AFI Fest 2024: 'Here' Review

Robert Zemeckis' last two films were abominations. So I'm happy to say that Here is a step up, utilizing an intriguing formal conceit to look at a group of people over centuries who all live on the same spot of land in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, the director's worst tendencies betray him. My review is up at Screen International.

Cold as Ice: Sex and 'House of Cards'

For my weekly Playboy column, I turn my attention to House of Cards, which is back on Friday. Specifically, I dig into how the show depicts sex and love. It's a cold, cold world out there, people. Here's my column.

Defending 'Adore' and 'Labor Day'

Every year, there are movies that everybody else loves that leave you cold -- and there are movies that you quite like that everybody else thinks are terrible. My new piece for The Dissolve is about the latter phenomenon.

In 2013, I was a fan of both Adore (a.k.a. Two Mothers) and Labor Day, which puts me in a small minority. The other day, I started wondering what it was about those two movies that spoke to me in a way it didn't for lots of other critics. I think it has to do with their willingness to risk being mocked in order to tell heartfelt stories about intentionally inexplicable scenarios. Adore is about two middle-aged women who have affairs with each other's son. Labor Day is about an escaped convict who takes a mother and son hostage -- and ends up falling in love with the mom. Hokey, preposterous, melodramatic -- and yet, they worked for me. I explore my response to these derided films here.

Cannes 2013: 'The Congress' Review

An admirer of Waltz With Bashir, I was curious what director Ari Folman would do for an encore. The answer is The Congress, which made me think of Cloud Atlas and Mr. Nobody at different points during its overlong running time. Bear in mind I liked those films. By comparison, The Congress is endlessly ambitious but only rarely great. My review is up at Paste.

Sundance 2013 Review: 'Two Mothers'

Naomi Watts and Robin Wright are both excellent in Two Mothers, which is said to be based on a true story. Two longtime friends, Lil and Roz, find themselves in unlikely romantic entanglements: Lil is sleeping with Roz's son, and Roz is sleeping with Lil's son. How could such a thing happen? This very nuanced and thoughtful romantic drama seeks to provide the answers. There was a smattering of nervous laughter throughout this film's premiere last night at the Eccles, but I attribute that to audience expectations. They were thinking Two Mothers would be a bedroom farce when, in fact, it's a boldly straight-faced look at an impossible situation. My review is up at Screen International.