ARCHIVES

Elizabeth Moss in “Shirley” gives career performance

Film was produced by Christine Vachon
Elisabeth Moss, Logan Lerman and Michael Stuhlbarg
Directed by Josephine Decker

“A fictional biography” is a phrase that usually doesn’t work when it comes to films. Of course, when telling the story of a real person or event, some dramatic license is necessary and sometimes warranted. The new film, “Shirley,” tells the story of horror writer Shirley Jackson that features events that never took place. And that is just fine. Jackson is best known for her 1960 horror novel, ... more >

Tagged With: , , , ,

A Serious Man

Weighty but not entirely lovable
Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Kind and Fred Melamed
Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen

The critical understanding of The Coen Brothers’ ‘No Country for Old Men’ often has divided, vaguely, between moralistic versus fatalistic interpretations. Is the killer Anton Chiguhr a human being, and therefore does the film ask us to take measure of his cock-eyed morality? Or is he a specter, a grim reaper for the modern age, a natural phenomenon that operates beyond moral application? How you ... more >

Tagged With: , , , , ,