I had two pieces published in Hammer to Nail last week, one a review of the Criterion Collection‘s new Blu-ray release of…
“The Witch” Casts a Strong Spell Until It Breaks It at the End
The Witch (Robert Eggers, 2015) Even having done no research on the film beforehand, watching The Witch I could tell that…
In Self-Congratulatory, Smug and Intellectually Lazy “Where to Invade Next,” It’s Michael Moore Who Needs Saving
Where to Invade Next (Michael Moore, 2015) Where to invade next? Where to start . . . ? Filmmaker Michael…
Jokey Violence and All, the Delightful “Deadpool” Reinvigorates Its Genre
Deadpool (Tim Miller, 2016) As I feel obliged to mention every time I write a review of a new film…
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…
“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…
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…
“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…
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…
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…
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