
Critic impressed by ‘Rachel Getting Married’
I like to think of Rachel Getting Married as the film for which Anne Hathaway really should have won an Oscar. A glorious cinematic tour de force, it’s undoubtedly her finest film to date – not only due to her own performance, but also because of the sheer brilliance of what director Jonathan Demme has built around…
Critic enjoys quiet charm of ‘All the Real Girls’
It’s very easy to dismiss David Gordon Green as a frivolous filmmaker, considering that his two biggest releases, Pineapple Express and Your Highness, fall into the stoner comedy genre. However, a deeper look into his filmography reveals a different, more nuanced side of his directorial style. For an example, one need look no further than All the Real…
‘Waking Ned Devine’ is a modern classic
It may be slightly premature to call Waking Ned Devine a classic – after all, it was released in 1998 – but I’m reasonably certain that it will stand the test of time. Written and directed by Kirk Jones, it’s a sweet, simple comedy with plenty of heart and just enough bite. The film is…
Critic moved by modern classic ‘Once’
Once is a classic example of a “little movie that could”: a tiny, micro-budget film that somehow managed to rocket to classic status in an instant. It’s even been adapted into a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, which isn’t so much an indication of its quality as it is a sign of its incredible popularity. Thankfully, though, it more than lives up to the hype.
Critic delights in classic Woody Allen film ‘Bananas’
It seems that the farther back you go in Woody Allen’s body of work, the sillier his films become. Such is definitely the case with 1971’s Bananas, Allen’s fourth directorial effort. Though it relies more heavily on slapstick sight gags than his later work, it still has that signature neurotic charm that makes Allen’s movies so delightful.
Critic finds fault with classic ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’
By Amanda Ack, Film Critic Holly Golightly is the quintessential manic pixie dream girl. Think about it: she’s cute, she’s quirky, and, most importantly, she’s just damaged enough to be interesting. It seems that in adapting Truman Capote’s novel Breakfast at Tiffany’s into the 1961 film of the same name, director Blake Edwards created something…
Characters make coming of age film enjoyable for critic
By Amanda Ack, Film Critic The characters in Whit Stillman’s Metropolitan are quite possibly the most profoundly irritating bunch of post-adolescent brats I’ve ever seen onscreen. They’re spoiled, selfish, and snotty, with chips on their shoulders and fluff in their brains. By rights, the film should be too grating to sit through. There’s something about…
