AltWeeklies Wire
Oscar Bait: Silent Black-and-White Trumps 3D
Here's proof that a black-and-white silent film with a 4:3 aspect ratio can be more entertaining than a 3D anything, "The Artist" conjures a bygone era that reminds us why we love Hollywood.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
11-21-2011 |
Reviews
Freud, Jung, and Spielrein: Cronenberg Explores Madness Behind the Method of Modern Psychotherapy
Christopher Hampton's stage play "The Talking Cure" provides the cerebral basis for David Cronenberg to dive into the largely overlooked story of Sabina Spielrein and her influence on the fathers of modern psychoanalysis--Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
11-21-2011 |
Reviews
Payne’s Fault Not Even George Clooney Can Work a Miracle
Death and dying play a big part in cinema's current zeitgeist. From apocalyptic films like "Melancholia" to cancer-themed comedies like "50/50" there is a pressing dialogue of facing up to the reality of certain death with some amount of courage and dignity.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
11-15-2011 |
Reviews
Straw Dogs and Paper Tigers Lars von Trier Takes No Prisoners
Danish Lars von Trier is a great filmmaker.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
11-08-2011 |
Reviews
Brazil Equals America Crime Drama Sequel Connects the Dots
Co-writer/director José Padilha’s fiery sequel to his right-leaning “Elite Squad” (2007) digs deeper this time into Rio de Janeiro’s culture of crime and corruption through the seen-it-all eyes of returning protagonist Nascimento (Wagner Moura).
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
11-08-2011 |
Reviews
Mickey Rourke vs. Gods & Humans: No Family Jewels are Safe
Pitched to the public for its producer's association to the 2008 cartoon-cutout sword and sandal trash fest "300," this spectacle-driven tale of myth-based fantasy rightly earns its stripes thanks to a heavy-duty cast that includes the masterful John Hurt as a human-disguised Zeus and Mickey Rourke as an incredibly vicious King Hyperion.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
11-07-2011 |
Reviews
Diamond in the Buff: Michelle Williams Embodies Marilyn Monroe
Michelle Williams gives an Oscar-worthy performance as Marilyn Monroe in director Simon Curtis's thoughtful adaptation of diaries by Colin Clark.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
10-31-2011 |
Reviews
Young Love: Anton Yelchin and Felicity Jones Deliver the Precious Pain
A surprisingly sweet and candid look at the problematic nature of young love, "Like Crazy" is a sturdy romantic showcase for Anton Yelchin and Felicity Jones who share an undeniable sensual chemistry.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
10-24-2011 |
Reviews
Art Film Confidential: Julia Leigh Fires a Shot Across the Bough
A bold feminist exploitation think-piece about the perceived and disguised societal demands placed on women, "Sleeping Beauty" is a hauntingly erotic film that languishes in the recesses of your sub-conscious.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
10-24-2011 |
Reviews
Where'd He Get Those Boots? Shrek Spin-Off Shows Off
Spun off from the finally-adjourned Shrek franchise, "Puss in Boots" is a well crafted DreamWorks animated movie that succeeds in spite of, rather than with the aid of its extraneous 3D treatment.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
10-24-2011 |
Reviews
Hunter’s Legacy: Robinson Directs Depp
"The Rum Diary" is clearly a labor of love from Johnny Depp who came across Hunter S. Thompson's unpublished early novel while visiting his literary friend at his home in Colorado.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
10-21-2011 |
Reviews
Robbing the Elite: Joel Schumacher Presses the Wrong Buttons
Joel Schumacher continues on his career-long habit of hits and misses with a home invasion suspense thriller that signifies yet another dip.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
10-10-2011 |
Reviews
Cynicism and Horror: Tom Six Goes Back to the ATM
“The Human Centipede” is a cinematic provocation in line with banned films such as “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “Nekromantik.”
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
09-29-2011 |
Reviews
Tangling With the Big C: Gordon-Levitt and Rogan Fight the Good Fight
Director Jonathan Levine ("The Wackness") has a knack for conveying unconventional drama with enough droll spice to make the medicine go down easily even if the subject is cancer.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
09-26-2011 |
Reviews
Action Mediocrity: De Niro, Owen, and Statham Go Slumming
An unhappy marriage of brawny big-screen talent with a nonsensical script, and a newbie director, make for one very mediocre action movie.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
09-19-2011 |
Reviews
