Red Army: Slap Shot-esque Stokholm Syndrome

I knew I liked Gabe Polsky’s quirky documentary on Russian hockey player Viacheslav Fetisov for a reason. He’s got that Werner Herzog idiosyncratic eye and ear that captures the odd ball in us all. Red Army traces Viacheslav’s rise from Russian youth hockey to the Olympics and beyond. When he requests to play for the… Continue reading Red Army: Slap Shot-esque Stokholm Syndrome

Wild Tales, my subtitle: It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over

The Oscars and Time Magazine agreed, nominating Wild Tales for best foreign film and claiming it as one of 2014’s best movies respectively. I don’t disagree though I have a tough time with gratuitous man on man violence. I just can’t bear to watch or listen to the punching, hitting, etc. In Wild Tales, one… Continue reading Wild Tales, my subtitle: It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over

Leviathan, tis the season

I was thinking how depressing a movie Leviathan (direcetd by Andrey Zvyagintsev) is, not depressing in the, ‘Boy do I feel melancholia!”, but more of a super realist/pragmatist life reference. Yet, isn’t that what our pre-Easter/mid lent period is all about? Suffering and self-denial leading up to the…ta-da!- resurrection. But I digress. Leviathan was up… Continue reading Leviathan, tis the season

Peaks and Valleys: The Imitation Game and 50 Shades of Grey

There’s no connection between these two films. Though my opinion going in was reversed in both cases. I thought The Imitation Game would be maudlin historical fiction, but due to Benedict Cumberbatch’s genuine portrayal and Kiera Knightley fantastic as his beard, I was truly moved. I don’t, however, think it was best picture worthy and… Continue reading Peaks and Valleys: The Imitation Game and 50 Shades of Grey