Category Archives: Reviews

Michael Haneke’s Amour

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Zac Petrillo

Sometimes the value of a movie can’t be explained in the typical words we use to generally analyze. Sometimes a film ascends the notion of plot, story, narrative, or driving action to be something entirely emotional. Something that cuts deeper. … Continue reading →

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Villains the Front-Page Created: The Central Park Five

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Zac Petrillo

“Let the animals get themselves.” It isn’t pretty and it isn’t right, but it’s an adage that has been widely adopted by virtually all anomie-laden societies in Western culture. As a result, major cities are susceptible to bigoted battles of … Continue reading →

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Homeland, Ep. 206: A Gettysburg Address

Posted on November 6, 2012 by Zac Petrillo

Last we saw Sergeant Brody, he was picking himself off the ground of a dank interrogation room pleading forgiveness to the woman whose life he nearly ruined. Homeland effectively yanked the rug out from under its audience and exploded all … Continue reading →

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Growing Up With Death & Cell Phones: After Lucia (Después de Lucía)

Posted on November 6, 2012 by Zac Petrillo

An austere tone piece about the numbing effects of grief and the harm of childhood bullying, After Lucia paints a nightmarish portrait of contemporary Mexico City. The ‘Lucia’ of the title relates to the passing of a woman who’s survived … Continue reading →

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Yearning for Reality, Italian Style

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Zac Petrillo

Where Matteo Garrone’s Gomorrah incited shock in international cinema by exposing the violence that incarcerates modern day Naples, his follow-up, Reality, speaks to many of the stereotypes the world already possesses for Italy. Fit with meatball Italians in tight pants, … Continue reading →

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A Mother Scorned: Blood of My Blood (Sangue do Meu Sangue)

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Zac Petrillo

Portugal’s submission for this coming Oscars, Blood of My Blood, justifies its slow progression by patiently allowing excruciating moments to play amongst soup operatic drama. Until the soap opera takes a strange turn in the final act, the manufactured-cum-realistic approach … Continue reading →

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Lyrical Chaos: Cloud Atlas

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Zac Petrillo

“If God created all this then why do we have the right to change it?” – Adam Ewing, Cloud Atlas Cloud Atlas, adapted from a difficult novel by David Mitchell, emerges as the most multi-dimensional film of many lately to … Continue reading →

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Homeland, Ep. 205: Q&A

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Zac Petrillo

Would it be overstating it to say that between Mad Men’s ‘LSD Scene’ and the ‘Interrogation Scene’ in this recent episode of Homeland, the two most captivating moments in cinema this year came from television? In one short line, said … Continue reading →

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A Bond Newbie’s Thoughts on 007: Die Another Day

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Zac Petrillo

Short Take: The last of the Brosnan Bond movies feels just as safe and pedestrian as the one before it. However, Die Another Day lacks the memorable silliness of its predecessor, making the plot look like it’s only going through the motions. I’d … Continue reading →

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Everything Means Everything in DuVernay’s Middle of Nowhere

Posted on October 28, 2012 by Zac Petrillo

If I asked you to close your eyes and envision where “The Middle of Nowhere” might be, I’d guess you’d think somewhere in an open field or an empty road. Somewhere in Iowa or Nebraska perhaps. Certainly not the bustling … Continue reading →

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