Monthly Archives: November 2014

“The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness” is a great name for a documentary about Hayao Miyazaki and his animation house, Japan’s Studio Ghibli. His Oscar winning “Spirited Away” and fantasies such as “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Ponyo” established him as … Continue reading →

Mike Leigh’s bio-pic of Britain’s “greatest artist,” J.M. W. Turner, gives his muse, Timothy Spall, a great star vehicle. A lovely looking period piece performed in almost indecipherable Cockney, or so we’ve been told. Dying to see it, maybe a … Continue reading →

Looking forward to this documentary about Hiyao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli and the magical hand-drawn animated empire that was born there. Anime fairytales, Japanese folk tales, Japanese history and Steam Punk, all came off the pens of this animation innovator. “The … Continue reading →

Lily James has the title role. But Cate Blanchett as the wicked stepmother and Helena Bonham Carter as the Fairy Godmother? Digging that. It’s lovely to look at — period costumes, lust forests, over-saturated Technicolor palette. In 3D? I wonder. … Continue reading →

“Reach Me” is an indie comedy whose primary virtue is its cast, well-known actors who took small roles on a lark — a chance to play against “type.” So here’s Sylvester Stallone as a rich, ruthless gossip website operator, a … Continue reading →

Yes, it looks like the Blue Sky CG production of the “Peanuts” movie will have little or nothing to do with the classic “Peanuts” TV specials. Nobody expected a remake, mind you. And it may have its charms. But releasing … Continue reading →

Dark and hazy, relentlessly glum and dull, “The Hunger Games — MockingJay Part 1” is the first film in this sci-fi series to refuse to even attempt to stand on its own. If you haven’t seen the previous films, good … Continue reading →

In a cinema recently overrun with combat documentaries, Marshall Curry’s “Point and Shoot” manages a first. Here’s a film that captures the romance of war amongst today’s young and testosterone-fueled. Want to know why young men from all over the … Continue reading →

“Ornery” is a word that fits Tommy Lee Jones like a well-broken in pair of cockroach killers, boots as leathery as the features on his timeworn face. “I don’t know the meaning of the word,” Jones grumps. He’s being disingenuous, … Continue reading →