Transit (Petzold, 2019)
Calling a film “difficult” or “hard” is, in some respects, a no-win proposition for a reviewer. If that label is given in conjunction with a poor review, it invites barbs… Continue reading "Transit (Petzold, 2019)"
Category: Disclosure
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Glass (Shyamalan, 2019)
When M. Night Shyamalan’s Split met with favorable reviews in 2016, I wondered pretty openly whether or not the film’s twist left a fresher taste in viewer’s mouths than the… Continue reading "Glass (Shyamalan, 2019)"
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The Weight of Success (Silverstein, 2018)
The Weight of Success is mostly a missed opportunity to explore the important topic of whether or not life coaching and/or psychology work and the more important topic of whether… Continue reading "The Weight of Success (Silverstein, 2018)"
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Creed II (Caple, Jr., 2018)
Unfortunately, in order to drive the film to the expected ringside confrontations, Creed II erases much of the nuanced character development of the original.
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The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (Hallstrom and Johnston)
Keira Knightley’s performance as Sugar Plum in The Nutcracker and the Four Realms is probably my favorite camp performance since Johnny Depp introduced us all to Captain Sparrow. Whether she… Continue reading "The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (Hallstrom and Johnston)"
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Exorcist II: The Heretic (Boorman, 1977)
Shout Factory's Blu-ray Collector's Edition is worth the purchase for the extras alone.
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Liyana (Kopp, 2017)
On principle, Liyana is a film I ought to love and not just like.
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All About Nina (Vives, 2018)
Nina (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) might be described as an angrier, more messed up version of Amy in Trainwreck. In the first few scenes of the movie, she comes off stage… Continue reading "All About Nina (Vives, 2018)"
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Strangers on the Earth (Cook, 2016)
After finishing Strangers on the Earth, I said only half-joking on Letterboxd that it was precisely the sort of film that would have bored me to tears had it been directed by Terence Malick.
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Jeannette: The Childhood of Joan of Arc (Dumont, 2017)
The little girl walks and sings. Her affect and gestures are familiar, easily recognizable to anyone who has spent time around children. But the words, translated from French, are not some memorized advertising jingle or relentlessly pounding pop song chorus. They are devout, abstract, and deeply serious. Then she does a somersault, landing in a full cheerleader's split with arms raised triumphantly to the sky. Vive la France! Yay God!