Chip’s Take Here we go again! Nine Best Pictures and only five Best Directors leaving four films that directed themselves. The days of team player directors who shared responsibilities like Michael Curtiz and John Sturges are long gone, so what’s going on here? While it’s a simple matter to removeContinue Reading
Chip Kaufmann’s Pick: Cavalcade (1933) Noel Coward’s Cavalcade was a huge success in its day. It can easily be seen as the precursor to Upstairs, Downstairs and other iconic BBC shows that followed in its wake. The storyline focuses on two families. Robert and Jane Marryot (Clive Brook and DianaContinue Reading
American Hustle ****1/2 Short Take: A smart, entertaining con job with a glossy 70’s veneer and solid gold soundtrack. REEL TAKE: Fresh off the shining success of Silver Linings Playbook, David O. Russell delivers another goodie that’s bound to warm critic’s hearts and deliver box office gold (lamé that is!).Continue Reading
by Michelle Keenan Happy New Year, Dear Readers! Award season is upon us and that’s great news for movie lovers. We’ve spent the last month in movie overload, cramming as many films into our viewing schedules before voting for the Southeast Film Critic Association’s 2013 ballot. We were particularly impressedContinue Reading
Chip Kaufmann’s Pick: The Ruling Class (1972) The recent death of Peter O’Toole presents an interesting problem. Which of his eight Oscar nominations or several other fine performances that weren’t nominated should I choose for my DVD pick? Lawrence of Arabia is everywhere, Becket and The Lion in Winter areContinue Reading
12 Years a Slave ***** Short Take: The fact-based story of Solomon Northrup, a free black man living in upstate New York in 1841, who was duped by a business proposition and sold into slavery. REEL TAKE: Based on the writings of Solomon Northrup, 12 Years a Slave tells Northrup’sContinue Reading
We’re Making a List and Checking it Twice By the time this issue hits the free paper news stands, The Hunger Games Catching Fire will be burning up the box office. Also out and not to be missed — but not yet reviewed by Reel Takes — are Philomena andContinue Reading
Chip Kaufmann’s Pick: Cash On Demand (1961) Having done a feature article on British actor Peter Cushing for this issue, it seems only fitting to select one of his many available movies as my DVD pick. Since this is the December issue and the holidays are just around the corner,Continue Reading
All is Lost **** Short Take: A man struggles to survive after being lost at sea. Reel Take: All is Lost is a huge departure from J.C. Chandor’s last film Margin Call, the talky Wall Street drama. In this minimalist tale, Robert Redford plays a man on a solo sailingContinue Reading
