Broken Embraces and Unforgettable Form: Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘Inherent Vice’
“Joaquin Phoenix delivers yet another iconic performance in ‘Inherent Vice’ and has now become one the most charismatic actors of the last 20 years.”
An Attractive Fraction: Tim Burton’s ‘Big Eyes’
“‘Big Eyes’ could have become an Oscar contender with more focus on Adams in the final act, rather than a shift towards the public bravado of Waltz’s Walter Keane.”
An Unfortunate Case of Severe Holiday Melodrama: Angelina Jolie’s ‘Unbroken’
“Jolie didn’t make a bad movie, and ‘Unbroken’ might have even won Best Picture 20 years ago, but you can’t throw the star under the bus — especially in a biopic — and let the antagonist destroy one of the most powerful scenes.”
A ‘Boyhood’ Alternative and Potential Oscar Outcast: Jean-Marc Vallée’s ‘Wild’
“Witherspoon delivers a powerhouse performance in ‘Wild.'”
Some Like It Hot (and Hilarious): Angus MacLachlan’s ‘Goodbye to All That’
“Angus MacLachlan’s ‘Goodbye to All That’ is a witty romance with real-life consequences for millennials to consider.”
The Surprise Gem of 2014: Mark Raso’s ‘Copenhagen’
“‘Copenhagen’ surprised me like no other film in 2014…”
The Elegant Ingenuity of Sam Esmail’s ‘Comet’
“With ‘Comet,’ Sam Esmail offers a fresh take on romance and allows his stars to shine with ingenuous performances.”
Reality Unleashed in Samuel Kishi’s ‘We Are Mari Pepa’ (2013)
“The more outlandish the dialogue becomes, the more Kishi highlights his tight screenwriting with co-scribe SofÃa Gómez-Córdova.”
A Most Violent Trade: Erik Matti’s ‘On the Job’
“Matti shows no fear by destroying genre cliches in ‘On the Job,’ and his wandering camera opens up the world of Metro Manila while expressing how utterly disposable humans can be under corrupt leadership.”
Review: Celia Rico Clavellino’s ‘Luisa Is Not Home’
“Asunción Balaguer carries ‘Luisa Is Not Home’ with her gentle performance…”
Review: Marina Shron’s ‘Sea Child’
“The crystal-clear visuals of ‘Sea Child’ transcend into a an aquatic journey of surrealism…”
Review: Jean-Marc Vallée Creates Mystical Vibe in ‘Café de Flore’
Q.V. Hough reviews Jean-Marc Vallée’s ‘Café de Flore.’
Review: David Ayer’s ‘Fury’ Confronts All the Difficult Questions of Wartime Brotherhood
Q.V. Hough reviews David Ayer’s WWII drama, “Fury.”