The Lifeguard review
Apparently it’s hard to be a grownup in today’s crazy world without committing consequence-free statutory rape. Ugh.
reviews
Upstream Color review: higher dimensions of storytelling
A confounding intellectual mystery, an enigmatic philosophical science fantasy that’s like a cinematic Moebius strip.
Hell Baby review: what the hell?
I’m actually angry at how little the movie even tries. There isn’t enough of anything here to pad out a brief sketch, never mind a feature-length film.
The Way, Way Back review: how to escape from your family
One of the more achingly poignant stories of awkward (male) adolescence I’ve seen. Sam Rockwell steals this movie more than he has ever stolen a movie before.
Pain and Gain review: American nightmare
A bleak, bitter, wicked pleasure that holds up the underpinnings of modern America — self-help, Jesus, and violence — for ridicule.
Rebellion (L’ordre et la morale) review
Sporadically exciting French action drama about a 1988 hostage crisis drags more often than it should.
A Hijacking (Kapringen) mini review
Harrowing drama of modern-day piracy as a sort of illicit corporate takeover; riveting and exhausting.
Olympus Has Fallen mini review
A vile propagandistic action flick that shamelessly indulges fears of terrorism while also failing on a basic narrative level.
The Reluctant Fundamentalist mini review
A provocative, ambitious drama about the unconsidered assumptions that power our cultures, for good or ill.
The Great Gatsby mini review
Alternately intriguing and infuriating: it’s very like the sort of movie exuberantly excessive Gatsby himself might have made.
