Thumbsucker (2005)

Aug 24, 2007 by Mr. Nau Seventeen-year-old Justin still sucks his thumb and is having difficulty breaking the infantile habit. This strange character comedy features incredibly nuanced performances from Vincent D’Onofrio, Tilda Swinton, and Vince Vaughn, along with an unexpected appearance by Keanu Reeves as an orthodontist, dabbling in hypnotism and new age spirituality. Grade: […]

The Chumscrubber (2005)

Aug 23, 2007 by Mr. Nau Reminiscent of classic teen angst dramas from the 80s and 90s, this eccentric suburban picture features a surprising all-star cast, including a number of Oscar winners. The acting is absolutely superb, the script quirky and irreverent, and the ambience somewhat twisted—like a perfectly manicured lawn decorated by gargoyles. Grade: […]

Monsoon Wedding (2001)

Aug 23, 2007 by Mr. Nau This little independent film chronicles the preparation and wedding of the daughter of a large Indian family, with relatives flying in from all over the world. The acting here is good and the script gives us an opportunity to get inside a culture far removed from that of the […]

Occupation: Dreamland (2005)

Aug 22, 2007 by Mr. Nau Garrett Scott and Ian Olds travel to Falluja, Iraq, and accompany a squad of the 82nd Airborne Division on various patrols and raids. Their intimate look at life in the Army in a war zone and the differing political views of the soldiers involved is handled with sensitivity and […]

Palindromes (2004)

Aug 20, 2007 by Mr. Nau Another unnecessary film by Todd Solondz follows a group of interchangeable underage teenage girls with a burning desire to get pregnant and have a baby. The story meanders and dwells uncomfortably in religious fundamentalism, statutory rape, and teenage sexuality that is handled viciously, ineptly, and without any semblance of […]

Happiness (1998)

Aug 19, 2007 by Mr. Nau Todd Solondz crafts another misanthropic, pretentious piece of garbage that somehow wins critical acclaim. This uncomfortably depraved film features a full cast of completely detestable characters, devoid of redeemable qualities. Laughable moments were really moments of “WHAT THE HELL?!?” and the smirking meanness of this movie maintains a constant […]

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

Aug 13, 2007 by Mr. Nau Matt Damon is back in this third installment of the thrilling trilogy as a CIA assassin who lacks full command of his memory. This picture is exciting from the beginning to the credits, full of very cleverly choreographed fight sequences, amazing chases, believable acting, and sprawling sets across three […]

Storytelling (2001)

Aug 13, 2007 by Mr. Nau This obscure independent film features two unrelated parts and a Belle & Sebastian soundtrack. While there were some chuckle inducing moments, the story meanders in each part, stalling on take off into a dull study of insipid characters who are never developed well enough for anybody to care about […]

Zoolander (2001)

Aug 05, 2007 by Mr. Nau Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, and Will Ferrell star in this iconic and irreverent comedy that features some of the best satire work of Stiller’s career. The villain is goofy, the hero empty-headed, and the tension quite silly. Numerous cameo appearances and pop culture jabs makes this fashion show memorable. […]

The Simpsons Movie (2007)

Aug 04, 2007 by Mr. Nau After commanding the airwaves for nearly two decades with consistently the best comedy writing ever, the Simpsons jump onto the big screen in this hilarious movie about a natural disaster unleashed by Homer. The edgy comedy here is always intelligent, while not losing the fun that we’ve come to […]

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