Monthly Archives: September 2011

Nicolas Winding Refn – A Brutal Name to Watch

Posted on September 26, 2011 by The Filmsmith | Leave a comment

There are very few directors working today as in control of their craft as Nicolas Winding Refn. With his most recent film, Drive, Refn has had his most evident success yet, and probably his greatest work. Yet Drive is bound to Refn’s previous work via its thematic material and similar cinematic devices.

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Drive is the coolest film of the year

Posted on September 16, 2011 by The Filmsmith | 3 comments

Nicolas Winding Refn should be mandatory viewing for film nerds. The audacity and craftsmanship of his filmmaking put him on par with the likes of Darren Aronofsky (see Refn’s Bronson), but with a sense of subtlety (Valhalla Rising). Pair Refn with the magnetic Ryan Gosling (Half Nelson, Lars and the Real Girl) and a high concept heist film that co-stars Bryan Cranston, and you have an unholy concoction of brilliant variables unseen since the release of the Double Down (with less heart disease). But this is far from an action film… Continue reading →

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Posted in Filmsmith Faves, Reviews

Tagged Bryan Cranston, drive, Heist film, Nicolas Winding Refn, Ryan Gosling

Hesher filled with Anarchy and Heart

Posted on September 12, 2011 by The Filmsmith | Leave a comment

Joseph Gordon-Levitt has been building a name for himself as a dynamic, charismatic actor since 2005’s Brick. But in his latest role, Hesher, Gordon-Levitt goes deeper down the rabbit hole than ever before, playing a loathsome, repulsive character well enough for us to love him. It’s a film about grief and anger, but it illustrates how most of us refuse to show those emotions, and Gordon-Levitt’s character has the wonderfully cathartic ability to draw us out of it. The result is both heartwarming and vulgar. Continue reading →

New Schedule

Posted on September 11, 2011 by The Filmsmith | Leave a comment

As previously mentioned, The Filmsmith is going through a few adjustments. After being on a brief hiatus, we will return to a scheduled format that will include an update every Monday that will either be a review of a film in theaters or an upcoming DVD release. Ben Creech will handle this review, while I, Remington Smith, will occasionally post films of interest, but until my feature length script is completed I will not post under a regularly scheduled format.

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We appreciate your interest in our site and hope to return to a Monday, Wednesday, Friday format as soon as our schedules allow it. You can support our ongoing work by clicking the donate button on the right hand side. We do this for free because we love to share great cinema and interesting ideas, but as with anything, if you receive money to do what you love it makes it easier to keep doing it.

Thanks,
Remington Smith