Author Archives: Zac Petrillo

REVIEW: The Last Stand

The most savvy choice director Kim Jee-woon made when approaching The Last Stand was to relegate Arnold Schwarzenegger’s comeback to the edges of the story. From a classic perspective the weight of the inevitable finale falls a little flat, seeing … Continue reading

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Inside Llewyn Davis Trailer

Here is the trailer for the Coen Brothers’ upcoming, Inside Llewyn Davis. I’m cautiously optimistic about this one as I’ve found the Coens to actually be hit or miss throughout their careers. The hits, notably Fargo and Burning After Reading, … Continue reading

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REVIEW: Mama

Another curious entry into “January”-quality Hollywood horror fare, Mama dabbles in complex themes of motherhood but ultimately falls short on purpose and long on Visual Effects accompanied by auditory thrills. After a businessman named Jeffrey kills his wife and colleagues, … Continue reading

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Spring Breakers Trailer

It’s strange to say that I’m looking forward to Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers (starring the giddy combination Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson, and James Franco) mostly because it seems to have a somewhat coherent plot, but alas, that’s the … Continue reading

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Silver Linings Playbook Cast Featurette

Sometimes when it comes to film criticism, the worst thing that can happen to a movie is that it opens to immediate acclaim. This year, I went into Silver Linings Playbook expecting an entirely fresh story about mental illness and … Continue reading

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David O. Russell Praises Harvard Beats Yale 29-29

Say what you will about David O. Russell, but his passion for filmmaking is virtually unparalleled. And, unlike filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino, little of his enthusiasm seems to come from pretensions or put-ons. He just wants to make solid cinema … Continue reading

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Jeff Nichols’ Mud Trailer

Quickly becoming the most interesting American director that nobody has heard of, Jeff Nichols emerged with a stunning debut, Shotgun Stories, before making a small dent in the multiplexes with his second feature, Take Shelter. Both of these films are … Continue reading

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Best Director & the Zeitgeist

This blog has become unexpectedly Oscar obsessed over the past month. Something I intend to rectify very soon. But, alas, here’s some more thoughts on this Oscar season. Part of the fun of the Academy Awards is complaining about the … Continue reading

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Tracking Through Paul Thomas Anderson’s Career

Somewhere between blatant homage and honest character introspection exists Paul Thomas Anderson’s visual style. Seemingly from the moment he appeared on the major Hollywood scene with Boogie Nights, he’s been called something of a “rip-off” of other filmmakers, namely Kurbrick, … Continue reading

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Oscar Nominated Short: “Fresh Guacamole”

Amazingly well-done stop motion of normal objects being transformed into guacamole make for an unusual short and sweet story. Fresh Guacamole is nominated for Best Animated Short Film at this coming Academy Awards. Directed by American animator PES.

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