Leviathan
It’s hard to believe that this was Russia’s entry for an Academy Award nomination, given…
Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem
Can a two-hour movie, set entirely in a drab room (somewhere in Israel), and involving…
Red Army
I haven’t followed hockey (professional or otherwise) much since my teenage years, but I found…
The Backward Class
A charming and uplifting documentary highlighting the success of India’s first class of “untouchables” to…
Timbuktu
What happens when religious fundamentalists (jihadists, in this case) invade a peaceful Malian city is…
The Wrecking Crew
A delightful documentary about the unsung (no pun intended) heroes of the U.S. music industry…
Still Alice
Julianne Moore’s terrific performance as a middle age woman confronting early onset Alzheimer’s disease makes…
Two Days, One Night
Marion Cotillard is superb as a woman put in a terrible bind – either her…
Mr. Turner
A grunting painter/artist (J.M.W. Turner, wonderfully played by Timothy Spall) who takes advantage of his…
Blackhat
I generally look forward to Michael Mann’s films (Thief, Collateral, The Insider, Heat, etc.), so…
A Most Violent Year
A good, but not great, tale of an ambitious businessman (played by Oscar Isaac) NYC…
Oscar Shorts – Live Action
Always a great package. This year’s lot includes stories about an Afghan teen finding her…
Cake
Jennifer Anniston is compelling in the role of woman suffering from chronic pain and her…
Siddharth
What would you do if you lived in a poor country (India, in this case)…
What We Do In the Shadows
This mockumentary follows a collection of modern day vampires as they room together and search…
The Duff
While the performers are ok, and I generally appreciate tales of outsiders, this film didn’t…
Seymour: An Introduction
Ethan Hawke directed this quiet documentary about Seymour Bernstein, a NYC-based and much respected pianist…
The Babadook
Without any (or much) violence, this story of an Australian boy’s fear of a monster…
Wild Tales
From Argentina, this a package of six films sharing the theme of vengeance (only sometimes…
’71
Jack O’Connell plays a British soldier (of few words) sent to Belfast in 1971 who…
Monsoon
I’m not sure I learned much about India from this documentary – other than how…
The Interview
I admit that I fell asleep during large portions of this movie, but what I…
Focus
I like Will Smith’s work, and I like that that film looks gorgeous on the…
Merchants of Doubt
A decent documentary about how the p.r. industry creates, on behalf of their clients, public…
Run All Night
A familiar story for Liam Neeson: man troubled by his past, on the run from…