Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Apr 18, 2010 by Mr. Nau Mia Wasikowska is Alice, a plucky young girl who falls down a rabbit hole into Wonderland, in this cartoonish Tim Burton adaptation of the Lewis Carroll novel. Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Crispin Glover, and Anne Hathaway round out a talented cast, with beautiful special effects and off-kilter sets. […]

A Sunday in the Country (1984)

Apr 12, 2010 by Mr. Nau In this Golden Globe-nominated French film, an aged painter gathers his family at his manor in the country. His son, Gonzague, brings his wife and kids, and his daughter, Irene, is an overcommitted socialite. This quaint character study, directed by Bernard Tavernier, is based on a Pierre Bost novel. […]

The Man from Earth (2007)

Mar 30, 2010 by Mr. Nau A group of friends gathers for going away party at the home of Professor John Oldman, who reveals to the group of college faculty that he is a 14000-year-old Cro-Magnon. This engaging conversation affects attendees in a wide variety of ways, from riveting fascination to shocked outrage. Grade: A+. […]

Day for Night (1973)

Mar 14, 2010 by Mr. Nau This masterpiece of the French New Wave takes place mostly on a movie set in France. François Truffaut directs and stars in this engaging examination of the art of cinema. The audience is shown an inside look at the chaos on set, and the relationships between actors and the […]

Elizabeth (1998)

Mar 02, 2010 by Mr. Nau Cate Blanchett and Joseph Fiennes lead an all-star cast in this historical drama about the early, uncertain years of the reign of Elizabeth I. The sense of danger surrounding the young queen is palpable. With first-rate acting and a phenomenal script, this Oscar-winner is worth multiple viewings. Grade: A. […]

Ronin (1998)

Feb 28, 2010 by Mr. Nau Robert De Niro and Jean Reno star in this suspenseful action thriller, full of astonishing car chases through European cities, exciting gunfights, and an intelligent story. De Niro plays Sam, a freelance operative working with a diverse group of people to steal a case from a group of armed […]

Sunshine (2007)

Feb 25, 2010 by Mr. Nau A crew of astronauts is sent to reboot the sun in this scientifically implausible, but highly entertaining independent science fiction thriller by director Danny Boyle. Eye-popping special effects sequences, a palpable sense of danger, a series of challenges, and a crew of highly eccentric characters ratchet up the suspense. […]

Moon (2009)

Feb 24, 2010 by Mr. Nau Duncan Jones earns critical acclaim in his directorial debut with this science fiction picture about Sam, played by Sam Rockwell, an astronaut nearing the end of his three-year-contract at a mining station on the moon. Despite a small budget, this thriller features a great script and believable acting. Grade: […]

Three Colors: Red (1994)

Feb 24, 2010 by Mr. Nau Irène Jacob stars in the conclusion of the stunning Krzysztof Kieślowski trilogy, in which a beautiful young model discovers and befriends a retired judge who is eavesdropping on the private conversations of his unwitting neighbors. The virtuosic cinematography, perfect acting performances, and brilliant script all contribute to sublime cinematic […]

The Dying Gaul (2005)

Feb 19, 2010 by Mr. Nau Peter Sarsgaard, Campbell Scott, and Patricia Clarkson star in this tragic drama about a gay screenwriter whose agent wants him to rewrite his brilliant script to change the sexual orientation of the protagonists. The well-crafted story and nuanced acting performances bring this intriguing, engrossing story to an unpredictable conclusion. […]

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