The few negative reviews of “The Master” — and yes, there have been a few — have used adjectives like “oblique” and “opaque” to describe this often perplexing opus from writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson. More enthusiastic critics have described the film as “elusive,” “enigmatic” and “confounding.” One glowing review rhapsodizes that the movie “defies understanding.”If these seem like strange words of praise, you may need a crash course in new critical and directorial fashions. “The …
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We’ve seen many biopics about musical greats like Ray Charles and Johnny Cash, butThe Last Ride brings a fresh slant to a hoary genre. Instead of trying to tell the whole story of country music icon Hank Williams, it concentrates on the last two days of Williams’ life. Everything is filtered through the eyes of a young man named Silas, who is hired to drive Williams from Montgomery, Alabama to a New Year’s Eve concert …
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Philippe Falardeau’s Monsieur Lazhar deserved its nomination for best foreign language film of 2011. This nearly perfect gem begins as a tiny slice of life, but it sneaks up on you and packs a wallop by the time it reaches its conclusion. The film has already opened to good business in Canada, and it seems likely that word of mouth will propel it here as well when it opens across the country this month.
The film …
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Animation is becoming the rage all over the world. “Toy Story 3” was a huge hit recently. Japan and France have also produced original works. Now Spain joins the derby with “Chico & Rita,” the new film from Oscar-winning director Fernando Trueba (“Belle Epoque”), which delighted audiences at several festivals and is finally opening around the country.
In composing this visually hypnotic, musically electric film, Trueba worked with two co-directors: designer Javier Mariscal and animator Tono …
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Julie Delpy accepting her award in San Sebastian
The San Sebastian Film Festival offers great programs, along with a spectacular seaside location and irresistible Basque cooking. This year’s edition featured first and foremost an exceptional lineup of films. These were a few of my favorites:
Julie Delpy’s Le Skylab, which won a special jury prize from the panel that included actresses Frances McDormand, Sophie Okonedo, and Bai Ling, is one of the most sheerly enjoyable comedies that …
