After too many Metaphysics 101 (Malik’s “Tree of Life” and Gaspard Noe’s “Love” come to mind) and anguished what’s-the-meaning-of life questions awkwardly addressed, Denis Villeneuve’s “Arrival” takes us into adult territory. The Canadian filmmaker has already accustomed us to his diverse and masterful corpus of works, so his venture into science-fictionish territory doesn’t disappoint. Twelve ... more >
ARCHIVES
“Arrival” by Denis Villeneuve
Strange encounters
Amy Adams, Jeremy Renners and Forest Whittaker
Directed by Denis Villeneuve
Big Eyes
Women don't count for much--or so we're told
Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz
Directed by Richard Burton
A no-fail winning combination in film would be great actors+great director+good story. You think ? Not necessarily. Hollywood dustbins are filled with disappointing films made according to this very combination. Still, Tim Burton bringing together Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz in a true tale involving a kitsch painter and a charming con artist, with the backdrop of fifties and sixties San ... more >
American Hustle
The Con over Reality: making the case
Christian Bale, Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper
Directed by David O. Russell
In "American Hustle"’s would-be signature moment con-man Christian Bale shows G-man Bradley Cooper a Rembrandt in a gallery. He explains that it’s really a fake. Who is the better artist, he asks, the original artist or the person who took the time and skill to fake it? Well, I would say the artist. He is the one who perceived it. He is the one who conceived it. He is the one who summoned the ... more >
Man of Steel
The superhero genre gets the Nolan treatment again
Henry Cavill and Amy Adams
Directed by Zack Snyder
I think we can all agree that whoever says blockbuster doesn't necessarily mean subtlety and intelligence. That's a fact. On the other hand, he who speaks "Christopher Nolan" speaks resurection, restoration and myth reinvented. "The Dark Knight" trilogy behind him, Nolan has been re-emerging as producer and screenwriter, on "Man of Steel," which to have added some zest and some pep. And who better ... more >
Trouble with the curve
Taking the one last trip, together
Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams and Justin Timberlake
Directed by Robert Lorenz
Life's about curveballs. Case in point: no one expected Clint Eastwood to debate an empty chair at the Republican National Convention. Likewise no one likely thought his first acting role since 2008’s "Grand Torino" (SEE our review) would be in something so draggy and lightweight as “Trouble with the Curve.” Eastwood's Gus is all growl, stubbornness and agitation--look out, furniture. A ... more >
The Muppets
It's time to meet the Muppets
Amy Adams, Jason Segel and Chris Cooper
Directed by James Bobin
Who doesn’t love The Muppets? Birds love them. Bees love them. Even monkeys stuck in trees love them. That’s been the case since the 1970s when Jim Henson first stuck his hand into a green sock and pulled out a cultural icon (I know, he’s not really a green sock.) Why you would have to be a heartless Texas oilman played by Chris Cooper (with his own personal rap!) to want to quash the ... more >
The Muppets
Directed by James Bobin, Starring Mila Kunis, Zach Galifianakis, Jason Segel, and Amy Adams. ... more >