Tag Archives: Alexander Payne

The Holdovers review — A new Christmas classic

November 8, 2023 flawintheiris

Directed by Alexander Payne | Written by David Hemingson | 133 min | ▲▲▲▲▲ | in Cinemas Alexander Payne is the director of wry, gentle, and humanist American features like Election, About Schmidt, Sideways, The Descendants, Nebraska, and Downsizing. His new film, The Holdovers, might be the best one yet. He and his collaborators have… Read More

20 Best Movies on Amazon Prime (From the 20th Century)

May 24, 2021 flawintheiris

I started with Netflix, notorious for having a shallow catalogue of older movies, then went on to Disney's new service, Star. Now I'm having a look at Prime, which actually boasts a bigger variety of films 21 years or older. Here's some of the best available now: Aguirre: The Wrath of God (1972) This is Werner… Read More

Top 10 of 1999

March 19, 2019 flawintheiris

20 years ago, Hollywood had a great 12 months. Maybe it was pre-millennial tension, or just a confluence of great talent and risk-taking producers and studios, but it was a moment that wasn't to be repeated in the years following. I enjoy putting together lists of the best films from years gone by, and the… Read More

Downsizing review — Bigger and more peculiar than it sounds

January 4, 2018 flawintheiris

Directed by Alexander Payne | Written by Payne and Jim Taylor | 135 min It may be the prestige season's least-buzzed feature, but Alexander Payne, an award-winner for his wry, humanist dramedies (Sideways, The Descendants, Nebraska) has delivered a film that skews contrary to its marketing and to audience expectations. Don't let that put you… Read More

Nebraska review

December 27, 2013 flawintheiris

Directed by Alexander Payne Written by Bob Nelson The other day I lauded the Coen Brothers (and their new movie) for a particular brand of Americana, comparing their work with that of their American filmmaking brethren. I really should have included Alexander Payne to that list. Consider his recent features: Citizen Ruth, Election, About Schmidt,… Read More

Top 10 of 2011 (and other good times at the movies)

January 6, 2012 flawintheiris

Here's my list (early this year!), to add to the collection of other Best Of 2011 lists crowding the internet.My criteria: The film had to have been released in cinemas in 2011, even if it didn't open here in Halifax. For example, I did see a number of movies at the Atlantic Film Festival, such… Read More

The Descendants review

December 3, 2011 flawintheiris

Directed by Alexander PayneScreenplay by Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash from a novel by Kaui Hart HemmingsGeorge Clooney is Matt King. Matt is the trustee of a large parcel of land in Hawaii, a place that seems a whole lot like paradise despite Matt's voiceover telling us that everyone's life has rough patches, even… Read More