— by RON WILKINSON — Strange and whacky, yes, but the Coen Brother’s latest movie falls short of the mark set by their previous pieces, especially the similar “O Brother Where Art Thou.” Attempting to create the strange, offbeat and wonderful aura of the mythological search of “O Brother,” the Coens could not put together […][...]
Review: S#x Acts (aka Shesh peamim)
— by RON WILKINSON — Director Jonathan Gurfinkel follows 15-year-old Gili (Sivan levy) through a few days of her life as she begins attending a new school. The new school is a new life for Gili, with new surroundings, a new neighborhood, a new social circle and new social demands. The first part of the […][...]
Online Film Critics Society: 2013 Nominees
The Online Film Critics Society has announced its nominees for the 17th annual OFCS awards for excellence in film. The year was marked by conspicuous trends, ranging from end-of-the-world cataclysms, A-list Hollywood stars struggling against unforgiving environments to African American filmmakers portraying the black experience with emotional candor. Art house riches abounded, with films such […][...]
Review: Saving Mr. Banks
— by BEV QUESTAD — We get caught up in our own difficult stories, in patterns of expectation that recycle old troubles, but the trick is to change our mindset. Walt Disney will reveal his difficult childhood story that ironically fueled his happy-ending films and magical kingdoms. He also discovers the sad childhood story of […][...]
Godzilla: Teaser and Poster
— by ADAM POYNTER — Next year will mark the 60th anniversary of the gigantic lizard monster that has terrorized many cities in its many incarnations over the past six decades. “Godzilla” is one of the most famous movie monsters ever created and deserving of an updated reboot. Director Gareth Edwards (“Monsters”) is not new […][...]
Review: Crave
— by RON WILKINSON — Director Charles de Lauzirika’s atmospheric thriller aims to get at what makes us tick; those countless, terrifying moments that we live with all of our life. These are the moments when we should have done something, but did not. These are the lost opportunities that fill our lives with misgivings. […][...]
Review: The Wind Rises (aka Kaze Tachinu)
— by RON WILKINSON — Screened at the 2013 New York Film Festival, Hayao’s first feature length directorial release since “Ponyo” in 2008 starts off as a striking peon to animated steam punk fantasy but ends up as an interminable repeating link of soap opera slush. The opening scenes of incredible flying machines, heroic actions […][...]
Review: Is the Man Who is Tall Happy?
— by RON WILKINSON — Yes, it may be impossible to consider the consequences of describing a river that becomes a highway, or of attributing possession of a ship that has been completely reconstructed or of converting the title of this film from a question to statement by moving the first “Is” to near the […][...]
Sony acquires Paul Haggis’ Third Person
Sony Pictures Classics has acquired the US, German and Scandinavian rights to Paul Haggis’ “Third Person.” Written and directed by Haggis, the film had its world premiere at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival and features an all-star cast, including Liam Neeson, Kim Basinger, Adrien Brody, James Franco, Olivia Wilde, Mila Kunis and Maria Bello. […][...]
Review: Narco Cultura
— by RON WILKINSON — This raucous cinema verite’ features rock star Edgar Quintero and Mexican drug cop Riccardo “Richi” Soto, two men caught up in a crime war that has taken on a life of its own. Quintero is the lead singer of wildly rich and popular rock group BuKnas de Culiacan that exploits […][...]