Paranoia review: low anxiety
Offers nothing by way of suspense, intrigue, or characters who rise even a little bit above the yawningly bland.
2013 theatrical releases
Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa review: male privilege on parade
An unfunny “comedy” full of cheap crudity and punches down at targets who don’t deserve it. For some movies there should be hazard pay.
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.
20 Feet from Stardom: raw real voices
This must-see music documentary introduces us to the extraordinary women you didn’t know were behind some of the songs you know by heart.
Cutie and the Boxer review: a canvas of her own
A sly, subversive portrait of an artist finally finding her voice… and the “genius” husband in whose shadow she has long lingered.
Ernest & Celestine review: bear and mouse are friends
Might be the most ridiculously cute movie I’ve ever seen, in a way that transforms adorableness into something honest and wise and deeply satisfying.
The Book Thief review: don’t mention the war…
Thoughtful tweens and teens interested in adventurous stories of kids their own age should love this, but adults may find the light tone off-putting.
Dirty Wars review: the self-perpetuating “War on Terror”
An infuriating and depressing look at how American foreign policy and warfare have been transformed in highly undemocratic ways, and a reminder of what real journalism looks like.
The Wind Rises review: Jiro dreams of flying
Visually ravishing, as you’d expect from Hayao Miyazaki, but there is, disappointingly, no drama and no conflict here.
Easy Money and Easy Money: Hard to Kill review: easy money… isn’t
Easy Money is a smart, affecting, slow burn of a movie, a spectacular example of Nordic noir. The sequel suffers by comparison, though.
