Category Archives: Drama

Boyhood review

Written and directed by Richard Linklater In December of this year when people like me consider the stand-out feature films of the past 12 months, Boyhood will distinguish itself from the pack for one undeniable reason: it took 12 years to make. Starting back in the GW Bush era, Linklater gathered a small cast together…Read More

Wish I Was Here review

Directed by Zach Braff, written by Braff with his brother, Adam J. Braff The reputation of Scrubs star Zach Braff's first indie feature Garden State has taken some hits since it was a hit back in 2004. Braff became the punching bag as a representative of a certain kind of hipster cool, which I never thought he…Read More

A Most Wanted Man review

Directed by Anton Corbijn, written by Andrew Bovell from a John Le Carré novel. As Gunther, a heavy drinking, heavy smoking, cynical and burnt-out German spymaster, Philip Seymour Hoffman has left us yet another character unlike anything else he played. As if his legacy wasn't already solid. Gunther feels at least 20 years older than…Read More

Obvious Child review

Directed by Gillian Robespierre, Written by Robespierre, Karen Maine, and Elizabeth Holm, based on a short film by Robespierre, Maine, and Anna Bean I can't tell you how great it is to see a film like this with characters who speak like people I know, about the politics and reality of modern life for women…Read More

Begin Again review

Written and directed by John Carney Eight years ago, Irish filmmaker and musician Carney directed a wonderful little film called Once, about a longtime busker who takes a young pianist under his wing. It was a shot-on-a-shoestring delight, and the song that brought them together went on to win an Oscar.  Carney made another little-seen Irish movie,…Read More

Tracks review

Directed by John Curran, written by Marion Nelson from a book by Robyn Davidson Tracks is one of the summer's gems, and easily one of the best movies so far this year. I saw it last year at the Atlantic Film Festival, and am happy to see it a second time.  It's based on the true…Read More

The Fault in Our Stars review

Directed by Josh Boone, written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, adapting the book by John Green I'll admit it. I cried. I saw the way this movie set me up to get emotional toward the end and it didn't matter an iota that I was aware of its machinations. So, crying-credit where it's…Read More

Million Dollar Arm review

Directed by Craig Gillespie, written by Thomas McCarthy I went to see this Disney picture for a few reasons. I liked the sound of the true-to-life angle, it's based on the story of two young guys from India who were brought to the US to take a shot at being baseball pitchers. I liked the creative…Read More

Dom Hemingway review

Written and directed by Richard Shepard I had to take a look at Shepard's IMDB page to remind myself what else he's done, and the title that jumped out at me was The Matador. It had a plum role for Pierce Brosnan as a hit man, which served as a nice reinvention immediately following his stint…Read More

Bob Hoskins and Mona Lisa

When I heard the sad news that Bob Hoskins died today at age 71, it made me think of the first movie I saw him in. I'd lived in London for less than a year when Neil Jordan's Mona Lisa came out. It was a tough year for me. A new high school, much larger than the…Read More