L.A. Confidential (1997, Curtis Hanson)
I haven’t seen L.A. Confidential since 1998 or so, whenever the laserdisc came out. Before the film came out–I saw it in the theaters of course, being a big Russell Crowe fan back then–I read James...
View ArticleSuperman Returns (2006, Bryan Singer)
My expectations for Superman Returns were incredibly high (especially since everything Bryan Singer’s done since The Usual Suspects with the exception of the “House” pilot has been dreck). Three stars....
View ArticleThe Usual Suspects (1995, Bryan Singer)
Seeing as how The Usual Suspects popularized the major twist ending–that contrivance having now plagued American cinema for the last dozen years–it’s interesting to see it again. I haven’t seen the...
View ArticleThe Men Who Stare at Goats (2009, Grant Heslov)
The Men Who Stare at Goats, as a film about men–their relationships with each other, in an Iron John sort of way–comes up lacking. There really isn’t any personality in the friendship between Ewan...
View ArticleMoon (2009, Duncan Jones)
Moon is quite good. Moon’s not the most impossible film to talk about without spoiling… but some of its goodness is wrapped up in its plot developments. The viewer should get to enjoy Moon without...
View ArticleHorrible Bosses (2011, Seth Gordon), the extended cut
It would have been nice if one of the three credited screenwriter of Horrible Bosses thought enough to write characters for the protagonists. Instead, the script–and director Gordon–rely on the “charm”...
View ArticleWorking Girl (1988, Mike Nichols)
Towards the end of Working Girl, the film seems to jump around a bit with the timeline. It seems to jump ahead, but then it turns out it doesn’t. And it only seems to jump ahead because of how director...
View ArticleMoon (2009, Duncan Jones)
Moon is quite good. Moon’s not the most impossible film to talk about without spoiling… but some of its goodness is wrapped up in its plot developments. The viewer should get to enjoy Moon without...
View ArticleHorrible Bosses (2011, Seth Gordon), the extended cut
It would have been nice if one of the three credited screenwriter of Horrible Bosses thought enough to write characters for the protagonists. Instead, the script–and director Gordon–rely on the “charm”...
View ArticleSeven (1995, David Fincher)
Seven is a gorgeous film. It’s often a really stupid film, but it’s a gorgeous film. Even when it’s being stupid, it’s usually gorgeous. Director Fincher has a beautiful precision to his composition;...
View ArticleGlengarry Glen Ross (1992, James Foley)
The first half of Glengarry Glen Ross is phenomenal. David Mamet’s screenplay is lightning fast during this section, moving its characters around, pairing them off for scenes or moments–the brevity is...
View ArticleMoon (2009, Duncan Jones)
Moon is quite good. Moon’s not the most impossible film to talk about without spoiling… but some of its goodness is wrapped up in its plot developments. The viewer should get to enjoy Moon without...
View ArticleHorrible Bosses (2011, Seth Gordon), the extended cut
It would have been nice if one of the three credited screenwriter of Horrible Bosses thought enough to write characters for the protagonists. Instead, the script–and director Gordon–rely on the “charm”...
View ArticleWorking Girl (1988, Mike Nichols)
Towards the end of Working Girl, the film seems to jump around a bit with the timeline. It seems to jump ahead, but then it turns out it doesn’t. And it only seems to jump ahead because of how director...
View ArticleSeven (1995, David Fincher)
Seven is a gorgeous film. It’s often a really stupid film, but it’s a gorgeous film. Even when it’s being stupid, it’s usually gorgeous. Director Fincher has a beautiful precision to his composition;...
View ArticleGlengarry Glen Ross (1992, James Foley)
The first half of Glengarry Glen Ross is phenomenal. David Mamet’s screenplay is lightning fast during this section, moving its characters around, pairing them off for scenes or moments–the brevity is...
View ArticleThe Ref (1994, Ted Demme)
Every once in a while, The Ref lets you forget it’s just a comedy vehicle for stand-up comic Denis Leary and so doesn’t need to actually be a good drama and just lets you enjoy the acting. Demme’s...
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