If it had been released 50 years ago, “The Help” (which opened on Wednesday) would have been the cinematic event of the summer. It has all the elements that once guaranteed critical hosannas. It’s based on a beloved, best-selling novel, has a high-class cast that includes several award-winning actresses (Viola Davis, Sissy Spacek, Cicely Tyson, Mary Steenburgen), along with ingratiating newcomers (Emma Stone, Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer). And it tackles a socially momentous theme: the …
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Remakes are still running rampant in Hollywood, and it is rare to find one with a valid reason for existing. But the new British film Brighton Rock is one of the most exciting movies of the summer. In a way it’s not fair to call this a remake of the 1947 film that introduced Richard Attenborough as a dynamic movie actor. Instead it’s a new, updated version of Graham Greene’s 1938 novel about a baby-faced …
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I can think of a few movies that use voice-over narration effectively: The Magnificent Ambersons and Jules and Jim are two of my favorites, and I’m sure there are two or three others. But in most cases, the device seems like a desperate crutch. As storytelling skills have declined in recent years, the use of voice-over has exploded, with filmmakers floundering to fill plot holes and expository gaps. The use of voice-over is far more …
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When the Academy decided to increase the number of Best Picture nominees from five to ten, there was a lot of justifiable skepticism. Are there really more first-rate movies today than there were in 1959, 1962, or 1981, three banner years that had to make do with five nominees? Hollywood insiders clearly wanted to see more blockbusters like Inception andToy Story 3 on the list in order to boost ratings for the Oscar telecast, but …
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Stories about inspiring teachers have tantalized moviemakers and movie audiences since the era of Mr. Chips and Miss Dove. The latest incarnation, “The First Grader,” proved to be one of the biggest crowd-pleasers at last year’s Telluride Film Festival. While the arc of the story may be familiar, the setting and characters are fresh. Arthouse audiences are likely to discover and embrace the film.
“First Grader” is set in Kenya and recounts the true story of …
