A Separation
A Separation won the 2011 Oscar for Best Foreign Film, marking Iran’s first Academy Award ever. It was also nominated in the Best Original Screenplay category, unusual for any foreign…
The Vow
I wouldn’t completely disavow The Vow, but I wouldn’t commit to a recommendation either. It’s mediocre melancholy that topped the box office in its opening weekend for one main reason:…
We Need To Talk About Kevin
This movie has all kind of things going for it -- a well-written script, beautifully paced, interesting visual themes, even great performances all around, but seriously! If you are of…
Man on a Ledge
Man on a Ledge is one of those movies that holds your attention and ultimately entertains, even if it does fade from memory a short time later. The less you…
A Better Life
If there was one surprise in the 2011 Oscar nominations, it was Demián Bichir's nod for Best Actor in a really small film called A Better Life. I'm not sure…
The Iron Lady
Meryl. I think she deserves to be known by one name by now. What an actress! What an amazing variety of roles she has played in the past few years:…
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is a so-so drama that fails to rise above its extremely long and forgetful title. It may appeal to those who read the book, liked…
Albert Nobbs
What an odd little film! Every few years a gender switching film comes along and everyone gets excited about it (Linda Hunt in The Year of Living Dangerously, Hilary Swank…
A Dangerous Method
Michael Fassbender has been one extremely prolific actor this year, first as the arrogant Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre, then playing Magneto in X-men: First Class, then as the tortured…
War Horse
A boy and his horse are at the center of this Steven Spielberg family drama, adapted from the Tony winning stage play, which was an adaptation of a children's book.…
We Bought a Zoo
It’s a good thing Matt Damon didn’t succumb to warnings about working with children and animals. Because without Matt Damon, We Bought a Zoo could have been really lame. Instead,…
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Three of the most popular books of 2008-2010 were Stieg Larssen's Millennium Trilogy. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the first book and there is already one great movie…
The Skin I Live In
I have to admit two things up front. I am not usually a fan of Pedro Almodóvar, and the descriptions of The Skin I Live In did not lead me…
Like Crazy
I wasn’t crazy for Like Crazy like a lot of people seem to be. Don’t get me wrong. I liked it. I just didn’t love it. Maybe it’s because I’m…
Melancholia
Danish director Lars von Trier is not known for happy movies (Breaking the Waves, Dancer in the Dark) and with Melancholia he keeps true to form. The title clues you…