The single most notable characteristic of J. Edgar is its even-handedness. It could have gone liberal, centering on abuse of power and civil rights violations, or conservative, centering on our dangerous world and the need for certain protections. Instead, …more »»
Film Talks Tagged ‘Drama’
The Kids Are All Right (2010)
(Before viewing)
by Randy Heffner — December 20, 2010
Although some will immediately focus on the fact that The Kids Are All Right depicts a family headed by two married lesbians, I want to set that aside and consider the merits of the film on other concerns. Many of the questions the film explores are …more »»
The King’s Speech (2010)
(Before viewing)
by Randy Heffner — January 5, 2011
The pace and energy of The King’s Speech is driven by characters and their relationships, not by events and action. On the surface, the film is about a powerful man overcoming a personal weakness, but what’s more important …more »»
Lars and the Real Girl (2007)
(After viewing)
by Randy Heffner — June 17, 2009
For me, the impact of Lars and the Real Girl went beyond the film’s top-line theme of forbearance and love in the face another’s mental illness. I came away thinking also …more »»
Lars and the Real Girl (2007)
(Before viewing)
by Randy Heffner — June 17, 2009
Lars and the Real Girl asks big “what if” questions about how we, the “normal”, might love those with mental illness. It would be easy for the film to take the premise over the top into staged gags and crude jokes, but it doesn’t. …more »»
Les Misérables (2012)
(Before viewing)
by Randy Heffner — January 3, 2013
With intense performances, marvelous (not perfect) singing, excellent staging, and more, Les Misérables delivers strongly on Victor Hugo’s classic novel — and does itself proud in comparison to the stage production from which the …more »»
Life of Pi (2012)
(Before viewing)
by Randy Heffner — December 18, 2012
Whether your belief system is atheist, agnostic, or theist, Life of Pi has something important for you. Whenever a film is adapted from a book, there’s always the question of comparison between the two. With Pi, this question is not simply …more »»
Lincoln (2012)
(Before viewing)
by Randy Heffner — December 11, 2012
The Loneliest Planet (2011)
(Before viewing)
by Randy Heffner — December 29, 2012
With grace, beauty, tenderness, and most of all subtlety — extreme subtlety — The Loneliest Planet tells an intimate story of love and character. Unhurried and sensually rich, the film …more »»
The Lovely Bones (2009)
(Before viewing)
by Randy Heffner — January 20, 2010
The Lovely Bones is a murder non-mystery. By telling us at the start that Susie Salmon was murdered and near the start who did it, the film turns the focus to the lives and relationships …more »»
The Master (2012)
(Before viewing)
by Randy Heffner — October 27, 2012
With The Master, P.T. Anderson continues his series of insightful and biting explorations of our struggle to find life and meaning. Its storytelling and filmcraft are outstanding, but even more to the Anderson’s credit, the film’s nuanced questions are woven …more »»
Melancholia (2011)
(Before viewing)
by Randy Heffner — December 4, 2011
In Melancholia, Lars von Trier gives us a film that is simultaneously enigmatic yet concrete, multilayered yet with a simple-enough central story, immediately accessible yet with endless elements that beg for deeper consideration. By juxtaposing …more »»
Midnight in Paris (2011)
(Before viewing)
by Randy Heffner — January 31, 2012
As is Woody Allen’s tendency with his films, the delightful Midnight in Paris is definitely about something. This time it’s nostalgia. Also like many of his films, which lean heavily toward having characters tell you what the film is about, so does this one — but somehow, it doesn’t come off as overbearing as usual. And that is …more »»
Moneyball (2011)
(Before viewing)
by Randy Heffner — February 3, 2012
As an underdog tale of courage and risk-taking, Moneyball succeeds very well. Even more, it succeeds as an exploration of loyalty and self-interest. Being set in the “national pastime” world of baseball lends the film some popular intrigue, and being loosely based on …more »»
Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
(Before viewing)
by Randy Heffner — September 9, 2012
With Moonrise Kingdom’s quirky, crazy story and demeanor, director Wes Anderson delivers an emotionally rich and wry exploration of relationships. Even better, …more »»
