Promising Young Woman

An entertaining trip through one person’s mental illness. The movie remains interesting throughout its running time, mostly due to the storytelling’s economy of expression.  This is a tale that, in the wrong hands, could have veered off course in a number of directions, none of which would have done either the filmmakers or the audience any good. But the focus remains tight, and the result is a work that resonates not just with the viewer's sense of justice, but also with the viewer's desire to watch a good story told well. The only quibble comes from the inescapable feeling that these events only could happen because Carey Mulligan, and her character Cassie, are hot; a less attractive female could never pull this act off. Otherwise, this flick delivers on its promises.

Inside Llewyn Davis

Once again, the Coen brothers display their minor obsession with Homer’s Odyssey. They might want to pull that classic down from the shelf and actually read it sometime, because, you see, that work actually had a story--something the Coens seem to be growing less and less concerned with as the years go along. This is a tough call, because I admit that this is a mostly entertaining movie that holds the interest, especially during the performance scenes (the music is very strong here, though if you’re not much for folkie stuff you might not be swayed to that point of view). But I also find this lack of attention to an actual narrative to be more and more grating with each film the brothers put out. Being oblique and vaguely existential may be entertaining to the Coens, but it doesn’t necessarily entertain us, the audience. If your tolerance moves through a wide orbit, you’ll probably like this film very much; but if you want something a little closer to the heart of the storytelling experience, this probably isn’t it.

The Great Gatsby (2013)

Something’s missing. I can’t quite put my finger on why this film doesn’t work nearly as well as it should, but the fact of it is there for all to see (or not see, given this one met with a disappointing reception in theaters). Too many unsympathetic characters? Perhaps. Fitzgerald wasn’t enamored with humanity when he turned out this story, that’s for sure. I guess folks aren’t that thrilled to be told that their species sucks, especially those members of it who live high on the hog. You can’t blame the cast, all of whom acquit themselves quite well. Maybe this story is just too difficult for most people to get into--and, for that matter, to be made into a really good film.

Drive

Undoubtedly, this movie was shot totally in digital format; that's too bad, since if it were film I could say that Style practically drips from every frame. This movie owns its look in a big way; there hasn't been a flick that so clearly defines its own form in a very long time. But this is not a complete triumph of style over substance; the audience gets a rich tableaux of character, story, and emotional depth to complement all that flashy, self-conscious mise-en-scene. Drive has been a polarizing work for many people, but you can count me among the impressed. This one is a powerful, absorbing, entertaining piece of work, and well worth your time.

Pride And Prejudice (2005)

Five more minutes of running time and I probably would have grown a uterus just from watching this flick. So says my curmudgeonly side, but alas, I too was won over by Elizabeth Bennett and her pas de deux with Mr. Darcy. Combine the clever interplay with charming characterizations and artful direction and cinematography, and you have a very entertaining film. Posted