History Boys: The Brilliant British Lads Of ‘Theory,’ ‘Pride’ & ‘Imitation’

It happens every year. That handsomely produced movie, often British, usually a period piece. It’s a perfectly fine film — unchallenging, uncomplicated, more or less forgettable. It has the right stars, the right tone, the right credentials, the right subject matter, and most importantly, the right budget for an awards campaign. (It helps if the […]

The Gun Show: Tatum, Ruffalo & Carell Brawl In ‘Foxcatcher’

In its most extreme realizations, the American dream means being the best. Foxcatcher is about three men who already are the best, and want to be better.

Not-Oscars 2012: The Year’s Best Performances

(Originally published at JustinPlusSeven on January 10, 2013.) You, dear reader, have the honor of reading this in the future, after the Oscar nominations have been announced. But I am writing from this from the near past, before we know which five contenders are fighting it out in each category. Of course, some are shoo-ins; […]

‘Django’ Fuck Yourself: Oscar’s Also-Rans

Well, I finally saw Django Unchained, and where to begin? I avoided it for quite some time because it seemed most everyone had already seen it, and a Tarantino film is not a thing I like to embark on alone. For one, I’d heard about the over-the-top violence, which seemed like a thing best taken […]

Youth In Tumult: ‘Margaret’ Gives Good Grief

(Films discussed in this post: Margaret, Putty Hill, The Myth Of The American Sleepover, Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, A Better Life.) “It is the blight man was born for, It is Margaret you mourn for.”

Hoover Damned: ‘J. Edgar’ Sheds Light On A Closetful Of Skeletons

Want an Academy Award? It’s no secret — playing a real person is the surest way to find Oscar gold. Just ask Colin Firth, Sandra Bullock, Sean Penn, Helen Mirren, Reese Witherspoon, Charlize Theron, Forest Whitaker, Nicole Kidman, Jamie Foxx, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Marion Cotillard. (And that’s only from Best Actor/Actress categories in the […]