The Staircase

This is gripping stuff - the equal of any scripted courtroom drama you will ever see. Every character is vivid and there are more twists and turns in the profiled case than you could ever imagine from the outset. Be aware that the film contains a lot of graphic imagery -- crime scene photos, and the like. Viewer discretion is essential. "The Staircase" is incredible, patient documentary filmmaking. I was continually riveted.


Written 7/5/09

Mon Oncle

"Mon Oncle" is a series of set pieces and gags, most of which are effective, but many do fall flat. Despite this film's accolades, one can't help but feel that shaving 15 minutes off the total running time would greatly enhance the work. Nonetheless, Jacques Tati's careful, charming diatribes against modern technology and the dominant oppression it enforces upon its human "owners" continues to ring true in present day. We humans have not shaken our love of gadgets and sleek design! In "Mon Uncle", Tati argues in favor of a simpler kind of life.


Written 7/2/09

The Conversation

Absolutely outstanding in every regard. "The Conversation" is saturated with imaginative camerawork, skillful editing, haunting sounds, and studied performances. The story twists and turns in a dizzyingly Kafka-esque fashion, but Francis Ford Coppola deftly navigates a purposeful course. "The Conversation" is a rare work, reminding viewers that film can indeed be art.


Written 6/30/09

Children of Heaven

"Children of Heaven" would be a simple trifle of a film if not for the brilliance of the child actors. They elevate the work through their sensitivity and depth of emotion. Like other reviewers, I agree that the ending of the film is thoroughly unsatisfying. The director strives for poetry when he ought to have opted for crowd-pleasing. No one wants to see lovely children suffer and suffer, with no ultimate respite displayed! Nonetheless, this is a charming family tale worth savoring.


Written 6/30/09

The 400 Blows

A cautionary tale that rings as true today as it must have upon its release 50 years ago. "400 Blows" does well to encapsulate the breadth of juvenile delinquency. Adults are maligned as tyrannical agents of governance, saddling youths with unfair expectations. Jean-Pierre Léaud shines in the lead role, sinking further and further within himself as one institution after another lets him down. The filmmaking is evocative and lively, portraying both vast urban landscapes and dysfunctional, cramped home environs with equal aplomb.


Written 6/26/09

The Verdict

Absolutely outstanding. Paul Newman inhabits his character with unwavering commitment. This is filmmaking at its best - driven by brilliant acting and a continually compelling screenplay.


Written 6/23/09

Miller's Crossing

An early gem from the Coen brothers. The cast is brilliant, singular. Period costuming hits the mark, also. The camerawork is elegant and understated. Gabriel Byrne's lead character is a curious individual to construct a film around - a gangster hero with no heart. At the least, Miller's Crossing is "a handsome movie about men and hats" (Ethan Coen).


Written 6/21/09