Christopher Llewellyn Reed's Blog, page 49
February 3, 2017
Keep Your Distance from “The Space Between Us”
The Space Between Us (Peter Chelsea, 2016) A well-intentioned, but ultimately ridiculous, clumsy and inept film, The Space Between Us tries its darnedest to convince us of the logic behind its narrative, yet finds itself lost in the stratosphere (quite literally) of failed imagination. To boot, the science is ludicrous and the sentiment slathered on in gooey … Continue reading Keep Your Distance from “The Space Between Us”
January 27, 2017
Mr. Reed’s Metaphysical Neighborhood Presents the Best Technical and Artistic Film Work of 2016
On Tuesday, January 24, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced the 2017 Oscar nominees. Three days later, I am finally getting around to finishing up my own lists of favorites from last year. I already posted my “best film” and “best acting” lists, so today’s post – about the (often) unsung artists and craftspeople … Continue reading Mr. Reed’s Metaphysical Neighborhood Presents the Best Technical and Artistic Film Work of 2016
A Beautiful Confection, “Julieta” is Lovely to Look At, Unsatisfying to Consume
Julieta (Pedro Almodóvar, 2016) Beautifully designed and shot, Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar’s latest, Julieta, starts out with a delicious frisson of mystery that quickly flattens into tedium. It’s a gorgeous, if inert, object, in other words, and if narrative cohesion and plot momentum are of little interest to you, then the movie has much to recommend it. If, … Continue reading A Beautiful Confection, “Julieta” is Lovely to Look At, Unsatisfying to Consume
Mostly Fools in This “Gold”
Gold (Stephen Gaghan, 2016) It probably seemed like a good idea: take a real-life scandal, add stars, and the rest will follow. Let’s start with the first part. In the mid-1990s, a Canadian mining company, Bre-X, got involved in some shady dealings in Indonesia, striking gold but then running into serious ethical and financial problems shortly … Continue reading Mostly Fools in This “Gold”
January 26, 2017
Rodricks, Reed and DeLibero on 2017 Oscar Nominations
Yesterday, Linda DeLibero – Director, Film and Media Studies, Johns Hopkins University – and Christopher Llewellyn Reed (that’s me) – Chair and Professor, Department of Film & Moving Image, Stevenson University – joined Dan Rodricks on his Baltimore Sun podcast, “Roughly Speaking,” where we discussed this year’s Oscar Nominations. Here is the link to the show. Enjoy!
January 20, 2017
In Marvelous “20th Century Women,” a Boy Becomes a Feminist
20th Century Women (Mike Mills, 2016) Halfway through 20th Century Women, I asked myself if the film would pass the Bechdel test, that (somewhat) tongue-in-cheek method of analyzing movies based on whether there are multiple female characters who talk about more than their relationships with men. Not even Alison Bechdel, herself, thinks we should evaluate works of art … Continue reading In Marvelous “20th Century Women,” a Boy Becomes a Feminist
January 13, 2017
@DanRodricks @RoughlySpeaking on “Hidden Figures,” “A Monster Calls,” “Patriots Day,” “Silence,” and “20th Century Women”
On today’s edition of Dan Rodricks’ Roughly Speaking podcast for The Baltimore Sun, we discussed four films currently in cinemas – Hidden Figures, A Monster Calls, Patriots Day, and Silence – as well as one about to be released, 20th Century Women. Here is the link. Enjoy!
“Silence” Is a Powerful, If Long, Elegy to Faith and Meaning
Silence (Martin Scorsese, 2016) Though possibly an hour too long, Martin Scorsese’s Silence – a monumental testament to the power and ravages of religious faith – is the director’s best work in years. Beautifully acted by Andrew Garfield (Hacksaw Ridge), Adam Driver (Paterson), Shin’ya Tsukamoto (Kotoko), Tadanobu Asano (Grasshopper), Yôsuke Kubozuka (Helter Skelter), Liam Neeson (A Monster Calls) … Continue reading “Silence” Is a Powerful, If Long, Elegy to Faith and Meaning
“Patriots Day” Pays Effective Tribute to Boston in the Aftermath of Tragedy
[This review will also post on Film Festival Today, and when it does, I will post a link here.] Patriots Day (Peter Berg, 2016) A taut procedural about the investigation following the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, Patriots Day, from director Peter Berg (Lone Survivor), presents the facts of a case that we already know in an engaging manner … Continue reading “Patriots Day” Pays Effective Tribute to Boston in the Aftermath of Tragedy
January 12, 2017
“Reel Talk” – with Chris Reed and Roxana Hadadi – on “Hidden Figures,” “Paterson” and Best Movies of 2016
Christopher Llewellyn Reed, “Reel Talk” host, w/ Roxana Hadadi, film critic for “Chesapeake Family” Welcome to the third episode of the 2016-2017 season of Dragon Digital Media‘s Reel Talk with Christopher Llewellyn Reed. My guest this time was Roxana Hadadi, film critic for Chesapeake Family. We reviewed two new films – Hidden Figures and Paterson – and then discussed our respective favorite (and not-so-favorite) movies of 2016 … Continue reading “Reel Talk” – with Chris Reed and Roxana Hadadi – on “Hidden Figures,” “Paterson” and Best Movies of 2016
