Today, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its 2015 Oscar nominations. Some time before the official February 22 live broadcast of the…
1/16/15: Midday on “Hollywood and the End of the Cold War”
[NOTE: If you missed the live show, you can still listen to its podcast.] On Friday, January 16, Linda DeLibero – Director,…
The Wicked Virtues of “Inherent Vice” Almost Conquer the Sins of the Script
Inherent Vice (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2014) I recently read Thomas Pynchon’s 2009 novel Inherent Vice. Here is my review, from the…
Mr. Reed’s Metaphysical Neighborhood Presents the Best Film Acting of 2014
Here is my best attempt at selecting the most noteworthy film performances – or my “above-the-line” awards – for 2014. Two…
March to See “Selma” Now: 50 Years After Events It Portrays, Film Is Especially Relevant Today
Selma (Ava DuVernay, 2014) In 1965, a year after the passage by the U.S. Congress of the landmark Civil Rights…
Mr. Reed’s Metaphysical Neighborhood Presents the Best and Worst Films of 2014
For an explanation of my blog post title, check out my “best of” list from last year. For my picks…
“The Babadook” Offers Creepy Lighting, Design and Sound, but Angers More Than Scares
The Babadook (Jennifer Kent, 2014) Young widow Amelia (a very fine Essie Davis, known in her native Australia for “Miss…
The Dance of Jodorowsky’s Legos: 3 of the Best of 2014 Now Available for Home Viewing
The Lego Movie (Phil Lord/Christopher Miller, 2014) Young Emmet (voiced perfectly by Chris Pratt, also in this year’s Guardians of the Galaxy) lives…
“The Interview” Was Made by Hacks
The Interview (Evan Goldberg/Seth Rogen, 2014) There is no question that the best thing to happen to the second film from…
“Big Eyes” Offers Nothing of Interest to See
Big Eyes (Tim Burton, 2014) In the 1960s, a man named Walter Keane painted a series of paintings of waif-like little…
