Film: Page 47

Beyond The Oscars

Film

Let’s face it, after 85 years, the Oscars have become a bit of a joke. The awards show is too long (2002’s production ran an ungodly 4 hours and 23 minutes), with bad hosts (ahem, Anne Hathaway and James Franco) and the winners (and the nominations) are all-too-predictable (Steven Spielberg and Meryl Streep seem to be at least nominated every year, even when they don’t have a film in the running). When’s the last time you saw a comedy or sci-fi film nominated for Best Picture?  Continue reading →

The Misunderstood and Overlooked

Film

1. Elite Squad: The Enemy Within  City of God meets The Wire in this fast-paced political action-thriller set in Rio de Janeiro. An exciting and devastating look at corrupt systems of law enforcement, politics and media, this was the highest-grossing film of all time in Brazil (even out-grossing Avatar).   2. Sound of My Voice Continue reading →

The Long and Short of It

Film

At their best, each year’s Oscar-nominated short films are a chance to see something new, or unusual, or unlikely. Short films can take different chances with structure, rely less heavily on traditional narrative or capture a moment rather than laying out a whole tale. But this year’s crop of live action shorts is a bit of a letdown in this regard: They tend toward the traditional, are predictably heart-wrenching or fall a little short in one aspect while succeeding in others.  Continue reading →

A Quiet Love

Film

It’s almost easier to talk about what director Michael Haneke (Cache, The White Ribbon) doesn’t do than what he does. He doesn’t hold the audience’s hand; musical cues don’t appear to direct your emotions and stories don’t neatly wind up to logical conclusions. He doesn’t give you a handy backstory or motivation for his characters, but expects you to find it in their interactions and, notably, their homes. In interviews, he avoids questions about themes, preferring to leave interpretation to his audiences. Continue reading →

A Reluctant Connection

Film

Nearly every brief summary of Jacques Audiard’s Rust and Bone borders on the absurd, or at least sounds mawkishly sentimental: A young man, mostly unemployed and recently in charge of his five-year-old son, strikes up a relationship with a killer-whale trainer who is terribly injured in a freak accident. It sounds like a story that will veer into sentimental territory early, overflowing with reminders about the fragility and beauty of life. Continue reading →

What Silver Lining?

Film

David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook, now heavy under the weight of award-season expectations, is trying to be one (or more) of the following three things: 1. A romantic comedy; 2. A movie about mental illness, and 3. A peculiar send-up of one or both of these options. Continue reading →

The Man Behind AA

Film

If you’re hoping for a full, deep understanding of the founding and success of Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill W. probably won’t be the film you’d like it to be. A personal, occasionally patchy documentary, Bill W. sticks close to its subject: Bill Wilson, one of the founders of AA. Continue reading →