Now in Theaters
My Way – 1 1/2 Buckets
Whenever a great South Korean art-house hit like Oldboy, The Chaser, or Mother reaches the United States, American critics invariably offer a glowing assessment of that country’s “screen quota,” which legally requires theaters to play… [Read more]
The Five-Year Engagement – 2 1/2 Buckets
While I have long contested the employment of the phrase “wait for HBO” among critics–as a staunch defender of the theatrical experience, I believe most films are either good enough to warrant a night out or aren’t worth seeing… [Read more]
Meeting Evil – 1/2 a Bucket
More and more these days, major movie stars are compelled to appear in low-budget independent projects because they want to flex their acting muscles — something that higher paying Hollywood productions often… [Read more]
Read more posts from Now in Theaters
Now on DVD & Blu-Ray
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – 3 Buckets
When David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo “remake” was announced, the prevailing criticism in the blogosphere was: “Is this really necessary?” Aside from the subtitles, the 2009 Swedish adaptation of the… [Read more]
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – 3 1/2 Buckets
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, the very British English-language debut by Let the Right One In director Tomas Alfredson, is a paradox of a movie. Based on a weighty mystery novel by John le Carré, it plays like an intricate audience… [Read more]
The Adventures of Tintin – 3 Buckets
Leave it to Steven Spielberg to use the most cutting-edge in today’s motion-capture technology–in partnership with WETA Digital, the company that did the special effects on Avatar–to make one of the most gloriously… [Read more]
Read more posts from Now on DVD & Blu-Ray
Columns / Blogs
SDLFF Dispatch #3 – “Bonsái” & “La espera”
“They can’t all be good,” is a mantra that any regular attendee of film festivals must adopt as they shuffle from show to show, because there are inevitably low points at even the most prestigious of fests. Having seen three strong films in a row at SDLFF, however, I started to second guess that general rule – perhaps I could make it through a dozen-plus movies without disliking any of them. Crazier things have happened. But that thought didn’t last long, as the next two… [Read more]
SDLFF Dispatch #2 – “Urte berri on, amona!”
I’m about to head down to SDLFF for another evening of viewings, but first I must highlight a selection I just watched on screener. Telmo Esnal’s Urte berri on, amona! screens tonight and tomorrow night; if you’re in the area and don’t mind your movies weird, don’t even think about skipping this one. [Read more]
SDLFF 2012: Dispatch #1 – “El páramo” & “El dedo”
While the bulk of film bloggers are convening in Austin for South by Southwest, I remain here in San Diego covering the city’s 19th annual Latino Film Festival, which boasts its own fair share of promising features, documentaries, and shorts. This is my first time attending the event, but with fellow San Diego Film Critics Society member and SDLFF programmer Glenn Heath to steer me right, I anticipate I will discover quite a few good films throughout the fest’s duration… [Read more]
Read more posts from Columns / Blogs