A brief word of explanation about the title of this post. When I was a high-school language teacher, I started … More
Category: movie reviews
“American Hustle” Plays the Long Con and Wins
David O. Russell (Flirting with Disaster, Three Kings, I Heart Huckabees, The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook) is not one of America’s most … More
“The Wolf of Wall Street” Howls and Drools, but Has No Bite
The Wolf of Wall Street (Martin Scorsese, 2013) When I emerged from the preview screening of Martin Scorsese’s latest film, … More
“Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” Liberates the Man from the Myth
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (Justin Chadwick, 2013) In spite of some of the usual pitfalls of biographical films (or, … More
“Saving Mr. Banks” – Too Much Saccharine, Not Enough Sugar
Saving Mr. Banks (John Lee Hancock, 2013) Are you a fan of Mary Poppins, the 1964 live-action Walt Disney film starring … More
“Inside Llewyn Davis” – One Groundhog Day of a Odyssey . . .
Inside Llewyn Davis (Joel and Ethan Coen, 2013) The new Coen Brothers film, Inside Llewyn Davis, which opens across the country … More
The Desolation of “The Hobbit”
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (Peter Jackson, 2013) J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, depending on which printed version you read, … More
“The Armstrong Lie” – Truth and Its Consequences
The Armstrong Lie (Alex Gibney, 2013) The truth will out, and when it does, the bigger the lie that preceded … More
In a Theater Near You: Midday on Current and Upcoming Films
[UPDATE: Missed the show? Please listen to the podcast!] It’s that time of year again, when we review the films … More
“Frozen” Won’t Completely Melt Your Heart, but It’s Still (Kind of) Fun
Frozen (Chris Buck/Jennifer Lee, 2013) Let’s talk about what works first: The 3D animation is stunningly beautiful. You must see … More
