Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, Winter’s Bone, adapted by writer-director Debra Granik and screenwriter Anne Rosellini from the novel by Daniel Woodrell, is the engrossing story of a 17-yr old teenage girl’s plight to save her family by locating her missing father…
Post Tagged with: "indie"
Movie Review: The Machinist (2004)
The Machinist, directed by Brad Anderson, is an atmospheric and unsettling psychological thriller that ponders the consequences of living in a nightmare you cannot wake up from. It features an extremely emaciated Christian Bale who lost 63 lbs — down to 120 lbs– for the role.
Movie Review: Crazy Heart (2009)
Crazy Heart, written and directed by Scott Cooper, is the tale of Bad Blake (Jeff Bridges), a washed-up country/western singer well past his prime. He is now reduced to drive around the Southwest in his beat-up pickup truck, staying at shabby motels, and performing in nondescript bowling alleys and local bars for a living. This does not sit too well with Bad who is also constantly drunk and a heavy smoker. Bad gets a chance at redemption, however, when he meets and falls in love with Jean (Maggie Gyllenhaal), an aspiring journalist and single mother.
Movie Review: One Hour Photo (2002)
One Hour Photo is a psychological thriller directed by Mark Romanek and starring Robin Williams as “Sy” Parrish in a role that is very unlike your usual Robin William’s fare. Sy has been running the one-hour photo lab at SavMart for the last 10 years and is very attentive and meticulous that “his” customers receive the best service possible… and he should because he has nothing else going on in his life: No companionship, no kids, no friends, nothing at all.
Movie Review: In Search of a Midnight Kiss (2007)
In Search of a Midnight Kiss is an independent romantic comedy written and directed by Alex Holdridge. It’s that time of the year for our lonely and penniless main character Wilson (Scoot McNairy). New Year’s eve is fast approaching and he just had the worst year of his life. He got dumped by his long-time girlfriend and can’t get over it, had his laptop containing all his work stolen, and was just caught masturbating to a photoshopped picture of his roommate’s girlfriend.
Movie Review: Kissing Jessica Stein (2001)
Jessica Stein (the deliciously cute Jennifer Westfeldt) has it all or almost. She is a successful, straight, attractive single woman living in New York City. Frustrated of not finding a decent guy (she’s picky), she tries to find a friendship with another woman and answers an intriguing ad in the newspaper written by bisexual free-spirit Helen Cooper (Heather Juergensen) looking for her first lesbian relationship.
Movie Review: Married Life (2007)
Married Life directed by Ira Sachs, is a dark and witty comedy of manners with a big dash of psychological thriller. Set in 1949, the plot is about Harry Allen (the formidable Chris Cooper), an apparently successful businessman. See, Harry seems to have it all, successful career, nice house, sex-driven wife (sublime Patricia Clarkson), he is living THE life! Except poor Harry longs for true love and that is missing. In comes Kay Nesbitt (lovely Rachel McAdams), a young war widow with whom Harry has an affair.
Movie Review: The Lucky Ones (2008)
The Lucky Ones, directed by Neil Burger (The Illusionist), is the latest from a long line of movie “about” the Iraq war. As witnessed the last few years, those movies haven’t done so well at the box office and this small independent production certainly did not break the mold. Given the fact that it is an independent production, and it got the luminous Rachel McAdams and good old Shawshank State Prison escapee Tim Robbins, I took a chance and rented the DVD.
