Fine Swine – “Upstream Color” Review

Upstream Color is a great movie. Every single frame of the film hooked me. The entire construction is a marvel of ideas and ingenuity. Shane Carruth’s previous picture was the similarly complex Primer.

Youth in Revolt – “Something in the Air (Apres Mai)” Review

*The film’s original title is Apres Mai which translates to After May. I only mention this because the version I saw had this title still.

Writer/Director Olivier Assayas’ newest and semi-autobiographical film is a time capsule examination of the allure of politics, art, and youth. Set outside Paris in 1971, the story follows Gilles (newcomer Clement Metayer) as he experiences the tumult of the times while struggling to find his path through them. Gilles is involved in the Youth Liberation Movement. He hands out propaganda, partakes in meetings and demonstrations all while still in High School. Gilles is also an aspiring painter with an interest in filmmaking. He’s a lover not a fighter, but nobody bothered to tell him. He’s at odds with himself as much as the movement he belongs to.

Vacant – “Room 237″ Review

Room 237 is a feature-length video essay about theories and hidden messages buried inside Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece The Shining. The ideas are presented without commentary from director Rodney Ascher. We hear the people behind the concepts lay out what they think but they’re never seen. What we do see while they blab are either examples from The Shining itself or clips from other films. This compilation of footage is quite impressive on both a technical and a practical level.

Artful Dodger – “Trance” Review

The latest film from Danny Boyle is slick, but it never completely makes up its mind as to whether or not it wants to be sensational fun or aim for higher art. It’s like someone squished together Headhunters, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Inception but left out the shocks, the heart, and a sensible third act. It’s not a total waste. I don’t think any Boyle film is ever without some merit. It’s a disjointed film, which is appropriate considering the hypnosis plot device, but it never commits.

Bryan’s Top Ten Movies of 2012

One of these years I’ll have my top ten list done before spring, but this is not that year. I put together another video for my list this year. So you can watch my list, read it, or both. As usual, I don’t include documentaries and I try to only include films theatrically released during the previous year. Enjoy!

2013 Oscar Checklist – The Master List

This madness is almost over (until next year of course). The Oscars are this Sunday and I managed to see every single film nominated. That’s not a humble brag. This whole thing took a lot of time and even more effort. Most importantly, I’m proud to say Shooting the Script has also reviewed all the nominated films…well almost. There are still a few films that slipped by without being reviewed for various reasons. I ran out of time to give them full-length reviews,  so this post will serve two purposes. It will provide links so you can easily find every review of the nominees, and for the few left unchecked, I’ll have a quick capsule review written for them here. Okay, here we go.

Hasa Diga – “War Witch” Review

Set in an unnamed African country ravaged by civil war, War Witch tells the story of one girl’s hellish nightmare. Kidnapped by rebels at the start of the film, Komona (Rachel Mwanza) must adapt in order to withstand her brutal surroundings. It seems like every film about Africa is an unhappy toil through third-world tragedies and War Wtich is no exception.

2013 Oscar Checklist – Ted & Chasing Ice

These two aren’t the most obvious pair, but they’re the only two films nominated for Best Original Song that I haven’t reviewed yet. So there you have it.

2013 Oscar Checklist – Fairest of Them All

Snow White and The Huntsman is a beautiful piece of trash. The story hasn’t changed too dramatically from the fairy tale. The evil queen, played with diva theatrics by Charlize Theron, wants Snow White dead. Snow, played by the always miscast Kristen Stewart, flees to the forest where she encounters seven dwarfs. Of course there’s a handsome prince trying to rescue her, but this film has her attracted to the Huntsman because he’s played by Chris Hemsworth.

2013 Oscar Checklist – Silver Linings Playbook & Django Unchained

Silver Linings Playbook is a rare romantic comedy, not just because it’s good, but also because it works beyond the confines of the genre.

Life of Thor – “Kon-Tiki” Review

I knew nothing of Thor Heyerdahl before seeing Kon-Tiki, the Oscar-nominated Norwegian film that recreates his most famous expedition. In 1947, Thor had developed a theory that the Polynesian islands were originally settled by Peruvians floating on primitive rafts 1500 years ago. At the time no one would listen to Thor, but we learn very early in the movie that Thor doesn’t give up so easily. His name is Thor after all. Heyerdahl decides that the best way to be heard is to prove his theory. To do that, he builds the Kon-Tiki, a raft made solely out of material used by ancient Peruvians. He assembles a small crew and sets out on the Pacific in this classic adventure tale.

Truth in Advertising – “NO” Review

In 1988, after severe foreign pressure, Chilean dictator General Pinochet held elections to legitimatize his leadership. His tenure had been known for human rights violations and all sorts of misdeeds. Dictators aren’t known to be nice people. This is all explained to us upfront before we meet Rene Saavedra a hot young ad man played by Gael Garcia Bernal. Rene is approached to help with the NO campaign opposing Pinochet. Even though Rene’s boss is working with the YES men, Rene takes the job. Most the people think it’s a sham but welcome a chance to be heard. Rene sees something they don’t in this sharp and electric film.

2013 Oscar Checklist – Documentary Feature

Here are reviews of all 5 Oscar nominees for Best Documentary.

Liberation – “Lore” Review

Are children innocent? The common answer is yes, but the new film co-written and directed by Cate Shortland offers up a startlingly new perspective on the question. Lore takes place in Germany just as the Third Reich is crumbling. Fearing capture, an SS officer relocates his family from their affluent home to the countryside, but he knows he’s only delaying the inevitable. But his children, including a baby, don’t know what’s happening or they’re feigning ignorance, either way they’re in for a rude awakening.

2013 Oscar Checklist – Documentary Shorts

Here are reviews of all 5 nominees for Best Documentary Short.