Category Archives: Reviews

Blue Valentine will break your heart

Posted on January 18, 2011 by | 2 comments

Romance in cinema is usually confined to two distinct categories: Either two people learn to love each other (consummated by a kiss or marriage) or they learn to leave each other for someone else.  Other than the uneasy ending to The Graduate, there are few films willing to follow a couple beyond their climactic decision to get together/leave.  Blue Valentine plays with each romantic format, but its uncomfortable window into a marriage imploding will make you want to call the cops for the couple’s mutual safety. Continue reading →

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Another Year hilarious and poignant

Posted on January 18, 2011 by | 1 comment

Storytelling relies on conflict and the yearning for resolution, which means that family centered tales are usually brimming with strife. Another Year, then, is all the more interesting. It centers around Tom and Gerri, a cozy happily married couple who take in their alcoholic friend Mary like a stray, emotionally unstable dog. Continue reading →

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Rent This: The American earns an Easy A along with The Other Guys

Posted on January 18, 2011 by | 5 comments

As I have previously pointed out, January-March are the cinema doldrums, a lull between festival season and the looming summer blockbusters.  So it’s nice to visit the video store and find several titles that will surprise you with how good they are. Continue reading →

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DVD Tuesday: Freakonomics not that mind-blowing

Posted on January 18, 2011 by | Leave a comment

In 2005, economist Steven Levitt and journalist Stephen Dobner published a book that changed the way we think about everything from incentives and causality to sumo wrestling and abortion. Their research and case studies radically shifted the paradigm of contemporary thought, especially as it pertained to the constantly changing economy. Last year “six rogue filmmakers” tried to adapt this book into a documentary. Unfortunately the film doesn’t really do anything.  Continue reading →

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DVD Tuesday: Buried a good bad film

Posted on January 18, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Buried is a high-concept film about a man who has been buried alive with only his cellphone, lighter, and a limited supply of oxygen. It stars a frequently mediocre, otherwise bad, actor in the lead (read: only) role, and is helmed by a new director. This movie is supposed to be bad; it is meant to make a profit off of its obviously slim budget. However, in spite of all of that, it defies expectations and gives one of the most thrilling endings of the year. Continue reading →

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Somewhere a self-indulgent student film

Posted on January 17, 2011 by | 1 comment

Sofia Coppola has made a career out of following the existential malaise of the rich and famous (save for Virgin Suicides), so another film by Ms. Coppola within that framework is not a surprise.  What is surprising is just how bad it is. Continue reading →

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“Hedwig” director tackles tragedy in Rabbit Hole

Posted on January 17, 2011 by | Leave a comment

John Cameron Mitchell reinvigorated the sexually confused rock musical with Hedwig and the Angry Inch, following this with a meditation on (explicit) sexuality’s emotional power in Shortbus.  For Rabbit Hole he takes on the straight couple demographic, as Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart try to keep their marriage from sinking on rocky shores. Continue reading →

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Rare Exports a Christmas mess

Posted on January 17, 2011 by | Leave a comment

The Finnish film documenting the true, ghastly nature of Santa Clause looked like it could be exploitation horror fun, but instead will leave you with question marks dangling over your head.  The film makes huge leaps in narrative logic, in one case young Pietari deducing from explosions on a mountain, “Santa’s under there!”

What?!

Nothing implies such a statement and Pietari’s proclamation stands in for the film’s inability to expose such a key plot detail in any other fashion.  Which is emblematic for the rest of the film, including the moment Pietari, hitherto a weakling, suddenly becomes Rambo as he organizes helicopter pickups and heroic gestures.  Everything is inexplicable in Finland evidently.

Some of the issues could stem from a terrible subtitle translation, but most of the awful simply stems from bad storytelling.  Cool idea, terrible execution.  Don’t even bother renting.

-Remington Smith

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The Green Hornet lacks sting

Posted on January 14, 2011 by | 1 comment

Oh sweet, sweet January.  As December 31st represents the cutoff date for films to be eligible for Oscar consideration, the first few months of the year usher in a flood of films the studios unceremoniously dump into cinemas to fulfill contractual obligations. The Green Hornet is no exception to the rule. Continue reading →

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Catfish mystery satisfying

Posted on January 12, 2011 by | 3 comments

If you’ve been swimming in the film pond during 2010, you might have heard of a film called Catfish, which was a Sundance sensation at the beginning of last year.  Part of the buzz stemmed from the film’s black-ops secrecy; its tagline (see right) told you not to “let anyone tell you what it is.”  Maybe it doesn’t deserve such secrecy, but what they’ve kept under wraps is a fascinating look at relationships in the 21st century. Continue reading →

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