I snuck in two more films before the ball dropped and only one is squeezing into my top ten. While “Joy” had all the ingredients of a master class film-O’Russell and his wrecking crew of actors and actresses, a few clunky scenes took the charge out of the true story of a poor housewife makes… Continue reading Youth surpasses Joy (Not an adage for real life!)
Month: December 2015
The Big Short Lands a Top Ten Spot
Steve Carell The Big Short is worth seeing foremost due to Steve Carell’s evolution as a serious actor which is an absolute thrill to observe. Christian Bale’s chameleon expertise commands the entire screen with Popeye arms and a penchant for hard rock. Ryan Gosling’s solid as a smarmy dude, his only misstep ever being the… Continue reading The Big Short Lands a Top Ten Spot
I’m Sorry Todd
I’m sorry Todd, your film Carol is not making my top 10 list. I don’t know. I guess I should’ve known, I thought Far From Heaven was painstakingly slow, didn’t even it make it all the way through I’m Not There. There is some good news: I did like sections of “Carol”. But first, the… Continue reading I’m Sorry Todd
Sicario: Del Toro “I Woke Up Like This”
What must it be like to wake up as Benicio Del Toro, put on a nice suit or SWAT gear and be ready on set. He’s not so much an actor as someone who is gifted to have ‘the look’, the dark, brooding, borderline sinister resting face. Or Josh Brolin? Who only needs to add… Continue reading Sicario: Del Toro “I Woke Up Like This”
my top ten of 2015
Top Ten Films 2015 1. Love&Mercy 2. Tangerine 3. Steve Jobs 4. Straight Outta Compton 5. Dope 6. Youth 7. The Big Short 8. Brooklyn 9. Welcome to Me 10. Grandma
A Rare Hamletesque Command: Get Thee to a ‘Tangerine’ry
Tangerine Ok, forgive the bad analogy, but since my commandments are rare outside of my workplace (evidence based essays), I had to make that announcement. Forget the nunnery baby, the world is wide wide open with Tangerine on the screen. With Tangerine, think “Clerks” run by the Santa Monica transgendered. Think “Dope” with an equally… Continue reading A Rare Hamletesque Command: Get Thee to a ‘Tangerine’ry
Even the Grinch’s Heart Grew after Seeing “Brooklyn”
Brooklyn Just like Cindy Lou helped grow the Grinch’s heart, “Brooklyn” made mine swell. Trust me, I’d seen the trailer and rolled my eyes, but am lucky the Cindy Lou kernel still inside me provoked a viewing. First, even Truffaut would be enamored by the vibrant colors in this film. From Saoirse Ronan’s emerald one… Continue reading Even the Grinch’s Heart Grew after Seeing “Brooklyn”