n a lot of ways, Baz Luhrmann (“Romeo + Juliet,” “Moulin Rouge!”) is the perfect person to bring the decadent, extravagant, yet ultimately meaningless life of rich excess portrayed in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s literary classic to life. In his latest “classic tale with a modern twist” or “classic tale but (continued…)
With magical undertones and a splendid heart reminiscent of Tim Burton’s “Big Fish” or Robert Zemeckis’ ”Cast Away,” Ang Lee’s “Life of Pi” takes you on a metaphysical voyage. The film, adapted from the surrealist novel by Yann Martel, begins with Pi Patel as an adult, who tells the story of his youth (continued…)
Filmmakers love the listless, amorphous depression that seems to coat the American suburbs and their hapless residents. It’s laid on thick in the opening scene of Julian Farino’s feature film debut “The Oranges,” as Vanessa Walling (Alia Shawkat), poses the film’s driving conflict in an ironic Daria monotone: “The question (continued…)
Like a shot of hard bourbon, “The Master” is a tough film to swallow — but one that’s meant to be. And that’s, in part, what makes the film so terrific. In this gorgeously presented intense character study of two enigmatic and deeply flawed individuals, Paul Thomas Anderson employs a (continued…)
“The Words” is the worst kind of ridiculous movie. It’s the kind that’s a convoluted, asinine mess, mercilessly begging to be taken seriously. From the incredibly flawed storyline, to the ominous tone, the film asks to be looked at as a captivating thriller despite not having the intellect to sell (continued…)
Comedy · Drama · Indie · Romance
At this point in his career, the most common criticism you’ll hear about Wes Anderson is that he’s become a parody of himself. With the too-bizarre-too-take-seriously “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” and the underwhelming “Darjeeling Limited” (the adorably kitschy stop-motion menagerie “The Fantastic Mr. Fox” notwithstanding), it’s a hard (continued…)
Comedy · Drama · Foreign · Indie
“The Intouchables” is something of a phenomenon in its native country. Smashing box office records in France and across Europe, this truly touching film made me laugh, cry, think about the meaning of life, and develop a pretty huge crush on French film star, Omar Sy. But, with sudden popularity (continued…)
Action · Adventure · Drama · Romance
There’s a scene late in Director Rupert Sanders “Snow White and The Huntsman”— an adaptation of the classic Grimm brothers fairytale — where the seven dwarfs lead ‘the fairest of them all’ and the huntsman into a beautiful place that lives in darkness due to the reign of the evil (continued…)
Comedy · Drama · Foreign · Indie · Romance
Teenage boys are horny. An obvious notion that’s been cinema’s long time obsession through a seemingly endless—and in most cases superfluous—supply of both raunchy and indie male-centric coming-of-age films. Particularly in the last decade. Which makes it all the more refreshing to see Norwegian writer/director Jannicke Systad Jacobsen’s “Turn Me (continued…)
Comedy · Drama · Indie · Romance
The mostly true story of the invention of the vibrator, starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and Hugh Dancy, is a pleasant romp through Victorian gynecology and sexual mores. It has a few laughs, many cringes, and generally affirms the notion that no matter how bad things are today, they are most certainly (continued…)
Drama · Horror · Indie · Tribeca Film Festival
Celeb Sightings: So it turns out Dakota Fanning is actually 18, and a freshman at NYU, which would explain why she’s allowed to see all these sexually explicit indie movies. This doesn’t, however, explain why she liked the abysmal lesbian werewolf love story, “Jack and Diane,” but she and Patricia (continued…)
Drama · Foreign · Indie · Tribeca Film Festival
Celeb Sightings: “Mad Men’s” Rich Sommer hanging out early in the press lounge, eating an ice cream bar before Malin Akerman, Topher Grace and Chris Messina came in to join the party. Topher appropriate greeted the trio with a double-fisted “rock and roll” gesture. Still can’t let go of the (continued…)
Comedy · Drama · Foreign · Indie · Tribeca Film Festival
Photo Courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival Celeb Sightings: Walking down the street, playing on my phone, I looked up and realized that I was walking next to Patricia Clarkson (who was also playing on her phone). Also, Dakota Fanning was in my screening of “First Winter,” which is surprising because (continued…)
Comedy · Documentary · Drama · Film Festivals · Foreign · Indie · Tribeca Film Festival
Photo Courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival[divider] Tribeca is an interesting festival. It boasts a plethora of high-profile star attendance (this year’s jury for competition films includes Rosario Dawson, Patricia Clarkson, Hugh Dancy, Dakota Fanning, Whoopie Goldberg, Olivia Wilde, Brett Ratner, and Susan Sarandon, among others. Robert De Niro and Judd (continued…)
[divider] Thomas Doret and Cécile De France star in “The Kid with a Bike.” Photo credit: Christine Plenus [divider] There’s something beautiful about the unrefined trust and truth in the eyes of a child, unscathed by the harshness or dishonesty of the world. Then something changes. You lie, you get hurt, (continued…)
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