A Very Long Engagement (2004)

Mar 21, 2006 by Mr. Nau Audrey Tautou is radiant in this romantic tale of a woman who searches relentlessly for her fiancé, who is lost in the trenches of World War I. The visual effects, magnificent use of color, sublime acting, believable story, and Jodie Foster’s French fluency make this period picture a wonderful […]

Finding Neverland (2004)

Johnny Depp stars as J. M. Barrie in this whimsical look of his friendship with a family that inspired the characters in Peter Pan. Exquisitely filmed, scored, cast, and acted, this movie examines the life and inspiration of the author of one of the most recognizable storylines of all time. Grade: A. IMDB: Finding Neverland.

Troy (2003)

Feb 08, 2006 by Mr. Nau Wolfgang Peterson takes very generous liberties with The Iliad in this blockbuster that stars Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom, Brian Cox, and Peter O’Toole. While most people won’t even notice the goofs, there’s no excuse for the level of license taken here. This work is, after all, nearly 2800 years […]

Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion (2002)

This picture is a powerful documentary about the occupation of Tibet by China, the effect on the Tibetans of Chinese resettlement programs, and the unshakeable belief in nonviolence in the face of staggering oppression. The film is extremely political, of course, but depicts the people and traditions of Tibet beautifully. Grade: B+. IMDB: Tibet: Cry […]

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

I want my money back, Will Ferrell. Just because you’re funny and you make people laugh with most of your movies does not mean that every film you do is a gloriously smirky piece of comedic genius. This piece of shit left me watching the clock on the DVD player. Grade: F. IMDB: Anchorman: The […]

King Kong (2005)

A long, tedious remake of the 1933 classic, Peter Jackson directs this $207 million creature feature, starring Naomi Watts, Adrien Brody, and Jack Black. An unrelenting barrage of special effects eye candy sends us on more than three hours of a yawn-worthy story. It’s only a monkey movie, Pete. Grade: C. IMDB: King Kong.

Il Postino (1994)

A superbly lyrical and intensely emotional film about the friendship between Pablo Neruda and a mail carrier in a quaint Italian village, this masterpiece explores an uneducated man’s desire to put his passion into words, with the help of a poet. Spectacularly set, acted, and scripted, I loved this picture. Grade: A+. IMDB: Il Postino.

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