Movie Review: The Art of the Steal
my initial thoughts, which form the basis for this review, originally appeared here. As an exposition of theft and corruption, a civics lesson, and a demonstration of how non-profits and governments and individuals and institutions conspire to take and govern art, The Art of the Steal is necessary and intriguing. It’s obviously angry over injustice, and thus … Continue reading
Movie Review: The Fifth Estate
a version of this review first appeared here. Much has been said about the movie’s mishandling of actual events, and those reviews are fascinating to be sure. Most of us, however, forgive that to one extent or another if a ‘based on true events’ biopic is remotely interesting, well shot, anything. The Fifth Estate is … Continue reading
Movie Review: The Counselor
A version of this review originally appeared here. If each of the film’s conversations were climactic set pieces in another film, where the point was pontification, shock value, proclamatory delivery, really absolutely anything but chemistry, The Counselor could provide apexes for at least a dozen films. Instead, the film lines up several fantastic dramatic actors … Continue reading
Movie Review – Gravity
I knew going in the previews had shown nothing past the first third of the film, which is quite unusual in film marketing. I had read up on some of the technical things Cuarón had done to create a sort of zero-gravity look. I’d heard the comparisons to 2001: A Space Odyssey. I understand why … Continue reading
Movie Review: Inch’Allah
On my list of movies to watch I mentioned several female filmmakers whose work I’m interested in. One is Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette. This review of her film starts a loose series on Women In and Making Film. A shorter version of this review appeared on Letterboxd here. This film easily could have been a cliched tale about a … Continue reading
Movie Review: Looper
A shorter version of this review first appeared on my Letterboxd. I cannot be expected to have no significant foreknowledge of any film involving Rian Johnson *and* Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Thus I’d read select reviews, seen the trailers, examined the posters and bylines, etc. I was excited, I had a grasp of the basic murder-for-hire-gets-confronted-by-time-traveling-older-self, yet … Continue reading
Quick Hits
I’ve recently signed up for and begun using Letterboxd to keep track of my films. It’s a quick and easy way to track and write thoughts on movies I don’t have time or inclination to do a full write-up and picture hunt on. If you’re interested to see what I have to say, what I … Continue reading
Gatsby. The Great Gatsby.
I never much cared for The Great Gatsby as a novel. I came to understand it better after college and a few re-reads of a friend’s much-marked copy, but I’ve no emotional attachment to it whatsoever. Luhrmann, on the other hand, I love. Still, upon seeing the trailers for The Great Gatsby well over a … Continue reading
Movie Review: The Bling Ring
If you’ve seen the previews or seen a cast list, you may be expecting a movie mostly centered on ‘Nicki,’ the movie pseudonym given for Alexis Neiers. Alexis is the most notorious member of the real-life theft ring which stole from celebrities, having had articles, reality shows, and news interviews galore. You may also be expecting … Continue reading
Fast 6: The Mash-Up
A version of this review appeared here, while quoting an article which spoiled a lot of the film. This is the more-detail-less-spoiler version. Fast 6 is beautifully shot [for the genres it’s in], averagely edited, truly awfully wonderful. You know how when you finish watching a TV series, you can go to YouTube and find … Continue reading
Mel Killingsworth - Film and TV blog 