The Wind that Shakes the Barley (2006)

Aug 25, 2009 by Mr. Nau In this wonderful independent gem set in Ireland in the early 20s, two brothers fight for Irish independence against menacing squads of elite British soldiers sent to crush the rebellion. The script here is first-rate, the sense of danger palpable, the scope vast, and the acting performances utterly unforgettable. […]

The Libertine (2004)

Aug 24, 2009 by Mr. Nau Johnny Depp stars in this historical drama about the poet John Wilmot, the Earl of Rochester, whose huge appetite for wine, women, and the stage is legendary. With good supporting work from Samantha Morton and John Malkovich, a well-written script, and a stunning backdrop, this is worth a look. […]

Gone Baby Gone (2007)

Aug 23, 2009 by Mr. Nau Casey Affleck stars in this gritty crime drama, supported by an extremely talented and very believable cast (Morgan Freeman, Michelle Monaghan, Ed Harris). He, a struggling private detective, is hired by a young kidnapping victim’s family to find her. A solid script with plenty of twists keeps the audience […]

Long Way Down (2007)

Aug 20, 2009 by Mr. Nau Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman plan another motorcycle trip in this documentary. This time, they’re heading from John O’Groats in Scotland to Cape Town, South Africa. They meet lots of interesting people, struggle with border checkpoints, break down, and share in the lives of destitute, but generous and smiling […]

Black and White in Color (1976)

Aug 19, 2009 by Mr. Nau At neighboring colonies in West Africa, French residents receive word that their country has declared war on Germany (World War I). They attempt to organize a group of men to fight the Germans, who are led by someone with military experience, as the native Africans are caught in the […]

The Pianist (2002)

Aug 19, 2009 by Mr. Nau Adrien Brody delivers an Oscar-winning virtuoso performance as Polish pianist Wladislaw Szpilman in this Roman Polanksi-directed masterpiece. Szpilman survives World War II by hiding in the Warsaw ghetto from the Nazis. This inspiring picture shows one man’s refusal to give up, despite a bleak backdrop and constant danger. Grade: […]

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)

Aug 18, 2009 by Mr. Nau John C. Reilly shines in this Judd Apatow spoof of musical biopics as the fictional Dewey Cox, a rock singer whose stubborn, relentless pursuit of his music turns him into a legend, sends him on a surreal journey through drugs, music, marriages, and an amazing menagerie of hilariously strange […]

A Handful of Dust (1988)

Aug 17, 2009 by Mr. Nau Based on a novel by Evelyn Waugh, an aristocratic gentleman learns of his bored wife’s affair and heads off to South America. The slow pace of this film and the abrupt setting change near the end may lose some viewers, but this is a decent interpretation of a classic […]

Renaissance (2006)

Aug 15, 2009 by Mr. Nau In this visually unique science fiction thriller set in Paris in 2054, a cop is sent to find a brilliant and beautiful young scientist, whose sister helps him. The trail of clues, identity theft, and old files leads to an interesting array of characters and some exciting action scenes. […]

Hollywoodland (2006)

Aug 13, 2009 by Mr. Nau A private detective, played by Adrien Body, investigates the death of George Reeves, who played Superman on TV in the 50s. With solid supporting work by Diane Lane, Robin Tunney, and Bob Hoskins, this period piece digs into the mystery of whether the actor’s death was murder or a […]

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