Given the hubbub surrounding the new Broadway revival of Cabaret, I thought it fitting to take a look back into the career of its star, Michelle Williams. I chose her 2011 film My Week With Marilyn, in which she tackles the role of iconic star Marilyn Monroe. Though she may not seem the most obvious…
Short film round-up
If you don’t mind a bit of obtuse surrealism, check out This is Not a Time to Lie, a three-minute animated short from China’s Lei Lei that follows its main character on a trippy journey through a lush geometric landscape. None of it, from the poetic narration to the almost frantic animation, has a discernible point,…
Critic touched and amazed by ‘The Wind Rises’
I am appalled that The Wind Rises did not take home the Oscar for Best Animated Picture. It makes Frozen look like a straight-to-DVD castoff. A beautiful farewell from Hayao Miyazaki, it is utterly magical – and in a way that eschews Disney’s heavy-handedness in favor of a much gentler, realer approach. The film presents…
Critic delights in Allen’s ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’
Given the recent success of Blue Jasmine – namely, Cate Blanchett’s Best Actress Oscar win – I decided to revisit another of Woody Allen’s films that features women in plum roles: Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Released in 2008, it’s one of Allen’s best, with a light, fresh tone that still hits all the expected cynical notes….
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…
Short film round-up
For something a little off-kilter, take a look at Cockatoo, an 11-minute short from Australian filmmaker Matthew Jenkin that explores heartbreak and closure. The film follows a man who makes a desperate attempt to get over his previous relationship by hiring an actress from the Reality Dreams agency to play his ex-girlfriend for a few hours….
’50/50′ treats difficult subject matter with humor and honesty
Some movies make you laugh. Others make you cry. 50/50 will make you do both in excess. A marvelous little film that didn’t get quite as much attention as it deserved, it’s the perfect balance of light and dark, presented in the most honest way possible. Directed by Jonathan Levine, 50/50 stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as “Adam,” a 27-year-old…
Short film round-up
If you’re fond of twist endings, check out The Ride, a six-minute short from Timothy Melville that operates like a romantic drama until the very last minute. Benjamin Rigby stars as a young man waiting on his road trip buddies who runs into his ex-girlfriend. An awkward reconnection ensues, and he offers to take her home….
Critic revels in ‘The Raid: Redemption’
The Raid: Redemption is gorgeous. It’s one hour and 41 minutes of pure, unadulterated violence. I loved every blood-soaked second of it. Before I begin to wax too poetic about the film, I feel that it is my duty as a critic to make a few unfortunate admissions about it: the plot is unimaginative, the dialogue…
Short film round-up
For something that is at once charmingly fantastical and deeply relatable, check out I Am Tom Moody, a seven-minute animated short from Ainslie Henderson. The film follows a young amateur entertainer struggling with the conflicting voices in his head, one plagued by insecurity and the other aggressively negative. The stop-motion animation is masterfully done, and the…
Critic delighted by ‘Frances Ha’
While I frequently say that I want to be Greta Gerwig when I grow up, I certainly don’t aspire to be anything like the woman she portrays in Frances Ha – that is to say, a complete and utter mess. It’s a testament to Gerwig’s abilities and charm that such a character is not only tolerable but downright…
Short film round-up
For something that’s a little silly but is nonetheless entertaining, take a look at The Wolf of Valentine’s Day, a three-minute parody short from Nathan Moore that sends up Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street by placing it in the dog-eat-dog world of chocolates and greeting cards. It’s in trailer format, giving Moore the opportunity to hit all…
Critic floored by ‘Blue Jasmine’
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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,”…
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…
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,…
Critic floored by ‘Five Minutes of Heaven’
It’s a rare film that manages to stay with the viewer for days after seeing it. Five Minutes of Heaven is just such a film. A tense, taut drama directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel, it tells a familiar tale in a remarkably personal way, allowing it to hit home with astounding strength. The film focuses on…
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…
