Disconnected: A Documentary (2008)

Jan 17, 2010 by Mr. Nau Three students at Carleton College in Minnesota undertake an unusual project to disconnect completely from the internet and attempt to finish the semester without using computers at all. This inventive project baffles their classmates and professors alike and is full of interesting moments involving old technology, like books and […]

Google Me (2007)

Jan 17, 2010 by Mr. Nau Jim Killeen searches for his name on Google and finds other men around the world with his name. He decides to document his quest to meet them in this documentary. While the men are interesting, this plays more like a self-indulgent travelogue, glossing over stories in favor of sightseeing. […]

Lemonade (2009)

Jan 17, 2010 by Mr. Nau This short documentary features interviews with a number of former advertising professionals, downsized during the financial crisis of 2007 – 2010, who are painfully forced to reevaluate their work and lives. Many of the people depicted here found happiness in big career changes, inspiring anybody looking for a complete […]

Medicine for Melancholy (2008)

Jan 15, 2010 by Mr. Nau Wyatt Cenac and Tracey Heggins star as Micah and Jo, a pair of African-Americans in San Francisco, who discuss life in the city, minority politics, and relationships in the aftermath of a drunken one-night stand. The character-driven drama delivers memorable moments, wonderfully understated cinematography, and striking authenticity. Grade: B. […]

Spirited Away (2001)

Jan 14, 2010 by Mr. Nau Hayao Miyazaki writes and directs this unique animated fairy tale about a sullen girl who becomes a slave in a bathhouse for the spirit world, as she struggles to rescue her parents. The art here is spectacular, the story is thoroughly entertaining, and the strange world Miyazaki creates is […]

Herbie Hancock – Maiden Voyage (1965)

Jan 11, 2010 by Mr. Nau Herbie Hancock leads a wonderful quintet in this spectacular album that incorporates modal jazz, luscious melodic composition, and incredible solo work. The interplay between the musicians, particularly Hancock on piano, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, and George Coleman on tenor saxophone, makes this set of five original charts an unforgettable […]

Good Dick (2008)

Jan 11, 2010 by Mr. Nau In this obscure independent comedy, a video store clerk becomes smitten with a very shy customer with an addiction to soft-core adult films. The two start a strange relationship as she harshly rejects and cruelly mistreats him. This festival film is a believable character study about two broken people. […]

Surface (2005)

Jan 06, 2010 by Mr. Nau Multiple story lines converge in this short-lived series about a marine biologist who discovers a dangerous new species of aquatic life, a young teenager who finds an egg, and a group of government agents trying to keep it all quiet. This engaging well-written series is worth a look. Grade: […]

Eastern Promises (2007)

Jan 02, 2010 by Mr. Nau Viggo Mortensen garners an Oscar nomination in this highly entertaining thriller about a powerful Russian mafia family in London. Naomi Watts co-stars as a midwife who finds the diary of a dead teenaged girl and vows to find her rapist. This extraordinary thriller delivers a great story and phenomenal […]

The Fountain (2006)

Jan 02, 2010 by Mr. Nau In this gorgeous fantasy, Tommy (Hugh Jackman) is trying to save his wife, Izzi (Rachel Weisz), from cancer. The drama splits into three time periods — 16th century Spain, present day, and 500 years in the future. With a beautiful story and stunning cinematography, this other worldly romance is […]

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