Author Archive
Film Review – The Purge: Election Year
Man I wish these movies were better. This series is a repeating exercise in frustration. There is potential here for making a trenchant, biting, incisive commentary on American society. And there are germs of good ideas in The Purge series. But they are so underutilized…
READ MORE
Film Review – 45 Years
If you are into quiet, subtle, brilliant film acting, you will be into the new film 45 Years. Thoughtful adult cinema about characters over a certain age is increasingly rare anymore. And especially allowing actors in their advanced years star in a film while giving…
READ MORE
Film Review – Anomalisa
Idiosyncratic. That is the word that leaps to mind. It might seem like a cop out as a description. It feels a bit like calling something “Unique” when you don’t know what to make of something. But it is the first word that leaps to…
READ MORE
Film Review – Sisters
The new Tina Fey/Amy Poehler joint Sisters accomplishes the number one thing that is required of a comedy. It is funny. Damn funny. I mean full on hard belly laugh funny. We can discuss the artistic merits of film and the depth of character or…
READ MORE
Film Review – Secret in Their Eyes
English language remakes of prized foreign language films has become standard in Hollywood. Knowing that the average American audience doesn’t have the attention span for reading subtitles, film companies will often turn their gaze towards foreign intellectual properties they can pilfer and repackage into a…
READ MORE
Film Review – Steve Jobs
It’s strange to see recent history of which you have actual concious memory portrayed on screen. Boyhood had that effect, where you were struck with nostalgia for a mere 5 years ago. And that effect does happen in the new film Steve Jobs. Pretty much…
READ MORE
Film Review – The Intern
If movies were graded on well-meaning intent The Intern would Rate an A. People acting decently to one another, learning to respect each other, portraying male-female friendships in a non-sexual positive light, finding value in the wisdom of older people, and most of all championing…
READ MORE
Film Review – A Walk in the Woods
Living an authentic life has been a goal for writers and artists forever. Shedding the artifice of modernity to connect with the world around us can both inspire and help create perspective. Probably more hiking and camping trips have been inspired by the works of…
READ MORE