Fur of Flying (2010) As is the case with other recent efforts involving Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner, this 3D, CGI short feels flat compared to the original Chuck Jones films. It’s too brief and feels like going through the motions. It’s okay as nostalgia, or a gateway to introduce children to the Looney Tunes oeuvre, but it’s… Continue reading Flying in a trance
The rabid fear of the coolest guy is bigger than grand
The Cooler (2003) To pay off an old gambling debt, Bernie Lootz (William H. Macey) works for Shelly Kaplow (Alec Baldwin), the old school head of the Shangri-La casino, as a “cooler,” a gambler so unlucky he causes everyone around him to lose. After he pays off his debt, Bernie plans to leave Vegas. To… Continue reading The rabid fear of the coolest guy is bigger than grand
I’m throwing a celebration for my friend Beau
Festen (1998) A family gathers for a weekend celebration of Helge’s sixtieth birthday. At dinner, one of his sons, Christian, alleges Helge repeatedly raped him and his sister Linda when they were younger. Tormented by dreams their father would molest her again, Linda committed suicide just before the events of the film. In 1995, hoping… Continue reading I’m throwing a celebration for my friend Beau
Evil remembered
The Karski Report (2010) Claude Lanzmann interviews Polish resistance fighter, Jan Karski, who details his 1942 meeting with FDR and his efforts to make the President understand the devastation at the Nazi concentration camps. The extent world leaders knew about the atrocities at places like Auschwitz and chose not to act is shameful. A Visitor… Continue reading Evil remembered
It’s Wayne’s World; We’re just living in it
Wayne’s World 2 (1993) Good movies based on Saturday Night Live sketches are rare. Like turning a short story into a 1000 page novel, the entire nature of the work has to change. The few successful SNL movies are based on strong characters, like Jake and Elwood Blues, or Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar, and not awkward situations… Continue reading It’s Wayne’s World; We’re just living in it
Barbosa made Brazil cry when he deceived them with the Rimet Trophy
Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay (2012) This biography traces the influences of magician Ricky Jay, one of the most prolific magicians in Hollywood, appearing in dozens of films and consulting on many more. David Blaine, David Copperfield, Penn and Teller, and Criss Angel are household names, but there’s a significant gap between… Continue reading Barbosa made Brazil cry when he deceived them with the Rimet Trophy
The children are little!
Little Children (2006) Sarah Pierce (Kate Winslet), a bored stay-at-home mom has an affair with Brad Adamson (Patrick Wilson), while convicted sex-offender Ronnie (Jackie Early Haley) has difficulty adjusting to life outside of prison. The first hour of Todd Field’s sophomore feature-length film was spellbinding, but once Sarah and Brad gave in to their lust,… Continue reading The children are little!
The drunken fox is afraid
Drunken Master II (1994) Won Fei-Hung (Jackie Chan) hides ginseng in the suitcase of an employee of the British consulate to avoid paying taxes. This innocent act backfires and Hung is inexplicably involved in a crazy conspiracy to steal a valuable Chinese antique. Chan’s genius was a merger of eastern and western entertainment traditions, combining Chinese… Continue reading The drunken fox is afraid
Children in America
Children of Men (2006) It’s 2027, and, for unexplained reasons, mankind has been infertile for almost twenty years. Theo Faron (Clive Owen) is an activist turned bureaucrat whose marriage disintegrated after his son died in a flu pandemic. His ex-wife, Julian Taylor (Julianne Moore), is a leader of The Fishes, a militant group fighting for the… Continue reading Children in America
A happy, close household
Closer (2004) Dan Woolf (Jude Law) meets Alice Ayres (Natalie Portman) when she’s hit by a car and they become a couple. A year later, he meets photographer, Anna Cameron (Julia Roberts) and pursues her, while continuing his relationship with Alice. After Anna tries to end their relationship, Dan tricks a man he meets in a cybersex… Continue reading A happy, close household