Category: drama
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La Délicatesse [2012] ★★½
Not every movie has to be an event, or a blockbuster. Sometimes, all I ask of a film is that it offers an entertaining diversion for a certain period of time. That’s exactly what I got from “La Delicatesse”. During this current movie season, when it’s all about superheroes and visual experience, small movies tend…
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The Flowers Of War [2011] ★★★
Some movies open on thousands of screens, others play in just a handful of theaters. And some films, lacking promotion, simply materialize, with the hope that people will discover them on cable, or DVD, like “The Flowers Of Wars”, a movie I was lucky enough to catch on the big screen. I didn’t want to read…
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Shame [2011] ★★★
“Shame” is a disturbing but vivid portrait of a sex addict that will push you out of your comfort zone into uncharted territory. Director Steve McQueen, who previously worked with Michael Fassbender in the equally good “Hunger” creates a palpable sense of unease from start to finish. But you won’t be able to take your…
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Dark Shadows [2012] ★★★
Good news Tim Burton junkies, “Dark Shadows” lives up to its hype. For the summer, Burton serves up the gothic soap opera that aired on Television from 1966 to 1971 about a young man who, following a curse, turns into a vampire. A recipe for disaster? You’d think. Instead, “Dark Shadows” is a thriller-diller from start…
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Taxi Ballad [2012] ★★★
Do you want to see a movie about a taxi driver who learns valuable lessons in life? Probably not. Which means you’re in luck. Because director Joseph Daniel (in his film debut) doesn’t do things by the numbers. Instead, he builds his movie from the inside out. Character comes first. Talal Jurdi, who plays our…
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Albert Nobbs [2011] ★★★
Glenn Close’s performance in Albert Nobbs” seems almost too good to be true, but that’s what makes it so effective. She first played the role of Albert Nobbs on stage some thirty years ago. Since then, she has dreamed of bringing the story to the screen, and has worked continuously to make it happen. Now…
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This Means War [2012] ★★
“This Means War” is the movie equivalent of fast food; familiar, enjoyable, but easily forgotten. If you’re a fan of the comedy generated by Reese Witherspoon and Chelsea Handler, you’ll either be the perfect audience for this movie or you may find the humor overly familiar. I’m not a diehard fan, and I found the…
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The Big Year [2011] ★★½
“The Big Year” is an enjoyable comedy with an unusual premise about three dedicated “birders” (that’s bird watching) and their attempt to track as many species as possible during a whole year. Stu Preissler (Steve Martin) is a successful businessman ready to retire and spend 12 months travelling around the country in search of birds. Brad…
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The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo [2011] ★★★½
The american version of “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” is gripping and unusual, even if you’ve seen the Swedish film that inspired it, which in turn was based on a novel by Stieg Larson. If you did catch that striking Swedish import two years ago, you should be familiar with the story by now.…
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Warrior [2011] ★★★½
A movie that gives you rooting interest, as soon as it opens, and keeps coming at you, could best be described as a triumph. “Warrior”, from director Gavin O’ Connor takes place in the world of mixed martial arts. It is violent, blunt, powerful. You name it. But “Warrior” also possesses heart and finesse on…
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The Help [2011] ★★★½
Nothing heats up an Oscar race like an underdog for best picture. On the surface, “The Help” sounds like a movie that’s been done so many times before: the well-to-do white folks and their black servants in a Southern Town in the 1960’s. But it doesn’t take this captivating and steadily surprising movie very long to…
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Soul Surfer [2011] ★★
“Soul Surfer” could best be described as a cheesy, uninspired mess that rings so false, I found it hard to believe that it was actually based on a true story. It’s a well meaning film for sure, but the positive message is overshadowed by lazy writing and painful melodrama. And yet, the target audience will…
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Trust [2011] ★★½
David Schwimmer’s second attempt as a director is a strong reminder of the dangers of online networking. “Trust” is about a young girl, Annie (newcomer Liana Liberato) who lives a comfortable life in suburban Michigan with a loving family. Father Will (Clive Owen) and mom Lynn (Catherine Keener) are involved in every aspect of their…
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Crazy, Stupid, Love [2011] ★★★
Well how do you like that? A movie that is both sweet and funny. “Crazy, Stupid, Love”, from directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (“I Love You, Phillip Morris”) comes as a pleasant surprise, and in a year of crap-taculars, that is a great relief (Screw you Michael Bay once again). Much of the film’s appeal is…
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Incendies [2010] ★★★★
Sometimes, death is only the beginning of a story. Such is the case with Jeanne and Simon, a twin brother and sister who go to a notary’s office to hear the reading of their mother’s will. Speaking to them from beyond, as it were, she says she will not rest in peace until they locate their father…
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Citizen Kane [1941] ★★★★
I wasn’t surprised one bit when I read that many consider “Citizen Kane” as the best film ever made. Afterall, The American Film institute called it the greatest movie of all time back in 1998. “Citizen Kane” is indeed one of those ageless movies that get better with repeated viewings, and through the years, it has become one of…
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127 Hours [2010] ★★★½
James Franco is incredible in this true story of a mountain climber who finds himself fighting for his life when a fallen rock crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah. Over the next 6 days, he examines his life by recalling friends, lovers, family and the two hikers he met…
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Vertigo [1958] ★★★★
One of the most interesting things about this movie is the fact that it was a flop at the time of its release. Hitchcock instantly blamed James Stewart, saying he was “too old to attract audiences anymore”. The two never worked together again, eventhough Stewart was the original choice for the role of Roger Thornhill in…
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12 Angry Men [1957] ★★★★
Completely absorbing movie starring Henry Fonda as a juror who is convinced that a boy who is accused of murdering his father is completely innocent. But how will he convince the rest of the jury, when they have no doubt in mind that the defendant is guilty of all charges? Rarely a movie manages to keep you…
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