The radical notion that women like good movies
Brad Pitt stars in Best Picture nominee Moneyball This is a guest post from Robin Hitchcock. I didn’t know until the end credits that Aaron Sorkin had a writing credit on Moneyball. This is good, because I semi-irrationally hate Aaron Sorkin, and I wouldn’t want that bias to have influenced my take on the film. I’m … Continue reading “Oscar Best Picture Nominee: ‘Moneyball’”
Thomas (Tom Hanks) and Oskar (Thomas Horn) This is a guest post from Jennifer Kiefer. Potential viewer beware: the trailer for this film is awful. Terrible. Even worse than Alexander’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. But that’s because this film deals with, as young Oskar dubs it, “the worst day.” When I first saw … Continue reading “Oscar Best Picture Nominee: An Oscar for Oskar? ‘Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close,’ the Surprise Nominee”
Melancholia (2011) This is a guest post from Olivia Bernal. As I’m leaving the theatre, the booming volume of two planets crashing still causing a hollow echo in my ears, the gentlemen who sat behind me remarks to his wife, “Well, that was…odd.” “What did you say?” his wife replies, apparently as temporarily deaf as … Continue reading “Indie Spirit Best International Film Nominee: Melancholia”
Shame (2011) This is a guest post from Clint Waters. “We’re not bad people. We just come from a bad place.” Shame, Director Steve McQueen‘s second feature-length film (which he also co-wrote the screenplay for) tells the tale of Brandon Sullivan, played by Michael Fassbender. This is McQueen and Fassbender’s second film working together, the … Continue reading “Indie Spirit Best International Feature Nominee: Shame”
When I look at the sloppy homemade label on my screener of 50/50, it looks like it says, “so-so.” Despite solid reviews and the year-end awards nominations, that pretty much sums up how I feel about the movie.
This is a guest review by Lesley Jenike. ———- I saw Terrance Malick’s The Tree of Life in a tiny, packed theatre in my hometown on my birthday last year. Of course I’d read around about the film before going to see it, and I fully anticipated its more “controversial” elements, but I wasn’t really … Continue reading “Oscar Best Picture Nominee: The Tree of Life”
This is a guest review by Leigh Kolb. The 2011 film Drive opens by plunging the audience into an 80s-insipired neo-noir world, where the beats are hard, the car chases gripping, and the femme fatale seductively leads the real chase. Or at least it seems that simple. The protagonist, simply named Driver (Ryan Gosling), may … Continue reading “‘Drive’ and the Need to Identify the Virgin or Whore in the Passenger Seat”
Of the Best Actress nominations at the Oscars this year, two stand apart from the rest. Not because of the skill of the actresses, but because they depict real-life figures. Through these portrayals much can be learned about the ways women are represented on screen: The Iron Lady starring Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher, and … Continue reading “Best Actress Oscar Nominees: Meryl Streep and Michelle Williams”
Bellflower (2011) This is a guest post from Deirdre Crimmins. On the surface Bellflower seems very much like a film made by men, for men. Staring director Evan Glodell, and shot on homemade cameras, the film begins by following Woodrow (Glodell) and his buddy Aiden as they build flame throwers from scratch to outfit their imaginary … Continue reading “Indie Spirit John Cassavetes Award Nominee Review: Bellflower”
Marion Cotillard and Owen Wilson in ‘Midnight in Paris’ I’ve never understood why people adore Woody Allen and lavish him with accolades. I’ve never liked his films. Nope, not even the adored Annie Hall, aside from the FABulous fashions donned by Diane Keaton. I know, I know…I’ve braced myself for the verbal lashings that will … Continue reading “Oscar Best Picture Nominee: ‘Midnight in Paris’ and Its Woman Problem”
Beginners (2010) This is a guest post from Megan Ryland. (Does contain minor, vague spoilers) Beginners introduces us to Oliver (Ewan McGregor), who is struggling to cope with the life and death of his father, while also attempting to fall in love. Told in memories that collide with the present day, the narrative moves forward … Continue reading “Indie Spirit Best Feature Nominee: Beginners”
This is a guest post from Scott Mendelson. Originally published at Mendelson’s Memos. If you’ve seen the trailer for the upcoming John Carter, you know that not only does it not look like it cost $300 million, but it so painfully feels like a Mad Libs male-driven fantasy blockbuster that it borders on parody. It’s … Continue reading “Guest Writer Wednesday: Going Broke Chasing Boys: Why Disney Ditched Princesses and Spent $300 Million on ‘John Carter’”
