Monday, April 30 2012
There’s a Lot of Moviemaking Going On In Madonna’s ‘W./E.’
'W./E.' makes you wish you were in control of the juxtaposition button so you can leave Winthrop and switch back to the fun movie that’s taking place elsewhere.
The Other End of the Ideological Spectrum of Suffering: ‘La Terra Trema’
A groundbreaking, long-unavailable classic by the father of Italian neorealism, Luchino Visconti.
Cozzers, Slags, and Filth: Tom Bell as the Bent On Revenge Ross, In ‘Out’
While location shooting lends the series authenticity, Out offers a formulaic setting to match every sequence shot at landmarks like Electric Avenue in Brixton.
Friday, April 27 2012
A Streetcar Full of Desires: ‘The Sons of Tennessee Williams’
Stringent anti-gay ordinances were the law of the land in pre-liberation NOLA; filmmaker Tim Wolff displays a threatening newspaper headline of the era, with “Crackdown Planned On Homosexuals” emblazoned ominously on the page.
What They Meant by Madcap: ‘Diplomaniacs’, ‘Kentucky Kernels’ & ‘The Rainmakers’
When it comes to cutting capers, these three films from Warner Archives are the right material.
Thursday, April 26 2012
In ‘The Darkest Hour’, McDonald’s and Starbucks May Be the True Invaders
During the first few minutes of The Darkest Hour, the extraterrestrials still have not shown up on the screen, but we already see that Moscow has been invaded by an alien culture -- and it ain't from outer space.
No One Cares… Not Even Me: ‘The Son of No One’
Despite my inexplicable Channing Tatum fandom, it was hard to find reasons to care about The Son of No One.
Wednesday, April 25 2012
Dead Theme Walking: ‘Into the Abyss: A Tale of Death. A Tale of Life.’
The best theme I can guess for Into Abyss would be something like, “Werner Herzog loves life, hates death, and really, really, likes making movies.”
It’s a Triple Threat with ‘Doctor Who: The Three Doctors’
There’s a degree of novelty to the idea, but a key part of the show’s longevity is the Doctor’s regeneration every few years.
Tuesday, April 24 2012
‘Strange Fruit: The Beatles’ Apple Records’ Follows Apple’s Decay
Dodging the taxman, John, Paul, George, and Ringo launched a new company that included a record label. This is the story of that label. Its name was Apple.
Despite a Generic Plot, ‘Contraband’ Is a Perfectly Solid Action Flick
Because no criminal can ever truly leave, an ex-smuggler gets dragged back into the game.
‘Night Wolf’: A Familiar Genre Romp Through the Dark
When Sarah returns home she gets more than she bargained for: monsters!
Monday, April 23 2012
The Awe-Inspiring Work of the Original Movie Magician: ‘A Trip to the Moon’
Georges Méliès sci-fi masterpiece rejuvenates your spirit and reminds you that movies have conquered the universe of dreams for more than 100 years.
The Verdict for ‘Tora! Tora! Tora!’ Is the Same as the Event It Depicts: Japan 1, America 0
One of the last of the old-fashioned Hollywood blockbusters, Tora! Tora! Tora! offers both pleasure and tedium
Reassessing Parenthood in ‘Enter Nowhere’
Much as Scream did back in the early '90s, Enter Nowhere is explicitly self-conscious of its imagery, texts, and intended audience.
Friday, April 20 2012
Stratified Society Depicted Brilliantly ‘Upstairs, Downstairs Complete Series: 40th Anniversary Ed.’
The 40th anniversary DVD presentation of this highly influential drama series is an outstanding package both for viewers new to the series and for established fans that don’t already own previous DVD releases.
Thursday, April 19 2012
What Makes the Struggle So Worthwhile: ‘Treme: The Complete Second Season’
The second season of Treme continues to deliver as a series committed to telling real stories in a place where real tragedy has occurred, and the aftermath remains evident to this day.
‘The Descendants’ Is Compulsively Watchable
The story deals with precisely the sort of messy, depressing ordeals in life we go to the movies to get away from, but the languid pace and occasional shots of off kilter wry humor allow it to never become such an overwhelming plunge into despair as to be unwatchable.
Wednesday, April 18 2012
‘I, Claudius: 35th Anniversary Edition’ Is a Top-Drawer Re-Release of a Classic
If there were ever a need to argue that excellent dialogue and on-target acting can trump big-budget spectacle, this series could function as Exhibit A.
One of the Best Mini-Series of All Time is Back, This Time With Lots of Extras: ‘I, Claudius’
Superb acting and a literate script elevate the 1976 BBC product of I, Claudius above most television (and most films), in its day and in ours
