After the Dark review: most illogical
A thrilling combination of drama, near-science-fiction, suspense, coming-of-age agita, and intellectual exploration of ideas. Pity it derails itself.
reviews
The Patrol review: hurry up and wait
Bracingly free of the usual macho posturing that characterizes movies about the military, and a compassionate and humane portrait of modern soldiering.
The Invisible Woman review: sometimes it’s hard to be a woman
The story of Charles Dickens and his secret mistress is no romance, and no modest costume drama, either.
Oscar Nominated Documentary Shorts (86th Academy Awards) review
There is a single thread running through these shorts, and it is deeply existential and irreducibly personal: How do we save ourselves?
The Amish: Shunned review: outside looking back in
A poignant documentary about those who have been cast out of their culture and coping with a larger society for which they are unprepared.
Gloria review: can you handle the truth?
A smart, incisive portrait of a woman who lives life on her own terms and doesn’t let herself get pushed around.
I, Frankenstein review: beware, for it is pointless
It’s alive! In a technical sense: images flicker on the screen, etc. But it is a soulless, unholy monstrosity. Behold: the movie without a protagonist!
That Awkward Moment review: I want a shower, I want to be hosed down
This is like the Mirror Universe, evil-goatee-wearing flip side of Don Jon, a pile of obnoxious, grossout junk.
Oscar Nominated Animated Shorts (86th Academy Awards) review
The French “Mr. Hublot” creates an utterly real yet completely fantastical world, a palpable steampunk environment of gorgeous mechanical loveliness.
Oscar Nominated Live-Action Shorts (86th Academy Awards) review
My favorite of the five films is the British “The Voorman Problem,” starring Martin Freeman and Tom Hollander in a hilarious and provocative bit of speculative fantasy…
