Talk, Talk, Talk: December 2008

By Bill Gibron

Just like the end of an inspiring speech that may or may not succeed in making its point, these final four weeks before 2009 tend to define or defeat the entire awards season purpose. [12 September 2008]

Exquisite Agony

By Chris Barsanti

This holiday season, Mickey Rourke (in The Wrestler) and Will Smith (Seven Pounds) suffer for all us sinners. [18 December 2008]

(more The Screener)

Seven Pounds

By Cynthia Fuchs

Equally afflicted by an old-school weepies affect and new-agey self-righteousness, Seven Pounds is by turns clumsy and overbearing. [19 December 2008]

Short Ends and Leader: Tearjerker Given a Post-Modern Make-Over in ‘Pounds’

Hollywood, race and the Age of Obama [26 December 2008]