Tagged with 2012 films

Review: Savages, 2012, dir. Oliver Stone

Review: Savages, 2012, dir. Oliver Stone

The central metaphor behind Savages‘ title doesn’t play at being elusive; its dual meanings are front and center in the first act. In the conflict between independent marijuana growers Ben (Aaron Johnson) and Chon (Taylor Kitsch), and the ruthless Baja Cartel, both sides see one another as– surprise of surprises– savages, and the longer their … Continue reading

Review: Moonrise Kingdom, 2012, dir. Wes Anderson

Review: Moonrise Kingdom, 2012, dir. Wes Anderson

Moonrise Kingdom marks the most singularly Wes Andersony film of Wes Anderson’s career to date. It also represents a perfect vehicle for the quirks and tics that define his vision as a filmmaker– that impeccable and odd sense of style, seen in his set designs, costuming choices, and musical accompaniments, as well as the trademark … Continue reading

Review: Brave, 2012, dir. Mark Andrews & Brenda Chapman

Review: Brave, 2012, dir. Mark Andrews & Brenda Chapman

​It’s no secret that I’ve been eagerly awaiting ​the release of ​Brave​ since 2009 (back when it still bore the superior title of ​The Bear and the Bow​); it hits theaters today, and it turns out there’s bad news and good news. The bad news about Brave is that it’s lesser Pixar. The good news is that lesser Pixar is still magical, transporting, and beautiful. Continue reading

The ‘D’ Is Silent: Django Unchained Trailer

The ‘D’ Is Silent: Django Unchained Trailer

I’ll just leave this right here. My tendency to go hot-and-cold on the films of Quentin Tarantino* is well-known; the fact that I am almost robbed of words to describe my feelings toward the teaser for his latest, Django Unchained, should speak highly of its quality**. From Christoph Waltz devouring the screen with the same satisfaction … Continue reading