Screen
Violence that bores
In a new introduction to the eight-part comic book series Kick-Ass, which was created in tandem with the film version, Image Comics co-founder Rob Liefeld describes the chief strength of Mark Millar’s superhero lark as extolling “hyper-real super-violence,” “so far...
Not to sound crazy…
It may be hard for some to pick the lowest moment in M. Night Shyamalan’s career. After all, this is a man who made...
The world comes to DFF: The sequel
Continuing until Nov. 11, the 41st Denver Film Festival holds plenty of treats in store for intrepid moviegoers, particularly those with an eye beyond...
We’ve always been this dirty
Not unlike the year 2016 in politics, writer/director Dee Rees’ adaptation of Hillary Jordan’s novel, Mudbound, starts off as a slow, plodding look at...
Faithfully following the formula
From King Lear to Psycho, some of the great popular art has confronted human evil and depravity with an eye as unblinking as Marion Crane’s after a visit from Mrs. Bates. By transcending boundaries of disreputable genres built on bloodlust, our shrewdest artists have...
‘Imaginarium’ a disaster, incomprehensible
It should have been the must-see movie of the Christmas season, directed and co-written by the critically acclaimed Terry Gilliam (Brazil, 12 Monkeys) and featuring the marquee cast of Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell and, in his final role, Heath Ledger...
Company bust
A single spontaneous moment pops up in the otherwise obsessively well-ordered ensemble drama The Company Men, written and directed by ER and West Wing alum John Wells. It’s a quick shot in a hotel room tryst of Maria Bello bopping back into frame, unexpectedly, ...
That’s enough, James Franco
At one point, our collective return to Oz (not be confused with Return to Oz, sorry Faruza) was going to see director Sam Raimi deploy Robert Downey Jr. as his titular wizard. The short list after Downey split must have consisted of just two names: James Franco and “...
Luke, who’s talking now
Immediately following the last episode, the new installment of Star Wars redefines the Force, reframes the central themes of the series, introduces the best...
