A documentary Directed by directed by Stevan Riley I've seen a lot of documentaries about movie stars. But I've never before seen one quite like this Marlon Brando biography. By using Brando's own audio recordings in place of the usual voice-of-God narration, it takes us into his head. You won't get as many facts in … Continue reading The Actor’s Voice: My review of Listen to Me Marlon
Category: Reviews
Subject to Debate: My review of Best of Enemies
A- Documentary Directed by Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon Today's so-called culture wars burst into existence in 1968, with clashes over Vietnam, racism, and a new sexual freedom. By concentrating on a series of television debates between erudite, east-coast intellectuals, this breezy and entertaining documentary offers a plausible explanation of how our current world came … Continue reading Subject to Debate: My review of Best of Enemies
Manos Sucias: Not-to-be-missed thriller coming to the Roxie
A Political and social thriller Written by Alan Blanco & Josef Kubota Wladyka Directed by Josef Kubota Wladyka I loved Manos Sucias when I saw it at last year's San Francisco International Film Festival. But it had no American distributor, and I assumed that neither I nor anyone else in the Bay Area would ever see … Continue reading Manos Sucias: Not-to-be-missed thriller coming to the Roxie
Genius in decline: My review of Mr. Holmes
B+ Drama Screenplay by Jeffrey Hatcher, from the novel A Slight Trick of the Mind by Mitch Cullin, and the character created by Arthur Conan Doyle Directed by Bill Condon Anyone who loves fiction's most famous detective knows that Sherlock Holmes eventually retired from detective work and moved to Sussex, where he took up beekeeping. … Continue reading Genius in decline: My review of Mr. Holmes
Tangerine: A Christmas in July cinematic gift
A Drama Written by Sean Baker & Chris Bergoch Directed by Sean Baker Sometimes a new movie blows apart every concept you had about what a motion picture can be, and delights and excites you with the ever-growing possibilities of cinema. New attitudes, new concepts, and new technologies combine with a visionary filmmaker, and the … Continue reading Tangerine: A Christmas in July cinematic gift
In Stereo looks at modern romance–but not too deeply
C+ Relationship drama Written and Directed by Mel Rodriguez III My press materials from Circus Road Films describes In Stereo as an "un-romantic comedy." That's not only a lie--it's two lies. The movie succeeds best when it allows itself to be romantic. And it is in no way, shape, or form a comedy. Only one … Continue reading In Stereo looks at modern romance–but not too deeply
Geriatric Starlet: my review of Iris
A- documentary Directed by Albert Maysles You know you’ve seen a really good documentary if it’s about something you couldn’t care less about, but you still enjoyed it. Few things in life bore me like fashion, but there’s nothing boring about Albert Maysles’ last complete film, Iris. Iris Apfel, a fixture and a maverick in … Continue reading Geriatric Starlet: my review of Iris
Bill Plympton’s absurd love story: Cheatin’ (my review)
A Adult animation Written and directed by Bill Plympton If Bill Plympton isn’t the strangest, most iconoclastic, bizarre, and brilliant animator of all time, we live in a very weird world. His instantly recognizable style takes caricature—the heart of all animation—to an extreme beyond anyone else working in features. Consider Jake—the irresistible hunk in Cheatin’. … Continue reading Bill Plympton’s absurd love story: Cheatin’ (my review)
Who are they? My review of Lambert & Stamp
B+ Music documentary Directed by James D. Cooper I don't know if I enjoyed this movie so much because it was very well made, or simply because it's about The Who--a band that I have been a fan of for more than 40 years. I doubt if Lambert & Stamp would be of much interest … Continue reading Who are they? My review of Lambert & Stamp
Comic noir down under: Kill Me Three Times (my review)
A Comic thriller Written by James McFarland Directed by Kriv Stenders As Alfred Hitchcock well understood, a good thriller can carry a heavy load of dark humor. And since this particular thriller stars Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead), you come in expecting more laughs than thrills. But make no mistake, Kill Me … Continue reading Comic noir down under: Kill Me Three Times (my review)
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