My Top Films of 2014
On this, the last day of 2014, I reflect back on 365 days of movie watching and pick the films that were among my favorites. So now without further ado… (Drum roll please) * MY TOP FILMS OF 2014 * This is also a perfect time to express my gratitude to you, my dear reader. I truly […]
Big Eyes
I confess. It has been a long time since I truly felt pure joy in a Tim Burton film. Big Eyes is the real deal. It has wit, charm and a lighthearted touch. Perhaps that is somehow fitting because the tale concerns the profile of an artist. Burton – a longtime Keane collector – highlights the […]
Into the Woods
A humble baker (James Corden) and his wife (Emily Blunt) have longed to have a child. Apparently their neighbor, an ugly old witch (Meryl Streep), placed a curse on his house when the baker’s father was caught stealing from the old hag. The witch is willing to reverse the spell. But only because she wants […]
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
If for nothing else, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies is wonderful for finally putting to rest the ongoing speculation as to whether making 3 movies was a cash grab. It most certainly was. This series has always been marred by a ridiculously extended narrative. The original book by JRR Tolkien was 310 pages […]
Inherent Vice
Oh Paul Thomas Anderson! It’s getting harder to believe that you were the auteur behind that masterpiece of yours, Boogie Nights. In 2007 you came close with the brilliant There Will Be Blood. At least you’ve always been interesting. Even The Master had that “processing” session that Lancaster Dodd administered on Freddie Quell. Now you’ve […]
The Imitation Game
Dear reader, please forgive my opening tangent. On November 9, 2014, Utah wide receiver Kaelin Clay ran the field for a 78-yard touchdown pass, then celebrated his win. Only to find he had prematurely dropped the ball on the 1 yard line. Realizing this, Oregon’s Joe Walker of the opposing team, recovered the ball and […]
Online Film Critics Society Awards 2014
2014 has been another great year for film. This was my second year as a member of the Online Film Critics Society. The OFCS is the largest, most respected organization for movie critics whose work appears primarily on the Internet. I adore this group. Looking over the nominees, I must say I am quite […]
Still Alice
Still Alice feels like something you’ve seen before. It’s rather straightforward in its construction. The narrative documents the degradation of a woman‘s mental faculties from a condition. Judi Dench in Iris, Gena Rowlands in The Notebook, Julie Christie in Away from Her. We have seen this affliction depicted before. Here, however, it affects a younger […]
Unbroken
Drama based on the life of World War II American prisoner of war survivor, Louis Zamperini. Actress Angelina Jolie directs her 2nd feature based on the best selling biography of the same name by Laura Hillenbrand. Jolie pulls out all the stops in this gorgeously produced biopic in the classic Hollywood tradition. There’s stunning cinematography […]
Horrible Bosses 2
Lackluster sequel to the 2011 Summer hit reunites Nick, Kurt and Dale in an attempt to be their own boss. Christoph Waltz is a shady investor that tricks the boys into doing all the work so that he can step in and buy their product for a ridiculously low price. The product is an unnecessary invention […]