Shoot the Critic - All Feeds

CUFF: 2013's Columbia University Film Festival

Sun, 12 May 2013 20:41:34 -0400

Last week, I attended the annual Columbia University Film Festival where Masters students showcase their work. With an audience of mostly friends, family and teachers, I felt a bit left out, which would have been okay if I also didn't at times feel left out of the film's subject matter, as well. There was, however, some promising work to be found.

Classic Romance: Romeo+Juliet

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:24:12 -0400

In light of the impending release of the much anticipated Baz Luhrmann film The Great Gatsby, I return to my childhood to give a recommendation of 1996's Romeo+Juliet, also starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead male role. For my generation, it feels like a classic. Perhaps The Great Gatsby will have the same influence over the nine year-olds of today.

Best of Television: Spring and Summer 2013

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 00:32:52 -0400

I give a list of the shows I will be watching starting now through the summer. Mad Men and Game of Thrones have already premiered, so I've been watching those. But there's still more to anticipate, especially Breaking Bad's final eight episodes.

TV Watch: Mad Men Premiere, "The Doorway"

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 04:33:47 -0400

I share some of my reactions to the two-hour premiere of Mad Men's sixth season. In a script by Matthew Weiner, "The Doorway" gave us Don on vacation, Don back to real life, Betty and the Francis household, Peggy being stern but successful at her new job, and Roger facing his mother's death.

Rogert Ebert Dies at Age 70

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:19:15 -0400

The influential and prolific film critic Roger Ebert has passed away. I here say a few words on what he meant to me, not so much as a critic but as a great admirer and lover of films.

Ten Actors Ready For Their First Best Actor Academy Award

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 03:58:25 -0400

What do Leonardo DiCaprio, Joaquin Phoenix, and Idris Elba all have in common? Along with seven other beautiful, talented men? They've never won an Academy Award for Best Actor. I would not be surprised if any of these ten actors were either nominated or awarded an Oscar within the next several years. Hopefully, I won't have given up on the silly award show by the time they make it.

Gael García Bernal in Pablo Larraín's "No"

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:42:23 -0400

The best film I saw in theaters so far in 2013, No is a funny twist on a political thriller. Gael García Bernal gives an outstanding performance in the lead role.

Five Most Anticipated Movies of 2013

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 22:31:29 -0400

I'm excited for many, many films in 2013. It promises to be a great year. Here I just name five of the ones I'm especially looking forward to, and I add several "honorable mentions" that, to be honest, on any other day, might have made the top five list. These include new work from directors Steve McQueen, Lars von Trier, Jeff Nichols, Sarah Polley, and Richard Linklater, with actors Michael Fassbender, Michael Shannon, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Ten U.S/U.K. Actors Under 30 with Promising Careers

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 01:10:59 -0500

In this feature, I list ten actors and actresses, under the age of 30, who have become magnets for me to go see a film. Some have already become stars, while others are still relatively under the radar. My favorite youngsters include Jennifer Lawrence, Elle Fanning, Michael B. Jordan, and, yes, Robert Pattinson.

Oscars Watch: Lincoln, Amour, Silver Linings Playbook and More

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 04:43:36 -0500

I give my brief takes on all nine films nominated for the 2013 Best Film Oscar. I also order them, with a few ties. Feel free to add your opinions on Amour, Beasts of a Southern Wild, Zero Dark Thirty, Django Unchained, Silver Linings Playbook, Argo, Lincoln, Life of Pi, and Les Miserables.

TV Watch: Lena Dunham's "Girls"

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 04:22:09 -0500

I here review HBO's latest episode of "Girls," entitled "Boys." Confused? Dunham has proven herself apt at creating a wonderfully amusing and captivating fictional world about not just her and her girlfriends but also the boys that creep in and out of their lives. Adam and Ray had a little adventure while the girls went home in frustration.

Mad Men to Return this Spring on April 7

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 02:33:29 -0500

The news was just released that Mad Men will return to fall television on April 7. AMC will air a two-hour premiere, which I expect to cover some of the big plot points left open in season five's finale. In this post, I go over what I expect to see from the major characters we love, including Don, Peggy, Joan, Roger, and Pete (OK we don't love Pete but we love to hate him, right?)

The Honest Truth About Zero Dark Thirty

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 00:25:33 -0500

I here review the much talked about film Zero Dark Thirty. Released in 2012 from Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow, Zero Dark Thirty casts Jessica Chastain in the lead role of a woman relentlessly pursuing Osama bin Laden, primarily by way of torture tactics. I give my entertained but utterly appalled reaction.

2013 Academy Awards: Nominations and Reactions

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 14:10:07 -0500

I here choose my favorite actors, actresses, films, directors, and screenplays to win at the 2013 Academy Awards. Among my favorites are The Master, Amour, and Frankenweenie.

Film Watching: Catching up on 2012's "Best"

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 04:06:55 -0500

I briefly review five celebrated films of 2012. All were pretty enjoyable, but Frankenweenie and Holy Motors were my favorites. Argo, Skyfall, and Ruby Sparks were less successful but overall good films.

2013 Winter Television: Great Series to Watch

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 17:44:39 -0500

I here list the television comedies and dramas I will be watching - and hopefully enjoying - over the next couple months. The best of 2013's winter television includes HBO's Girls, FX's Justified, and the return of AMC's The Walking Dead.

Best Film of 2012: The Master

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 20:40:25 -0500

Of all the films I saw in 2012, P.T. Anderson's The Master most impressed me, leaving me with the sense that I had just seen something refreshingly new, intensely acted, and visually breathtaking. Joaquin Phoenix delivers the best performance of the year and of his career, and Philip Seymour Hoffman is as perfect as ever. This is my favorite film of the year, and I'm sure I'll be seeing it many more times in the years and decades to come.

Best Films of 2012: Part I

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 03:34:20 -0500

Here are a few of the films I highly appreciated from 2012, from the engrossing The Master to the lighter fare of Moonrise Kingdom.

Best TV of 2012: Ten Great Series

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 10:30:27 -0500

It's already December, so I've made a (preliminary) list of my top 10 (actually 12) shows of the 2012 TV season. The series I loved include five comedies and five dramas, with the great Homeland, Mad Men, and Breaking Bad topping the list in a tie. But the funny stuff isn't far behind, with Louie, Girls and more.

Eat and Watch: Yogurt

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 10:48:11 -0500

In light of some recent heavy between-meal snack eating, I've decided to share my U.S. packaged food fun with my fellow TV and Film watchers. We have to stay alert during these great experiences, don't we? I here start with yogurt, a personal favorite snack. I also include a film recommendation: Costa-Gavras's 1969 classic Z. Guessed the connection?