Nymphomaniac Vol 1 & 2 movie review: behold the alien Woman
A salacious yet also tedious portrayal of a woman who would appear to confirm all the nastiest stereotypes about women.
drama
Need for Speed review: might as well be based on a breakfast cereal
Thinks it’s poetical and epic, and the more dramatic it thinks it’s being, the more hilariously histrionic it all is.
The Patience Stone review: a woman’s place
A beautiful and haunting Afghan film about love, devotion, and a woman’s “duty”; a remarkable feminist story from the unlikeliest place on the planet.
The Broken Circle Breakdown review: a mournful tune
Electric sexiness and very modern motifs overlie a wonderfully old-fashioned melodrama… a highly gratifying one, if you enjoy a good ol’ weep.
Out of the Furnace review: brothers in yawns
A pungent reek of testosterone stinks up this high-toned apologetic for vigilantism and revenge. Still: great performances! (new DVD/VOD US/Can)
Lee Daniels’ The Butler (aka The Butler) review: civil-rights servant
A deeply moving melodrama about a subtly subversive black butler at the heart of the White House. You will need Kleenex.
Short Term 12 review: life in the long term
A heartbreaking drama about the lingering affects of childhood abuse and neglect, even under the best of curative circumstances.
The Great Beauty review: pretty ugly
As a parody of Italian cinema, it’s tedious. Except we’re supposed to be taking this seriously. As if.
Omar movie review: trust no one
Palestine’s official submission for the Best Foreign Language Oscar is terse, tense suspense drama, and less overtly political than you might expect.
The Lunchbox review: when souls meet (for a meal)
A charming, bittersweet, utterly chaste love affair forged over food and cemented by kindred spirits.
