Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) – My parents met in Spain. My mother was stationed at Torrejón Air Base and my father had been travelling around Europe since leaving the Army. After my mom got out of the Air Force, they lived in Spain for a while before travelling to other parts of Europe and then … Continue reading
Taken (2008)
Taken (2008) – There are many important lessons one must learn in life, but perhaps one of the most important is this one: do not fuck with Liam Neeson. He will fuck your shit up. Luc Besson is a man of simple action plots. In addition to directing the classics Léon(aka The Professional) and The … Continue reading
The Dark Knight (2008)
The Dark Knight (2008) – For a long time people dismissed comic books. I mean it’s obviously not as bad as it once was when a prick named Frederick Wertham published a bullshit book called Seduction of the Innocent which led to the burning of comic books and self-imposed industry censorship for decades. In fact most … Continue reading
Wendy and Lucy (2008)
Wendy and Lucy (2008) – Poverty blows. That’s not really revelatory. Everyone knows that. I think, though, that everyone knows that in the abstract. The specifics of it are lost on most of us who, even if we aren’t part of the 1% and have troubles of our own, live in relative comfort and ease. … Continue reading
Bronson (2008)
Bronson (2009) – Two films in, I have yet to make up my mind about Nicolas Winding Refn. I rather liked Drive but its flaws kept me from gushing about it as much as some people have. Bronson is a different animal altogether. If Drive is Refn aping the style of Michael Mann, then Bronson … Continue reading
Nursery University (2008)
Nursery University (2008) — I already didn’t want kids, but this movie strengthened that resolve for me. At the very least if I were ever to procreate, I would do it far far away from Manhattan. This documentary is about the ultra-competitive private preschool system in Manhattan. There has been a major baby boom in … Continue reading
Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (2008)
Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (2008) — This is another documentary from Alex Gibney (Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer). While that other film was good about showing both sides of the story, the interviews in Gonzo all pretty much reach the same conclusion: Dr. Hunter S. … Continue reading
Assassination of a High School President (2008)
Assassination of a High School President (2008) — Want to see a gritty film noir set against the backdrop of high school? Then skip this piece of shit and go see Brick. Perhaps it’s an unfair comparison because Brick was a drama and this movie is ostensibly a comedy, but I think the two made me … Continue reading
Milk (2008)
Milk (2008) — For truly objective film criticism you have to divorce a move from any wider cause it represents and just examine the merits of the film itself. But you know what? No one’s really objective when it comes to art so anyone who claims they are is full of shit. I love this … Continue reading
Rachel Getting Married (2008)
Rachel Getting Married (2008) — “Above average” are the words to describe this movie. “Good” doesn’t quite seem to cover it but “very good” is going too far. The main things that elevate the movie are the smart and unconventional script by Jenny Lumet (Sid’s daughter) and the tour de force performance by Anne Hathaway … Continue reading
Persistence of Vision 