What do you remember? Or, was it in a dream? Do you have reality straight in your mind? In your subconscious? The confluence of such questions is the space Inception perceptively explores. Part of the genius of Christopher Nolan’s writing and directing is …more »»
Film Talks: Most Recent
Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
June 7, 2010 by Randy Heffner Quick talkSmart, funny, satirical, and engaging in its exploration of art and artists, Bullets Over Broadway is an excellent piece of work by director Woody Allen. Centering around the funding, preparation, and staging of a Broadway play, the film …more »»
Grace is Gone (2007)
May 12, 2010 by Randy Heffner Quick talkIt is superficial to say that it’s heart-wrenching to lose a loved one in war — that is, unless you can say it the way that Grace is Gone says it. In the film, we live through a father’s shock at the death of Grace, his wife and the mother of his two preteen daughters. Why, you may well ask, …more »»
The Doorpost Film Project (2010)
April 28, 2010 by Randy Heffner Quick talkThe Doorpost Film Project runs an annual short film competition. For 2010, it’s in three rounds. Based on their first round submissions, 21 filmmakers were selected to compete in the second round. Each of the 21 submits a script, five of which are chosen to …more »»
Still Walking (2009)
March 24, 2010 by Randy Heffner Quick talkIn Still Walking, we are treated to an excellent, deliberately paced, progressively revealed journey through a day with a Japanese family. The characters, through their own words and through the things said …more »»
Good Bye Solo (2009)
March 16, 2010 by Randy Heffner Quick talkA momentary acquaintance is most times just that: momentary. The beauty in Good Bye Solo arises from a quick, sharp moment of insight leads one character, driven by his depth of concern for other people, to relentlessly …more »»
An Unfinished Life (2005)
March 6, 2010 by Randy Heffner Before viewing talk // After viewing talkAn Unfinished Life is rich with diversity of relational contexts and emotional perspectives. In its exploration of forgiveness and responsibility, one central conflict is echoed and reflected in multiple …more »»
Oscar 2010: Best Picture Roundup
February 25, 2010 by Randy Heffner Quick talkAll ten of the 2010 Oscar Best Picture nominees are worth seeing, but for some, I recommend watching them only for specific reasons or under certain conditions. Three rise above the lot as particularly excellent films — …more »»
A Serious Man (2009)
February 22, 2010 by Randy Heffner Quick talkHave you had those times when nothing in life seems to fit? Times that you want the formula for how things work so you can try to fix them? A Serious Man is about that. But there’s more: watching the film puts you in that …more »»
The Blind Side (2009)
February 20, 2010 by Randy Heffner Quick talkAs a true story, the strength of The Blind Side is that it could have been embellished oh so much, but it was not. I suspect that no film adaptation of a true story is ever 100% factual, and I expect that’s the case …more »»
Up (2009)
February 20, 2010 by Randy Heffner Quick talkCharming, fun, and rich, Up takes us on an eventful animated ride watching the late-in-life transformation of Carl Fredricksen. Although the questions explored by the film are not particularly deep, Up’s creative coup …more »»
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
February 20, 2010 by Randy Heffner Quick talkIf you take pleasure in revenge and you choose to go on taking pleasure in it, Inglourious Basterds will give you plenty to feed your pleasure. I don’t want that to be me, yet there is truth in what the film …more »»
District 9 (2009)
February 19, 2010 by Randy Heffner Quick talkDistrict 9 finds a compassionate — and violent — angle from which to explore shallow and ugly prejudice. As it pits the supposed goodness and wisdom of “the authorities” against the supposed brainlessness and vulgarity of …more »»
Up in the Air (2009)
February 18, 2010 by Randy Heffner Quick talkWhat if your job had you on the road 322 days a year…traveling alone? What if you spent most of those days firing people? Starting with this bleak relational backdrop, Up in the Air explores hope, stability, …more »»
The Hurt Locker (2009)
February 17, 2010 by Randy Heffner Quick talkThree quite different men; three different experiences of war. The Hurt Locker takes us inside a fictional Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team — a bomb squad — in Iraq. I can understand complaints from …more »»
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