The eighth film directed by The King of Big Screen Blood, Mr. Quentin Tarantino, is appropriately titled “The Hateful Eight”. Like “Django Unchained” (his 2012 western for which he won an Original Screenplay Oscar), “The Hateful Eight” is about two hours and 45 minutes long, though this time Tarantino adds an intermission – as part […]
Much happens in a marriage over the course of 45 years. But the quiet drama “45 Years” shows that a lot can also happen between a husband and wife over the course of just one week. The story centers on Geoff (played by Tom Courtenay) and Kate (Charlotte Rampling), who live in cozy home on […]
One year after co-writer and director Alejandro G. Inarritu guided “Birdman” to Best Picture honors at the Oscars, he’s back at it with “The Revenant”, a gritty and engrossing two-and-a-half-hour saga, with meaty, memorable performances from Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy. The definition of ‘revenant’ is someone who returns from the dead. And that’s, basically, […]
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler have been friends for a long time. They’ve made us laugh on the small screen, both when they’re together on “SNL” and as hosts of The Golden Globes, and separately on “30 Rock” and “Parks and Recreation”. But their big screen pairing as “Sisters” is easily one of the year’s […]
“Anomalisa” is a rare R-rated animated feature. Directors Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson have crafted an adult story using puppets and stop-motion animation techniques. Many have embraced “Anomalisa” for being bold and unique. It’s true that F-bombs, sex scenes and graphic nudity aren’t regular features in Pixar or DreamWorks Animation movies (for good reason). However, […]
Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara give two of the most powerful performances of the year in the “forbidden” romantic drama “Carol”. Director Todd Haynes (“Far from Heaven”, “I’m Not There.”) captures the elegance and beauty of falling in love in 1950s New York. This is a simple, but thoroughly moving film. Blanchett embodies the title […]
When thinking about “The Big Short” during the drive home after attending a screening, I came to the realization that I didn’t hate this movie, but I had a difficult time coming-up with things I truly liked about it. Adapted from “Moneyball” author Michael Lewis’ 2010 best-seller, “The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine”, this […]
“Legend” is the true story of twin brothers Reggie and Ronald Kray, gangsters who ruled London in the 1950s and 60s. Tom Hardy, who’s established himself as one of the actors of the decade with memorable performances in “Locke”, “Warrior”, “The Dark Knight Rises” and “Mad Max: Fury Road”, plays both brothers – in this […]
“Macbeth” is one of Shakespeare’s most famous dramas. This latest film adaptation of the 400-year-old play is not updated or modernized in any way. It’s bare-bones Bard, complete with the dialogue directly from William’s pen and what all of Shakespeare’s tragedies are packed with: lots and lots of death. ‘Tis one of the grimmer pictures […]
Italian director Paolo Sorrentino won an Oscar two years ago in the Best Foreign-Language category for “The Great Beauty”, a phrase that also applies to his latest film, the unforgettable “Youth”. Unlike anything I’ve seen (and likely will see) this year, “Youth” is bold, unique, powerful and deeply moving – the same words I used […]