There seems to be a recurrent theme of boredom attached to prosperity in cinema. One might even suggest that it is a form of contempt for the nature in which such individuals fall into such “wretched” situations. It does, after all, put in place the absurdity of the efforts to acquire material wealth, which is […]

In films like this which depict the anxiety of a meaningless, self-described “weak” person, there is often the emotion of revulsion than there is of empathy. The characters seem to just wither away by the ordeal of living a life, and their inability to calculate what makes them most happy. Even if it can be […]

What starts out as an interesting experiment in film stagnates midway, and approaches a meaningless conclusion. Girl Walks Into a Bar attempts to find relevance in the alcohol-drenched rooms of Los Angeles by portraying a chain of deceit. Yet its delivery arrives short.   The film starts by introducing us to a nervous dentist meeting […]

This is a terrific portrayal of working-class life. This seems befuddling on the surface, considering that the individuals impacted by the corporate shuffling and downsizing lead very affluent lifestyles, filled with Porsches and a plethora of kitchen appliances purchased from Bed Bath & Beyond and Crate & Barrel. But simply because the material prosperity exists, […]

While noticeably better than As Good As It Gets, Something’s Gotta Give still holds a commercial pretense, a sense of manufactured aesthetic, that occupies the film from beginning to end. This includes a story which is not terribly captivating, but most interesting, is the presentation of the modern female’s impression of romance.   Yes, this […]

Kumare is a riveting documentary that unfortunately does not achieve what it sets out to conquer. The filmmaker does not believe in organized religion. Or rather, he loathes self-help gurus that end up creating cult-like followers, aggrandizing their leaders. The filmmaker is unique in how he perceives the West’s gradual wholesale rejection of its religion, […]

Does anyone really know what they are doing? Are those who seem to have a handle on things only kidding themselves? The Giant Mechanical Man does not try to answer this question specifically. It paints a picture of two 30 somethings who are aimless, literally wandering through life. It is hinted that their aimlessness is […]

Sometimes, a film tries too hard to be a film. Smoke has dialogue that is incredibly stiff. It makes one wonder if this was a screenplay adaptation of a play or a novel. But it isn’t. The dialogue is simply trying to be what it thinks dialogue in a film is.   The drama too […]

The Lorax is a popular installment of a Dr. Seuss children’s story concerning environmentalism. It felt obligatory to see the film less than a year out of its release date. It is childish, but not in a patronizing way. It holds children’s intelligence as something respectable, allowing the morale to be scrutinized in a pedantic […]

Quite simply, this is cartoonish, even comedic, Hollywood action-fest at its finest. Power is the only virtue to be held, and whoever wields the gun that sends his opponent to the morgue over the hospital is the hero. There is no drama to this film, only bullets flying around a 1930’s set decoration.   Mr. […]