When early in the forties a young Greek director called Elias Kazantzoglou showed up at a major Hollywood studio, the studio head (one imagines him sending cigar smoke the way of the hopeful visitor), advised him on a name change as a first step. “How about Cézanne?” the studio head asked. The director who would go down in film history as Elia Kazan demurred. “There already is a Cézanne,” he said. ... more >
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Cloud Atlas
When brave souls defy rules, often at a high cost
Tom Hanks and Halle Berry
Directed by Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski and Lana Wachowski
CLOUD Atlas
Six Degrees of Wachowski
Tom Hanks, Halle Barry and Jim Broadbent
Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski and Lane Wachowski
“Cloud Atlas,” the latest effort from the Wachowskis, wraps a half-dozen stories, settings, and groups of characters into one film. But it doesn’t matter how many stories they do, their song remains the same. The “Matrix” helmers have hit the same point for a while now. Liberty is the freedom from illusions that are perpetrated by relationships of power. Bravery is the willingness to fight ... more >
Harry Potter and the deathly hallows: part 2
The final chapter
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and Bill Nighy
Directed by David Yates
The eighth and final installment of the massive Harry Potter franchise hit theaters this Friday and has already racked up an all-time box office record, beating The Dark Knight's previous mark by a cool ten million dollars. It's easy to see why: how many other film series inspire their audiences to line up days in advance for midnight tickets and to dress up like their favorite characters? Not ... more >
Another year
Right out of the Cannes Festival lineup
Jim Broadbent, Ruth Sheen and Lesley Manville
Directed by Mike Leigh
How the mind wanders. I was getting ready to write about the latest Mike Leigh (pictured) movie since Another Year is coming out in December and it’s a film that deserves to be talked about. I saw it in good company at the Cannes Festival, and what a charming Year that was. In it, two colleagues have haphazardly managed to keep a friendship going for two decades. Thing is, they’re very ... more >