Tilda Swinton in a Lynne Ramsay film: heaven! It's a bit experimental. With John C. Reilly. Ezra Miller is incredibly creepy as their messed-up progeny. Swinton: you are so awesome. Yes!
http://kevin.oscilloscope.net/

THE CONQUEST

5/28/2012

 
The rise of Nicolas Sarkozy, and the decline of his marriage is dramatized in this engaging, heavily subtitled, and often humorous political drama. Great performance by Denis Podalydès.
http://www.musicboxfilms.com/the-conquest-movies-13.php

IN THE CUT (2003)

5/26/2012

 
Remember Meg Ryan? Bet she thought she could resuscitate her career with Jane Campion's dreadfully flawed attempt at an erotic, thriller, which is neither. BTW in "the cut" means "vagina" and yes, one of the characters actually delivers the title in a line. Awful.
 
Werner Herzog is the granddaddy of documentary films, and this tight, intense study of two murderers, one on death row, the other serving a life sentence, and the families of their victims, along with police and executioner shines a light on the the ethics of capital punishment. Yes.
http://www.ifcfilms.com/films/into-the-abyss

CISCO PIKE (1972)

5/19/2012

 
Kris Kristofferson is a down-on-his-luck drug dealer in Los Angeles. Notable cast, including Gene Hackman, Hollywood locations, ridiculous and dated portrayal of '70s drug culture, and a forgettable soundtrack by Kristofferson. Cool 'cause it's '70s, but that's it.

SHAME

5/17/2012

 
What do people see in Carey Mulligan? (Still pissed that she was cast in Drive.) Her blandness makes her co-stars appear more dynamic. Enough about Mulligan. Michael Fassbender's portrayal of a sex addict is fascinating, but there's not much beneath the surface. Arty, dark.
http://www.foxsearchlight.com/shame/

RAMPART

5/16/2012

 
Writer James Ellroy has made a career of dirty cops, and Woody Harrelson delivers the most compelling characterization of corrupt law enforcement since Russell Crowe's Wendell "Bud" White of L.A. Confidential. From The Messenger (2009) team of Harrelson, Oren Moverman and Ben Foster. Bleak.
http://rampartmovie.com/
 
Chow Yun-Fat, 1920s China, action, humor. Yes, it's long, but it's good: see it.
 
Susan Hayward won an Oscar for her portrayal of good time girl turned death row inmate Barbara Graham. Late film noir directed by Robert Wise. Great Johnny Mandel jazz score. Yes.
 
Perfect vehicle for Sam Rockwell to flex his alcoholic poacher who accidentally kills a teenager and ends up with some bad guys moneymuscle.
http://matthewfjones.com/