The French title of the movie Délicatesse by the Foenkinos brothers has been translated by "delicacy," in the process losing its je-ne-sais-quoi. Delicacy brings food to mind rather than the subtle concept of thoughtfulness. Yet délicatesse is what makes classy, sophisticated and altogether charming executive Nathalie (played by Audrey Tautou, no less) sit up and notice a humble co-worker, ... more >
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AUDREY TAUTOU stars in Delicacy
The trouble with Nathalie
Audrey Tautou, François Damiens and Bruno Todeschini
Directed by David Foenkinos
In the Land of Blood and Honey
Putting a human face on the Balkan conflict
Zana Marjanovic, Goran Kostic and Rade Serbedzija
Directed by Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie, star extraordinaire, deserves an A for effort in directing In the Land of Blood and Honey. Not only does she care about the war-torn ex-Yugoslavia she shows but she throws herself fully into the making of the film. Red carpet photo-op and possible awards don’t seem part of the equation. This is a serious story told in as professional and honest a manner as possible. But ... more >
QUICK TAKES – Miss Bala
Survival on the edges of hell
Since 2006, fifty thousand people have died in Mexico’s drug wars. For Gerardo Naranjo, writer and director of the best foreign film Oscar-nominated Miss Bala, there are no good or bad guys in this war, only victims. It is the bad luck of a supremely gorgeous beauty queen (played by Stephanie Sigman in her first film role) to get caught in the middle. The sober film doesn’t need much dialogue ... more >
Carnage
And the point of it all was ...
Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet and John C. Reilly
Directed by Roman Polanski
Carnage tells the story of two couples who meet to discuss in as civilized and understanding a manner as possible the schoolyard spat of their sons that resulted in broken teeth and harsh words. One pair of parents comes to the other pair’s apartment to discuss the situation. After they come to an agreement about the wording of a document describing the incident, things start going ... more >
What mattered in 2011
A rundown of the year's best
Time to take stock, filmwise, of the year that was. My grading system (from 0—none this year though I could barely bring myself to give a 6 to the much-applauded Tree of Life—to 20) helps do a quick scan of the hundreds of films I’ve seen in 2011. What does a film have to be and do to get 20? Keep me consistently engaged, not have any off moment, not have any special goofs or anachronistic ... more >
The Adventures of Tintin
They landed in Belgium (there goes the neighborhood)
Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis and Daniel Craig
Directed by Steven Spielberg
When Spielberg announced his plans for a “Tintin” movie, fans of the little Belgian reporter with the red pompadour—and that includes pretty much anyone who ever held a comic book—were thrilled. When they got to see the final product, less so. This big disappointment begs the question: Why ever did we expect otherwise? Why should we have thought that Spielberg, director of big American ... more >
The help
Change begins with a whisper
Emma Stone, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer
Directed by Tate Taylor
Tate Taylor’s adaptation of Kathryn Stockett's The Help filled me with a wonder similar to that I felt watching—and relishing—Mad Men. There, the three-martini lunch, the 1960 men and women boozing and smoking themselves to death had me aghast. Same here. This was Jackson, Mississipi, fifty years ago? It’s beyond racism, unless racism means considering people so far below you that no one ... more >
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