Definitely not for the masses. The H-Bomb: Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix) is a sailor who is discharged from the Navy at the end of World War II for apparent psychological reasons. As we soon see for ourselves, the war has indeed left Freddie a little damaged in the head, as evidenced by his fixation with all things sex-related, including an incident on a beach in … [Read more...] about The Master
Biography
Bernie
Swift shot: Jack Black almost saved this freak-show of a poorly edited farce based on factual events. Richard Linklater's style is intact, but it is not something I care for personally. Credit to him for making it near impossible to discern if these were actors or real interviewees - the professional actors did a tremendous job blending in with the Carthage, Texas yokels. … [Read more...] about Bernie
A Dangerous Method
“Freud’s obsession with sex has to do with the fact that he never gets any.” The H-Bomb: One would think that A Dangerous Method, a film about how early twentieth-century psychologists Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud developed “The Talking Cure,” or psychoanalysis, would be the ideal marriage of director and material. After all, many of Canadian auteur David … [Read more...] about A Dangerous Method
Carlos
"Words get us nowhere. It's time for action." The H-Bomb: Is that right, Carlos? Time for action? That's why your life story offers so many words and so little action? Oh, but I'm jumping ahead of myself, aren't I? "Carlos" tells the true story of Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, or, as the world would come to know him, Carlos the Jackal (though … [Read more...] about Carlos
The Devil’s Double
His father's son. The H-Bomb: It's the late 1980's, and Iraqi Soldier Latif Yahia (Dominic Cooper) has been summoned to Uday Hussein's office for a mysterious assignment. They went to school together way back in the day, but he has no idea what Uday could want with him now, except that he does bear an uncanny resemblance to the Iraqi leader's son. Aside … [Read more...] about The Devil’s Double
