9 years ago
Reviews (10 posts found)
Gia Coppola Sparks Teen Angst Pizzazz in Directorial Debut “Palo Alto”
The common charge leveled at the Coppola progeny - that they are the beneficiaries of nepotism that not only gets them movie deals but results in films about the insular wealthy - will no doubt be applied to Gia Coppola’s feature debut Palo Alto. Within the fi...
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“Ida”: Enjoy the Silence
Anna grew up in a covent, sheltered from the everyday struggles. Wanda, a bitter stalinist show-trial prosecuting star, has experienced all life-shattering things there are and grew incredibly thick skin. A naïve, motherless girl, discovering the truth about h...
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“For No Good Reason” Mediocrely Sheds Light on the Face of Gonzo Journalism, Ralph Steadman
Fans of documentary cinema often bemoan the lack of stylistic ambition that seems to be the norm for the film. Point and shoot cinematography. Talking heads. Informational graphics. Stock music cues. While For No Good Reason is plagued with issues, formal bana...
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“Belle” Offers A Unique and Involving Romance
If you're in the mood to discover how deeply skewed your picture of history is, check out the blog Medieval POC. Popular thought keeps our mental image of the people of various nations rigidly segregated by race (except for trade and war, I guess) up until the...
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“The Protector 2” is a Martial Arts Mess (with Elephants!)
"You lost your elephant again? You're sure it's an elephant and not a kitten? How do you keep losing him?"
That's all there is to say about The Protector 2, honestly. When a film's plot revolves around the kidnapping of an elephant, what possible new direct...
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“The Amazing Spider-Man 2” Swings And Misses
On the basis of its first two films, Marc Webb’s reboot franchise of Spider-Man manages not only to wallow in superhero cliché but in that of the teen indie. Peter Parker’s self-doubt and petulance have been crucial traits of the character since his inception ...
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“Fading Gigolo”: The Inconspicuous Star of the Party
An uninitiated spectator could easily mistake John Turturro's Fading Gigolo for the work of Woody Allen, who here plays Turturro's on-screen sidekick. But what distinguishes Turturro's film from those of his legendary costar is that Turturro is able -- and wil...
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“Brick Mansions” Offers Parkour But Not Much Else
Brick Mansions takes place in a dystopian Detroit (only four years from now) where huge mansions lie abandoned and taken over by gangsters. Hospitals and schools have been removed and to combat the anything goes nature of the newly formed compounds, law enforc...
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“Locke”: A Bold and Economical Work of Art, Led by a Magnetic Tom Hardy
Steven Knight's debut feature as director, last year's Hummingbird (or, to go by its more generic US title, Redemption), misplaced the screenwriter's normally sharp sense of the plight of the lost and the disadvantaged amidst a too-basic morality play. But the...
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No Michelin Star for “Tasting Menu”
Roger Gual's Tasting Menu is a light, summery invitation for a conventionally attractive film date that won't necessarily turn into a lifelong thing. Despite its pretty face, this cinematic partner's IQ is slightly too low to get you seriously hooked.
The d...
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