Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008)

Jun 10, 2010 by Mr. Nau Kevin Smith wrote and directed this hilariously raunchy comedy, filled with a cast recognizable from Judd Apatow’s movies. Zack (Seth Rogen) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks) are best friends who live together in abject poverty. They decide to solve their money problems by directing a porn film, with side-splitting mishaps. […]

Dandelion (2004)

Jun 07, 2010 by Mr. Nau In this melancholy film set on the Palouse region of Northern Idaho, a depressed teenager at odds with his dysfunctional family meets a troubled girl, who is almost as morose as he is. While the acting was solid enough, given the moping script, the pessimism and hopelessness here is […]

Towelhead (2007)

Jun 05, 2010 by Mr. Nau In this controversial comedy, a young teenaged Arab-American girl discovers her awakening sexuality and contends with racist neighbors, her very strict and demanding father, and the sexual advances of an adult neighbor. The script, based on a novel, is well-written, the acting believable, and the story frequently shocking. Grade: […]

Everything is Illuminated (2005)

Jun 05, 2010 by Mr. Nau Elijah Wood stars as a Jewish American, who travels to the Ukraine on a quest to find out what happened to the woman who saved his grandfather during World War II. He’s aided by a cranky old man and a chattery pop culture enthusiast who uses hilariously stilted broken […]

Fear of a Black Hat (1994)

Jun 05, 2010 by Mr. Nau This hip-hop mockumentary chronicles the rise and fame of a fictional rap group, NWH, and their sexual, political, and legal exploits. For fans of rap and hip-hop, many of the parody characters here will be very obvious. For others, this scathing lampoon of rap culture may seem silly. Grade: […]

Extract (2009)

Jun 03, 2010 by Mr. Nau Justin Bateman anchors a talented cast in this quirky romantic comedy about a guy who runs a food extract factory, who contends with an unfaithful wife and an industrial accident that attracts a beautiful con artist, played by Mila Kunis. While the picture is entertaining, the plot sometimes seems […]

Palo Alto, CA (2007)

Jun 03, 2010 by Mr. Nau Four college students return home to Palo Alto during Thanksgiving break after their first semester away from home. They revisit their old high school, struggle with relationship issues, and go on various adventures. Endearingly quirky characters, good acting, and a sweet script bring a picturesque set of stories to […]

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)

May 29, 2010 by Mr. Nau This Swedish film, based on the best-selling novel by the late Stieg Larsson, follows the investigation by a middle-aged journalist, assisted by a troubled but brilliant female hacker, of the disappearance of an industrialist’s niece in the sixties. This intricate mystery twists and turns brilliantly through unexpected territory. Grade: […]

The Hurt Locker (2008)

May 23, 2010 by Mr. Nau Kathryn Bigelow directs this critically-acclaimed picture that follows the exploits of an explosive ordinance disposal detail of the US Army, trying to defuse and disarm improvised explosive devices. Brilliant acting performances and a realistic screenplay earned this masterful work a plethora of awards, including an Oscar for Best Director. […]

Black Book (2006)

May 20, 2010 by Mr. Nau A Jewish singer in Nazi-occupied Holland infiltrates the SS headquarters in the Hague to act as a spy for the Dutch resistance. This gritty period thriller is very well written, has a palpable atmosphere of intrigue and danger, shows the inside of underground resistance, and features believable acting performances. […]

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