Blackfish did not go as far as I expected it to go in one aspect. But for that, it went just far enough. And having seen the preview at least four times, I had a feeling what I was in for; what I left with was more than I expected. Blackfish tells the tale of…
Stories We Tell made me look within—and around—at indeed, the stories we write and craft to explain our lives. As Sarah Polley explores her family and its secrets in this documentary she directs, so too, surely, does the audience. How would your family explain the story of your life? How would you and your siblings…
It took me a while, but I finally watched this movie on DVD. And I’m so glad I did: Rust and Bone is beautiful. It delivers a quiet, deep story about humans and our need for connection. In French with English subtitles, this movie shows characters here that weave through issues of relationships between father…
The sadness that abounds in the story of Fruitvale Station holds the audience in its grip for the better part of ninety minutes. As you live out Oscar’s final day (and if you shush those inner thoughts of “how do they know that?”), you’re dreading the coming doom, known because this is based on a…
Elysium provides an incredible allegorical look at the possible direction humanity could take. I know many will watch this and simply be entertained (a bit), but my thoughts were provoked. The depth to which the political commentary digs surely cannot be missed; at least I want to believe that. The acting, to me, was par,…
The Way Way Back is a charming coming-of-age story that does everything such a film should do: I laughed, I shed a tear (or seven), and I cheered and felt like I sat on the edge of my seat in the final moments, genuinely unsure of the outcome in the “challenge” toward the end. The…
And the Mountains Echoed is an enjoyable, albeit at times confusing, read. Hosseini writes beautifully, and you easily feel the emotion, passion, and tension of each character’s story. The frustration comes in the blending of several people’s stories. As each narrator changes, sometimes in first person and sometimes in third, I felt a hurdle, more…
I saw this movie at the end of its run, and perhaps that was best. My friend and I were the only two in the theater. And the laughter coming from me sometimes made the dialogue hard to hear for either of us. What a hoot! This is the End is a hilarious portrayal of…
When I told my friend that Pacific Rim was on my list of movies to see, he reacted with surprise and incredulity. Yes, Pacific Rim. You too? Surprised? Indeed, for if you follow my movies at all, you know that for the past half-dozen years, I’ve been mostly drawn toward the Oscar-type artsy-type films. But…
Ahhh—-Summer. What a time for movies. Shakespeare, war documentaries, Hasidic Jewish family affairs—–and this one, The To Do List. One thing you cannot say is that I’ve not enjoyed an eclectic blend of films the past month! The To Do List is a raunchy but endearing movie told, surprisingly, from the point of view of…
After watching Dirty Wars over in Five Points, I walked across the street from the theater to reschedule next week’s hair appointment, and as I attempted to communicate with the reception staff, I realized I was exhausted—from the film. (Okay, yes, there was a glass of wine during the film too, but this was mental…
Friends, Fathers, Sons, Girls—-all of these come together in a sweet story about growing up….and getting past tragic loss. Kings of Summer tells the story of three boys coming of age. It’s enjoyable enough, but the premise was just a bit too unbelievable, preventing me from getting more attached to these young men’s plight. (That…
When a death occurs, a void is left in the survivors’ lives. But although the death in this film looms over all, it is not necessarily the void that needs so badly to be filled by each person in this Israeli film (with subtitles), Fill the Void. Instead, each of the primary family members has…
Entertaining enough if all you need is a diversion. Ana’s age, I can buy, but not Christian’s. The story’s arcs become a bit tedious after a while. Still, though, it does provide a diversion. And sometimes, that’s all we need from a novel.
The East is a wonderfully intriguing film that dives deep into ecoterrorism and the independent agencies working against such working behind the scenes—-and that exposes some of that which lives behind the curtain. Part way though, it’s hard to recall or commit to who’re the good guys and who you want to fall. And that…