Elessar | the Movie Space

Charlotte Gray

Saturday, September 27, 2008

One thing about Cate Blanchett is that you can never tell how old she is. She can play anything from a love-struck innocent to an immortal elf queen, and her face, her high cheekbones and slanted eyes, always seems perfect for it. Like a rare few actors, she can convey love, panic, arrogance, [...]

Man on Fire, 2004

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

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n Man on Fire, Tony Scott goes deeper into the dark side of human nature than he has ever gone before. His previous works explore the inner conflicts of troubled men, especially as those men run up against other troubled men. If the endings haven’t always been happy, at least their ideals won out.

Wonder Boys (2000)

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

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I’m just barely young enough that if I did something amazing—say, wrote a culturally significant novel—I might be considered a wunderkind of sorts. Maybe. But I’m also just old enough that some of the glow has worn off of the “remarkable promise” that I showed in my 20’s. In those days, I [...]

The Exorcism of Emily Rose

Sunday, August 17, 2008

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In my experience, there are two kinds of Christians: those who accept the presence of the supernatural in the lives of mortals, and those who don’t. By “supernatural” I mean more than just God; even the most intellectual and rationalistic Christians believe in God in some way. Traditionally the supernatural world includes not [...]

The Sons of Katie Elder

Sunday, August 3, 2008

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Reviewing a movie with John Wayne in it is rather like reviewing a movie with Jesus in it—one feels rather unworthy, yet knows that the only way to honor the subject is to stick to one’s convictions. And would the Duke accept any less? It’s hard, because John Wayne is an American icon. He [...]

Seabiscuit

Sunday, August 3, 2008

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2004 was the year that everyone was surprised to see this quirky little film on the Oscar nominations list. It deserved each of the six technical nominations it got. But this film was more than just technically good; it truly deserved its place on that Best Picture list. Even with a respectable [...]

The Pursuit of Happyness

Sunday, August 3, 2008

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I’m never sure how well Hollywood really understands poverty. It’s fascinating to watch a film such as Pursuit of Happyness or Little Miss Sunshine, both of which deal with the borderline poverty of the lower-middle class. These are not the homeless digging for food in garbage cans, but they are the folks who [...]

Charlie Wilson’s War

Monday, July 28, 2008

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Having directed Primary Colors gives Mike Nichols credentials as a political director, and Charlie Wilson’s War is definitely a political film. It’s about a Texas congressman in the 80’s who figures out that the United States needs to help Afghanistan expel the Russians. He works his way through the defense appropriations subcommittee to [...]

Little Miss Sunshine

Thursday, July 24, 2008

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Little Miss Sunshine Rated R 2006 There ought to be an Academy Award for Best Ensemble Cast. If there were, this film would have it in the bag. It certainly did get its share of nominations, in any case; Best Actress for Abigail Breslin, Best Supporting Actor for Alan Arkin (who won the Oscar), and Best [...]

Another Review for Get Smart

Thursday, July 24, 2008

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I know this has been done twice, but I think I have a few things to add. I may, for example, be the only one who knows anything about the old TV show! One of the best memories of my childhood was staying up late at night with my little sister and watching syndicated episodes [...]