Sat 7 May 2011
Posted by Ethan under Film Review, NYC Film Critic
[4] Comments
Thor
Directed by Kenneth Branagh
Screenplay by Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz, Don Payne
Starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins
**
As a feature-length preview for The Avengers—the all-star superhero team-up picture that Marvel Studios is unleashing next summer—Thor offers a number of moments that will make comic-book fans extremely happy.
Thu 5 May 2011
Posted by Ethan under Film Journal International, Film Review
Comments Off on Jedi J’Accuse
The creator of Star Wars is placed on trial by the franchise’s many fans in the new documentary The People Vs. George Lucas. Sadly, the film doesn’t make its case, but it does provide a fun look at the many faces of contemporary fandom. Read my full review over at Film Journal International.
Wed 4 May 2011
Posted by Ethan under Film Festivals, Interviews
Comments Off on The Fighter
The mixed-martial arts documentary Like Water, which follows a few months in the life of Ultimate Fighting champ Anderson Silva, was one of my big surprises at the just-wrapped Tribeca Film Festival. Not being an MMA fan, I knew very little about Silva going in but came away with an appreciation for the amount of work he puts in to being the best there is at what he does. I interviewed Silva and the doc’s director Pablo Croce for the new lifestyle and culture site, Life + Times. Check out the Q&A here.
Sun 1 May 2011
Posted by Ethan under Film Festivals
Comments Off on Tribeca Film Festival 2011
The 10th Annual Tribeca Film Festival screened its last set of films today. Here are quick reviews of some of the films I had the chance to see during the festival’s week-and-a-half long run.
Wed 27 Apr 2011
Posted by Ethan under Features, Film Journal International
Comments Off on Going To The Chapel
Kristen Wiig makes the leap from Saturday Night Live performer to leading lady with Bridesmaids, a new marital-themed comedy she co-wrote and stars in. I interviewed the movie’s director Paul Feig, who does a nice job escalating the various comic hijinks the occur throughout. Read the story over at Film Journal.
Tue 26 Apr 2011
Posted by Ethan under Interviews, NYC Film Critic
1 Comment
The Tribeca Film Festival turned 10 this year and before this week is out I hope to post a batch of reviews of the movies I’ve seen since the festival began last Wednesday. In the meantime, here’s a short interview I did with the director of one of the most striking movies I’ve come across in this year’s line-up. The debut feature of Canada-based filmmaker Panos Cosmatos , Beyond the Black Rainbow is a fascinatingly odd mash-up of vintage ’80s sci-fi tropes and mise-en-scene that achieves its own distinct style. There is a plot–one that involves a young girl with psychic powers attempting to escape the institution where she’s being held prisoner–but it decidedly takes a backseat to mood and atmosphere. When Black Rainbow ends, you’re not entirely certain whether you actually saw a movie or just dreamed the whole thing and I mean that as a compliment.
Fri 22 Apr 2011
Posted by Ethan under Film Review, NYC Film Critic
Comments Off on Mad Man
POM Wonderful Presents The Greatest Movie Ever Sold
Directed by Morgan Spurlock
**1/2
Perhaps befitting Morgan Spurlock’s self-stated desire to make “the blockbuster of documentaries,†POM Wonderful Presents The Greatest Movie Ever Sold is the Super Size Me director’s most high-concept film to date. As he regularly reminds us during the course of the movie, Spurlock has made a film about advertising that’s been paid for entirely by advertisers.
Sat 16 Apr 2011
Posted by Ethan under Film Review, NYC Film Critic
Comments Off on The Princess Diaries
The Princess of Montpensier
Directed by Bertrand Tavernier
Screenplay by Jean Cosmos, Francois-Olivier Rousseau, Bertrand Tavernier
Starring Melanie Thierry, Lambert Wilson, Gregorie Leprince-Ringuet, Gaspard Ulliel
***1/2
With its agreeable mixture of petty scheming, bedroom intrigue, and self-absorbed alpha males and the naive temptresses that love them, the French costume drama The Princess of Montpensier is perhaps best described as medieval pulp fiction. Co-written and directed by veteran Gallic filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier, the film is based on an almost 350-year-old story by Madame de la Fayette, the penname of a 17th century countess that published much of her work anonymously during her lifetime.
Thu 7 Apr 2011
Posted by Ethan under Film Journal International, Film Review
Comments Off on Lost in America
I filed a brief reaction to Kelly Reichardt’s terrific Western Meek’s Cutoff when I first saw the film at the New York Film Festival last October. Now that the movie is finally opening in theaters for the rest of you to see (as well you should) I’ve expanded on those thoughts in a review for Film Journal. Keep checking the film’s official website to learn when its opening in your area and make plans to see it as soon as it arrives.
Thu 7 Apr 2011
Posted by Ethan under Film Journal International, Film Review
Comments Off on High Times
Silliness reigns in David Gordon Green’s foul-mouthed fantasy spoof Your Highness, co-written by and starring Danny McBride, one of the more unique comic personalities working today. It’s an almost deliberately messy and imperfect movie, but I laughed quite a bit, perhaps because I have a soft spot in my heart for the vintage ’80s fantasies its riffing on. Read my mild defense of this proudly dumb comedy over at Film Journal.
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