Category Archives: Comedy

Inherent Vice review — Messily brilliant or simply a mess?

January 10, 2015 flawintheiris

Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, from the Thomas Pynchon novel Inherent Vice is the kind of movie you walk into and it envelops you. You're visiting a world while you're in the cinema. It may not be one you understand. The denizens may speak strange languages and enact peculiar rituals. The universal narrative…Read More

John Dunsworth in Santa Quest — Doing, believing, and the meaning of Santa Claus

December 18, 2014 flawintheiris

John Dunsworth has gone to the trouble of printing out photos of himself as Jim Lahey—the character he plays on Trailer Park Boys—passed out and sprawling, with a large stain on the crotch of his familiar tan pants. Next to him, shirtless as always, is Pat Roach as Randy. These photos are for autograph-seekers. But…Read More

Penguins of Madagascar review — Amphetamized Animation About Antarctic Aequornithes

December 4, 2014 flawintheiris

Directed by Eric Darnell and Simon J. Smith, written by Darnell, John Aboud, Michael Colton, Tom McGrath, Brandon Sawyer, Alan J. Schoolcraft, and Brent Simons I don't know why I bother reviewing these animated movies. They're for kids, and who am I to recommend or dissuade munchkins on this stuff? I guess this brief write-up…Read More

Big Hero 6 review — A light, slight cartoon

November 11, 2014 flawintheiris

Directed by Don Hall and Chris Williams, written by Jordan Roberts, Daniel Gerson, Robert L. Baird, based on characters and concept by Duncan Rouleau and Steven T. Seagle Disney's animation studio is picking up the slack their Pixar colleagues have been letting slip. Wreck It Ralph and Frozen were huge successes, packing in the kids and offering…Read More

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) review — Once more into the cowl, Michael Keaton

November 9, 2014 flawintheiris

Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu, written by Innaritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, and Armando Bo After I saw the movie I considered the career of Michael Keaton. I always respected the guy as both a talented comedic and dramatic actor—in movies like Night Shift, Beetlejuice and Clean and Sober. He has a compelling, combustive quality. There's nothing warm…Read More

Frank review — Quirky, original, and moving

November 6, 2014 flawintheiris

Directed by Lenny Abrahamson, written by Jon Ronson and Peter Straughan Frank is a strange little backstage comedy/drama on its surface. Underneath it's a solemn examination of damaged people inside a circle of attention and creativity. It's maybe got a dash of Almost Famous, but it's far more peculiar. You should know, a favourable comparison…Read More

St. Vincent review — A dramedy sunk by sentiment

November 3, 2014 flawintheiris

Written and directed by Theodore Melfi From the top, a warning: St. Vincent is a story about the connection between a crusty older Brooklyn dude, Vin, and a cute little boy, Oliver. Oliver is painfully precocious—everything out of his mouth is more thoughtful and considered than any of the adults around him. He's the perfect child. If…Read More

Amy Wins: A few more thoughts on Gone Girl

October 14, 2014 flawintheiris

As Gone Girl cruises through its second weekend as box office champ, I've been enjoying all the think pieces on the film, their number a credit to its quality. As I add my two cents, I'll link to a few of my favourites. I've been reading how women are making up the bulk of the audience.…Read More

Gone Girl review: Lurid, sleazy, bloody fun

October 4, 2014 flawintheiris

Directed by David Fincher, written by Gillian Flynn, adapting her own novel I'll admit, I got about halfway through the novel. I appreciated the characterizations and the attention to detail, but didn't find it a compelling page-turner. Given the weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, I'm clearly in the minority. I could see…Read More

The Trip To Italy review

September 26, 2014 flawintheiris

Written and directed by Michael Winterbottom I was so thrilled to discover this sequel exists! The first movie, The Trip, from 2011, was a whole lot of fun—Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon improvising dialogue, riffing off each other, while driving around and eating at gourmet restos in northern England. The film functioned as a gorgeous travelogue,…Read More