Category: Reviews
‘Chronicle’ offers a fresh take on both superpowers and found footage
Chronicle Directed by Josh Trank Written by Max Landis 2012, USA / UK The more comic books one has read, the less original the plot of Chronicle might seem. The idea of “what would happen if real teenagers got real … [Read the Rest]
Sundance 2012: ‘Robot and Frank’ finds machinery can hold a mirror up to our lost connections
Robot and Frank Directed by Jack Schreier Screenplay by Christopher D. Ford 2012, USA Director Jake Schreier’s Robot and Frank is a tale set sometime in the near future when robots will be at our beck and call for menial tasks … [Read the Rest]
‘Chronicle’ the most interesting and watchable superhero origin since ‘Batman Begins’
Chronicle Directed by Josh Trank Screenplay by Max Landis 2012, UK / USA There’s no more horrifying an idea than one film being both a super hero and found footage vehicle. On their own, they are blights on the release … [Read the Rest]
‘The Woman In Black’ handsome but unscary and deeply clichéd
The Woman in Black Written by Jane Goldman, from the novel by Susan Hill Directed by James Watkins UK / Canada / Sweden, 2012 Nowadays, “old-fashioned” is generally meant as a compliment in discussions of contemporary movies, in conjunction with … [Read the Rest]
‘Norwegian Wood’ a very pretty if sparse place to visit
Norwegian Wood Directed by Anh Hung Tran Written by Anh Hung Tran, from the novel by Haruki Murakami Japan, 2010 Haruki Murakami’s dense novel Norwegian Wood, which derives its title from an enigmatic Beatles song, has been celebrated around the … [Read the Rest]
‘Albert Nobbs’, like its central figure, never truly lets the audience in
Albert Nobbs Directed by Rodrigo Garcia Screenplay by Glenn Close and John Banville U.K, Ireland, 2011 Mainstream cinema has a difficult time tackling what some big studio executives might view as the ‘icky’ side of gender politics. Cross-dressing, homosexuality and … [Read the Rest]
‘The Innkeepers’ is a rare gem
The Innkeepers Directed and Written by Ti West USA, 2011 Fantasia imdb Chuck Jones directed a trilogy of horror cartoons (Scaredy Cat, 1948, Claws for Alarm, 1954 and Jumpin’ Jupiter, 1955) featuring Porky Pig blissfully unaware that his life is … [Read the Rest]
‘Kill List’ – a uniquely cerebral and rich horror movie
Kill List Directed by Ben Wheatley Written by Ben Wheatley and Amy Jump 2011, UK A detailed discussion of Kill List risks spoiling a singular and thrilling adventure. But if you are the type that relishes the feeling of leaving … [Read the Rest]
Sundance 2012: ‘Red Hook Summer’ sizzles but ultimately loses its way
Red Hook Summer Written by Spike Lee Directed by Spike Lee USA, 2012 Spike Lee’s latest film might ask daring questions about community responsibility and black manhood, but these themes are not at all cohesively tied together. Red Hook Summer revolves … [Read the Rest]
‘The Wicker Tree’ aims big, but loses the thread early on
The Wicker Tree Written by Robin Hardy Directed by Robin Hardy UK, 2011 Fans of British writer/director Robin Hardy’s 1973 film The Wicker Man will likely be nonplussed by his newest effort The Wicker Tree. Neither a sequel to nor … [Read the Rest]
‘Theatre Bizarre’ resurrects the horror omnibus
The Theatre Bizarre Directed by Richard Stanley, Buddy Giovinazzo, Douglas Buck, Karim Hussain, David Gregory, Tom Savini and Jeremy Kasten USA/France, 2011 A horror anthology in seven parts, The Theatre Bizarre is a throwback to the tradition of the port-manteaux … [Read the Rest]
‘The Wicker Tree’ successfully reimagines Hardy’s masterpiece
The Wicker Tree Written by Robin Hardy Directed by Robin Hardy UK, 2011 Made nearly 40 years ago, Robin Hardy’s The Wicker Man has become so engrained in the public imagination that spiritual and religious beliefs have actually sprung from … [Read the Rest]
Sundance 2012: ‘The End of Love’ asks how lives and dreams fall through the cracks
The End Of Love Directed by Mark Webber Written by Mark Webber 2012, USA In The End of Love director and actor Mark Webber creates a reality steeped in grief. At the center of the story is Mark (played by … [Read the Rest]
‘The Love Bug’ evokes the era of Disney as underdog innovators
The Love Bug Directed by Robert Stevenson Written by Bill Walsh and Don DaGradi, based on the book Car, Boy, Girl by Gordon Buford 1968, USA, imdb As I mentioned during the Mousterpiece Cinema podcast about The Love Bug, when … [Read the Rest]
‘In the Land of Blood and Honey’ offers the bitter with the sweet
In the Land of Blood and Honey Directed by Angelina Jolie Written by Angelina Jolie U.S.A., 2011 It is no secret that Hollywood darling Angelina Jolie invests time and energy in far more than just her film roles. She is … [Read the Rest]
