The Secret Life of Bees
Sweet and heartwarming, this coming of age story is well told with wisdom and strength.
I loved the language of the film, the words and sentences. I don’t know how much of that came
Push
Push actually envisions how psychic powers would play out in the real world rather than the heightened reality we’re accustomed to with these sorts of stories. Gritty and realistic, it
A Hollywood Elusive
With all Cate Blanchett has on her plate—three young boys, a three-stage theater, and a global acting career—she might be forgiven the occasional emotional outburst or diva-like moment. Instead, the author encounters a Hollywood anomaly: a star who doesn’t do drama offscreen, whose only hint of domestic conflict is her husband’s threat to divorce her if she gets cosmetic surgery, and whose latest role, as Brad Pitt’s soulmate in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, has her focused on aging and death. When David Fincher first saw Cate Blanchett play the Virgin Queen, a decade ago, he was stunned. “I […]
Leonardo DiCaprio’s Year of Rejection
Eleven years after their romance aboard the ill-fated Titanic, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet are together again in Revolutionary Road. The superstar duo play a married couple with children trying to overcome the monotony of suburban life. DiCaprio credits Winslet with bringing them back together under the direction of her husband, Sam Mendes. Even though you and Kate haven’t worked together since Titanic you have kept in touch haven’t you?We’ve known each other since we were teenagers, and she’s remained one of my closest friends. It was Kate who brought me the novel by Richard Yates on which the film […]
Avatar
Avatar is visually stunning. You just can’t escape it. I saw it in IMAX 3D. Now, I can’t compare it to regular 3D but what I saw was revolutionary.
The depth of field was incredible. It wasn’t just what I imagine 3D would be, where
The best tv of 2008
I’ve been waiting to write this list for months. It’s one of my favorite blogs all year because I love the excuse opportunity to talk about tv.
Before I begin
Bella
This was an interesting movie. The whole time I was thinking: the characters are interesting, but it has no narrative thread. I don’t know where it’s going which keeps me from becoming immersed in it. The directing is a little avant garde, which works but at the same time sometimes takes me out of the film that I’m not that immersed
Innocence Abroad
With a new look, a new man, and newfound happiness, Reese Witherspoon lives out a fashion fantasy in the City of Light. These days, Reese’s own star is in alignment, in part because of her range as an actress. After last year’s thriller Rendition, she’s returned to romantic comedy in Four Christmases, costarring with Vince Vaughn in a role that reminds us that Reese Witherspoon is the kind of star we like–hardworking, with a young family, a star who considers herself lucky to be a star—even though, believe it or not, it’s a lot of work being a star. But […]
Twilight
Cinematically flawed, and in frustrating and easily avoidable ways that I unequivocally blame Catherine Hardwicke for, and a little bit Summit for hiring her.
I think the biggest problem is they made a movie for the fans. And you can’t do that
Quantum of Solace
I know nothing about Bond. But for the uninitiated this was pleasant. Which, I know, is an odd adjective to apply to Bond but it works for me.
You have to understand, though, however much the action is fast or exciting and there’s chases of several different varieties and pretty girls, whatever – I don’t like James Bond.