Category Archives: 2013

Often on this blog I will differentiate between a film’s story idea and its story, usually to point out how great story ideas (which sell the movie) are usually completely wasted by lazy and cynical screenwriting. Well Closed Circuit takes … Continue reading →

Ever since Kristen Bell’s glorious turn as Veronica Mars ten years ago, I have been waiting for someone to write this very deserving actress a fabulous movie to star in. As the years have gone by, I’ve dropped the “fabulous” … Continue reading →

Short Review: Love Crime is okay; Passion sucks donkey balls. If you must see one, see Love Crime. But trust me, you’re not missing much if you see neither of them. Masochistic Review: I went to see Brian DePalma’s Passion because it … Continue reading →

Europa Report is probably the best damn realistic space exploration thriller I’ve ever seen. It’s story reminds me a lot of the incredible historical tales from the initial western explorations of the source of the Nile, the interior of Australia, … Continue reading →

All I heard from everyone about Fruitvale Station was that it was “depressing.” This summary really does the film a disservice – in fact, Fruitvale Station is crafted so skillfully, and which such obvious care, that the depressing ending of the film … Continue reading →

In a World has an charming innocence about it that’s a throwback to the good-natured indie films of the 1990. My wife and I both really enjoyed it. It’s quirky, funny, well-cast, and paints an interesting and amusing picture of … Continue reading →

The Spectacular Now has a fantastic trailer, which emphasizes the charisma of the two leads, and sells it as a teenage falling in love story, successfully hiding the film’s true core story line: a dreary and unrewarding tale about the … Continue reading →

I went to see Elysium because it seemed like it might be an interesting political allegory, and Matt Damon was in it (if there’s one guy in Hollywood who tends to pick decent scripts and good characters, it’s him.) What … Continue reading →

This terrific Danish movie is a throwback to the unadorned style and masterful techniques of 1970’s thrillers. It is a tense, dialog-driven psychological drama which focuses on the protracted negotiation process between the corporate owners of a large shipping vessel, … Continue reading →

When Woody Allen goes bad, he really goes bad. Blue Jasmine is not a comedy. I think Woody Allen is trying to make some kind of social statement. But what kind of social statement is he making? The poor people … Continue reading →