By Bryan Nixon. The Ides of March functions as a raging soap opera that concerns itself with affairs within the campaign trail for the presidency of the United States of America. The presidential candidate in question is Mike Morris (George Clooney), a moral and suave democrat whose religion is the […]
One Trick Pony: The Spurlock Brand
By Daniel Lindvall. The only truthful ads are those that tell you they’re lying, claims Ralph Nader in Morgan Spurlock’s documentary, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (2011). As per usual with Spurlock his new film is based on one simple and calculatedly controversial idea: to make a film about branding, […]
On the Endless Road to Nowhere
By Amy R Handler. It’s difficult to know where reality ends and fiction begins in Monte Hellman’s most recent movie, Road to Nowhere(2010). And even when we’re informed that what we’ve just seen is true, we feel less at ease then ever – and wonder what games Hellman, and scriptwriter […]
A Somewhat Gentle Man
By Amy R Handler. Comedy is one of those strange and elusive phenomena that troubles even the most sensitive critical connoisseurs. It is all the more difficult to capture and sustain in a feature length film, and many have tried and failed. Luckily for us, Norwegian director Hans Petter Moland […]
Rogue Tire on Killing Spree
By Amy R Handler. Quentin Dupieux’ (a/k/a musician, Mr. Oizo) newest feature about a rogue tire-turned-serial killer and obsessed stalker, is everything cinema should be, but more often is not. A TIRE? you ask. Yes. You heard correctly, and believe it or not there’s enough in this 82-minute powerhouse to […]
Inner Realism, Danish Style
By Amy R Handler. Many filmmakers have explored the inner world of performers, but few do it as masterfully as Danish director Martin Zandvliet (Angels of Brooklyn). Teamed with actor extraordinaire, Paprika Steen (Okay), their feature Applause (Applaus, 2009) is nothing short of remarkable. Told from the perspective of Thea […]
When We Leave (2010)
By Amy R Handler. When We Leave (Die Fremde, 2010) is a simple art house drama that packs a huge socio-political wallop. It is one of those rare and tricky films where all its component parts seem to work against each other, but really move as fluidly as a well […]
Darkness in Detroit: Vanishing on 7th Street
By Amy R Handler. Perhaps it’s no small coincidence that Canadian Horror King, Brad Anderson’s Vanishing on 7th Street (2010) takes place in Detroit, Michigan. Once considered the automotive Mecca of the world, the great Motown is now the most economically crippled city in the United States. Not surprisingly, the […]
A Raid on Nothing: Genre and Polanski’s Cul-de-sac
By Matthew Sorrento. Knife in the Water was a rare kind of debut. The 1962 Polish film brought Roman Polanski international acclaim, earning him an Academy Award nomination and a spot on the cover of Time magazine, where the release represented a new wave of foreign cinema. The accolades were […]
Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)
By Steven Harrison Gibbs. In October of 2009, Lionsgate’s protracted Saw franchise was nearing its end. With the sixth installment marking the lowest point of its steadily diminishing returns, it was all too apparent that horror fans were growing weary of Jigsaw and his elaborate, grotesquely violent traps. Meanwhile, Paramount […]