Archive for film
ASSASSINATION OF A HIGH SCHOOL PRESIDENTreviewed by Dan Spicer Yari Film Group
93 min., dir. by Brett Simon, with Mischa Barton, Reece Thompson, and Bruce Willis
“Assassination of a High School President is the second-best high school film ever made, and it didn’t even get a general release.”
So the words sound like a big acclamation, but then you look into them and you realize the competition [...]
INCEPTIONreviewed by Dan Spicer Warner Bros. Pictures
148 min., dir. by Christopher Nolan, with Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon Levitt, and Ellen Page
Much is made of battles between directors. Spielberg vs. Lucas was made void because they were such good friends. I’m pretty sure James Cameron and Christopher Nolan are pretty indifferent to each other, but since the press has decided [...]
BURNINGreviewed by James Yates Rock Action Records
54 min., dir. by Vincent Moon and Nathanael Le Scouarnac
I’ve always enjoyed Mogwai, but I have to confess that up until this film, I don’t think I’ve listened to more than two tracks consecutively. Burning is a concert film, stripped down to the absolute basics. Gone are any distractions of tour footage and [...]
EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOPreviewed by Andrew Good Paranoid Pictures
87 min., dir. by Banksy, with Shepard Fairey and Rhys Ifans
There’s a British expression, “taking the piss,” used when you’re mocking someone or willfully screwing with them. On the Internet, it’s known as “trolling.” And for the past six or seven years, street artist Banksy has been famous for taking the piss out of politicians, [...]
ODDSACreviewed by James Yates Swiss Dots
54 min., dir. by Danny Perez
One has to have affection for a film that doesn’t overstay its welcome. This is especially dangerous turf in the realm of experimental film. So challenging is the medium that each person will hold their own time limit. If ODDSAC can be applauded for anything, it is that it [...]
ALICE IN WONDERLANDreviewed by James Yates Walt Disney Pictures
108 min., dir. by Tim Burton, with Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, and Helena Bonham Carter
If you had told me 10 years ago that Johnny Depp and Tim Burton would be making a big screen adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, I would have laughed it off as an insane — but also brilliant — [...]
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGONreviewed by James Yates DreamWorks Animation
98 min., dir. by Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders, with Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, and Craig Ferguson
DreamWorks Animation has always had a hard time. Sure, their movies make a ton of money so I don’t think anyone is too worried. However, they are constantly pitted against the indestructible Pixar come Oscar time. That animation [...]
NEW MOONreviewed by James Yates Summit Entertainment
80 min., dir. by Chris Weitz, with Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, and Robert Pattinson
The Twilight Saga is a national phenomenon. It is also completely critic-proof. I can stand here and berate everything wrong with it, pick apart every last detail, but it doesn’t matter. These films print money, and will continue to despite everything. [...]
ANVIL! THE STORY OF ANVILreviewed by James Yates VH1 Films
80 min., dir. by Sacha Gervasi
The documentary Anvil! The Story of Anvil opens with a wide variety of well known metal musicians professing admiration and affection for a band I’d never heard of. It’s a smart move, because without it we might wonder why we should care.
Back in the ‘80s, Anvil was poised to [...]
BRIEF INTERVIEWS WITH HIDEOUS MENreviewed by James Yates IFC Films
80 min., dir. by John Krasinski, with Julianne Nicholson, Timothy Hutton, and Will Forte
John Krasinski has already implanted himself in people’s minds as America’s sweetheart, thanks to his portrayal of Jim on “The Office.” It is for this reason that Brief Interviews With Hideous Men — which he directed, adapted to the screen from [...]
A SERIOUS MANreviewed by James Yates It feels dangerous territory to criticize the Coen brothers. Without a doubt, they are intelligent and extremely well-versed in the language of cinema. Even when they misstep, it is only in the eyes of the viewers.
V/A – Let Them Know: The Story of Youth Brigade and BYO Recordsreviewed by Chris Aitkens I’m going to say this right off the bat: if you’re not considering buying this box set, there’s going to be an emptiness in your music collection, thus making the rest of your collection worthless without it.
MOTT THE HOOPLE – The Whole Storyreviewed by Craig Gilbert Mott The Hoople is one of those bands that people hear the name, know the name, and recognize them for the tune “All The Young Dudes” and maybe, just maybe the rockin’ song “All The Way From Memphis.” This DVD may get you to actually search the interweb or go on the YouTube to [...]
THE MAID (LA NANA)reviewed by Robert Troccolo Tiburon Filmes/Punto Guion Punto Producciones
95 min., dir. by Sebastián Silva, with Catalina Saavedra, Claudia Celedón, Andrea García-Huidobro, and Mariana Loyola
The Maid is a film made with seemingly limited resources that accomplishes a great deal. It uses only a few locations, employs a relatively small cast, and is shot on video.
Raquel has worked as a maid [...]
WHATEVER WORKSreviewed by Robert Troccolo Sony Pictures Classic
92 min., dir. by Woody Allen, with Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood, Patricia Clarkson, and Ed Begley, Jr.
The New Beverly Cinema in West Hollywood recently showed Woody Allen’s latest film from a few months back, Whatever Works. The film received mixed reviews upon its release; however, I was sorry that I didn’t get [...]
