Another “Hammer to Nail” (Festival) Triptych: “Fursonas,” “Rams” and “All These Sleepless Nights”

Over the past two weeks, Hammer to Nail published three reviews of mine for films that played at recent film festivals, one … More

“Roughly Speaking” on “Hail, Caesar!” and the Coen Brothers

Today, Linda DeLibero – Director, Film and Media Studies, Johns Hopkins University – and Christopher Llewellyn Reed (that’s me) – Chair and Professor, Department … More

In Brilliant “45 Years,” the Past Derails the Present

45 Years (Andrew Haigh, 2015) Pity the poor Tom Courtenay (Quartet). He’s a marvelous actor, yet paired opposite the grand … More

“Hail, Caesar!” – We Salute Thy Cleverness, but Not Your Script

Hail, Caesar! (Joel and Ethan Coen, 2016) I sometimes struggle over what to make of the films of Joel and … More

Skadoosh! “Kung Fu Panda 3” Offers a Delightful (Possible) Conclusion to the Trilogy

Kung Fu Panda 3 (Alessandro Carloni/Jennifer Yuh) In the interest of full disclosure, I must announce that I went to … More

After a Strong Start, “The Finest Hours” Drowns in Melodrama

The Finest Hours (Craig Gillespie, 2016) Based on the daring 1952 rescue of the oil tanker Pendleton by a Massachusetts-based … More

Review of “All Things Must Pass” on “Hammer to Nail”

Colin Hanks’ wonderful documentary about the rise and fall of Tower Records, All Things Must Pass, was released on disc last … More

“Mojave” Gets Lost in Its Own Desert

Mojave (William Monahan, 2015) The best I can say about Mojave is that it improves significantly as it proceeds. However, since … More

“Hammer to Nail” Triptych: “The Look of Silence,” “Creep” and “The Overnight”

This was a big media week for me, with a new Dragon Digital Media Reel Talk episode, another Baltimore Sun “Roughly Speaking” … More

“Roughly Speaking” on the 2016 Oscar Nominations

Today, Linda DeLibero – Director, Film and Media Studies, Johns Hopkins University – and Christopher Llewellyn Reed (that’s me) – Chair and Professor, Department … More