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

Shutter Island (2010)

Shutter Island (2010) – A book-to-screen adaptation will always suffer under the weight of expectation. I’ve voraciously devoured about eight of Dennis Lehane’s books now, Shutter Island included. I like the way that the man spins a mystery and I usually end up crushed by his usual downer endings. I love that not only has … Continue reading

My Big Ass Oscar Article 2012

If you want to know what I felt were the best movies of the year etc. then that’s a different article altogether (one that can be read here). This is about the Oscars. For most categories, I just offer a quick pick for what WILL win and a brief explanation for why I think that. … Continue reading

If I had my own damn Award Show…

Well, the Oscars are coming up in a couple days. I’ll get my picks and predictions and whatnot posted Sunday morning and then try to do some sort of real-time reaction thing like I tried doing with the Emmys a while back… In the meantime I figured I’d chime in with what I actually thought … Continue reading

My Week with Marilyn (2011)

My Week with Marilyn (2011) – Oscar-bait season is here at last, and with it we get our first front-runner for Best Actress: two-time nominee Michelle Williams (though Meryl Streep has a movie about Margaret Thatcher coming up later this year so it’s too early to declare Williams the victor). Back in the days of … Continue reading

Halloween series

So Halloween is upon us and this year it occurred to me that I had only seen half of the Halloween films. I decided to rectify that this year. Halloween (1978) You know I kind of go back and forth on Halloween. I last saw it in 2009 and thought that while good it was … Continue reading

Blue Valentine (2010)

Blue Valentine (2010) — This movie will crush your soul. That’s not a negative criticism but still… be warned. The movie is about a couple at the beginning and end of their relationship. We see the beginning of the end first before flashing back to te beginning.  The two alternate from there on out.  The … Continue reading

The Station Agent (2003)

The Station Agent (2003) — So in two days and two movies, Tom McCarthy has become one of my favorite writer-directors.  Well done, sir.  This is as good a movie about friendship as I have ever seen.  Peter Dinklage turns in a great performance without ever saying much.  Bobby Cannavale is great while saying a … Continue reading