Vertigo (1958)

James Stewart stars in this classic thriller by Alfred Hitchcock. After leaving his job due to vertigo, police detective Scottie Ferguson is hired by an old friend to follow his wife. This tale of deceit and murder is some of Hitchcock’s best work. Also notable is Bernard Hermann’s tense score. Grade: A. IMDB: Vertigo.

The Barbarian Invasions (2003)

Mar 15, 2007 by Mr. Nau This Canadian film in French tells the story of a history professor, who is dying of terminal cancer. His son flies out from London and begins wrestling with bureaucrats to improve his father’s care. This beautiful story brings us into the last days of a man’s life, surrounded by […]

Code 46 (2003)

Mar 15, 2007 by Mr. Nau In a sanitized world set some time in the future, permission to work and live in the cities is coveted and work visas are sold on the black market. The authoritarianism depicted here is taken for granted by the characters, which makes it somewhat scary, and the script is […]

Two Bits (1995)

Mar 08, 2007 by Mr. Nau Gennaro, an Italian kid in South Philadelphia during the Great Depression, really wants to go to the local theater’s grand opening. His plotting to raise the twenty-five cents required and his poignant, educational moments with his dying grandfather, beautifully played by Al Pacino, make this little picture worth watching. […]

The Journey of August King (1995)

Mar 07, 2007 by Mr. Nau August King, a subsistence farmer in North Carolina before the Civil War, encounters the beautiful Annalees, a runaway slave, on his way home. In this short historical drama, he helps her find the Underground Railroad, despite great personal sacrifice and the serious consequences that could befall him by helping […]

A Prairie Home Companion (2006)

Feb 27, 2007 by Mr. Nau Garrison Keillor delights audiences every week with his live comedy/variety show on public radio. This film, featuring a cast full of Oscar winners, based on the hugely popular program, is really just for big fans of the show. Exceptional music and a beautiful set almost redeems a trudging story. […]

The Guardian (2006)

Feb 27, 2007 by Mr. Nau This action-adventure film follows the exploits of a Coast Guard rescue swimmer (Kevin Costner) sent to instruct a class of candidates, including a young hotshot (Ashton Kutcher). Unexpectedly, this is an exciting movie that tells the story of truly heroic people. It delivers a believable story and thrills aplenty. […]

Thank You for Smoking (2005)

Feb 27, 2007 by Mr. Nau Nick Naylor is a smooth-talking representative for the tobacco industry who makes arguments that make people want to agree. This quirky satirical comedy about the exploits of such a man has a picture-perfect cast, a hilarious script, and an unlikely protagonist, trying to bond with his intelligent son. Grade: […]

Taxi Driver (1976)

Feb 26, 2007 by Mr. Nau Robert De Niro stars in a gritty story about a taxi driver in New York who drives at night. A wonderful cast brings a strong story to life. Jodie Foster and Cybill Shepherd lend beauty and delicacy to a grungy set. This is certainly something every true cinephile should […]

Little Man (2006)

Feb 25, 2007 by Mr. Nau Was that really necessary? Did you really need to spend $60 million on a comedy that was so completely devoid of artistic merit? Every joke in this rancid diaper of film falls flat and stinks up the joint. Can we please not turn every stupid idea into a feature […]

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