Des in Whit Stillman’s The Last Days of Disco: “You know that Shakespearean admonition, ‘To thine own self be true’? It’s premised on the idea that ‘thine own self’ is something pretty good, being true to which is commendable. But what if ‘thine own self’ is not so good? What if it’s pretty bad? Would […]
“In a number of recent broken-family films, “broken home” is not just a metaphor. Like Dorothy’s, uprooted in fairy-tale response to her running away, physical houses in one family film after another are displaced, torn asunder, and undergo fantastic, traumatic crises and transformations in visionary mirroring of the upheaval in the characters’ lives. Among the […]
The conflicting (and sometimes conflicted) opinions on Courageous, the new film from the makers of Fireproof and Facing the Giants, may prove to be a far more interesting drama than the movie itself. Rotten Tomatoes shows us that Courageous has a 29% rating with critics (translation: “Awful!”) and a 95% rating with audiences (“Oscar! Oscar!”). […]
Once upon a time in American cinema, a character from the Middle East was likely to be the villain of the story. Upon other times, homosexual characters were portrayed as condemning caricatures. But today, if we meet a character who professes Christian faith, it’s a safe bet to assume he’ll be exposed as a charlatan, […]
I’m beginning to wonder: How many cinematic masterpieces will I miss in my lifetime because nobody has bothered to make them available in America? This question is on my mind because I’ve just watched my imported blu-ray of Abbas Kiarostami’s Certified Copy a fourth time, and my review will go up tomorrow at Image. It’s […]
Critics are praising a fresh, stylish take on an old story—and they should be. It’s a very well-made film. A criminal, dodging the law and living off risky business, encounters a damsel in distress and her adorable sidekick. Using his carefully controlled catalog of facial expressions, he connects with her quickly. And, spending time with […]
My mother’s daily mantra of parental cautions included “Try not to touch your face” and, after any stroll through a public place, “Wash your hands.” She had good reason. I’ve always been very susceptible to the common cold and the flu; daily multivitamins aren’t enough to shield me. As a kid, I must have missed […]
With the announcement that Mark Wahlberg and his brothers are opening a burger joint called Wahlburgers, I’m having visions of a new trend in cineplexes around the world. Why not clear the theater lobby air of that yellowish haze that wafts from the popcorn machine and create a comfortable cafe atmosphere where people can relax […]