Category Archives: Drama

How Do You Know review

Written and directed by James L. Brooks Lisa (Reese Witherspoon, perky and adorable as a shih tzu) is an American softball star—if such a thing can be said to exist. At 31 she's just a little past her prime, dealing with being cut from her team. She meets Matty (Owen Wilson, who, to continue the…Read More

True Grit review

Directed and written for the screen by Joel and Ethan Coenfrom a novel by Charles PortisThe first thing to note here is this western isn't a remake of the John Wayne picture, the one for which the Duke won his Oscar. The Coens have gone back to the novel, which I hear they liked due…Read More

Black Swan review

Directed by Darren AronofskyScripted by Mark Heyman, John McLaughlin and Andres Heinz,from a story by HeinzOh melodrama. Such a dirty word these days, except in places like France and Italy, where plays and films pitched at the ragged edges of emotion are considered at least a laudable storytelling expression. Because Hollywood does it so infrequently,…Read More

The King’s Speech review

Directed by Tom HooperScreenplay by David SeidlerWell, isn't this a good time at the movies. It's been rare enough this year to have a good story well told, but when the beats hit the mark so flawlessly, well, I'm prone to hyperbole, I have to admit. Shockingly, The King's Speech is a biopic I really…Read More

Love and Other Drugs review

Directed by Edward Zwick Written by Zwick, Charles Randolph and Marshall Herskovitz from the novel Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman by Jamie Reidy I'm surprised that Love and Other Drugs is being buzzed about with potential Oscar consideration. Maybe the performances have a shot, but I'd say it's a long one. I…Read More

Fair Game, Nothing But The Truth reviews

Fair Game Directed by Doug LimonWritten by Jez and John-Henry Butterworth from booksby Joseph Wilson and Valerie PlameNothing But The TruthWritten and Directed by Rod LurieI caught up with Fair Game this evening and saw Nothing But The Truth some months ago, predating this blog, so as one is fresh in my mind and one's…Read More

Never Let Me Go review

I was quite amazed at this film to start with, since I didn't know much about it, only that the reviews were strong, as is the cast, and that it involved a love triangle. That it's actually hard sci-fi may surprise many. It did me because it's nowhere in the marketing. Just an interesting detail. …Read More