Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

Feb 19, 2010 by Mr. Nau With Tim Burton at the helm and Johnny Depp starring as Willy Wonka in this remake of a 1971 classic, it’s impossible to imagine a more unique and bizarre vision. Creepy characters, astonishingly comical sets, weird musical numbers and a fairy tale script all contribute to a fun, unforgettable […]

Volver (2006)

Feb 19, 2010 by Mr. Nau Penelope Cruz leads a phenomenal cast in this Pedro Almodóvar film. This beautiful character study follows the life of Raimunda, Cruz’s character, as she deals with her daughter, the death of her husband, and her dying aunt. Unbelievable acting, gorgeous cinematography, and an unforgettable script deliver a wonderfully rich […]

Broken English (1997)

Feb 17, 2010 by Mr. Nau Zoe Cassavetes wrote and directed this independent romantic comedy about a woman, Parker Posey as Norah, in her thirties stressing hard because all of her friends are coupled up and having kids. Somehow, her freaking out doesn’t come off as whiny and a competent cast makes this quirky picture […]

Eve’s Bayou (1997)

Feb 17, 2010 by Mr. Nau In the Louisiana bayou, the Batiste family, headed by the charming doctor Louis, played by Samuel L Jackson, has its share of problems. Louis’ infidelity and the strife it causes drive a wedge in the family. Young Eve, a precocious daughter, tells a painful story, wrapped in her family’s […]

Finding Forrester (2000)

Feb 14, 2010 by Mr. Nau Sean Connery and newcomer Rob Brown star in this Gus Van Sant picture about a young writer in the Bronx who finds a reclusive Pulitzer-winning author and enlists his help with his writing. A well-written script, interesting supporting work, and solid lead acting performances make this film memorable. Grade: […]

The Fall (2006)

Feb 14, 2010 by Mr. Nau Curious young Alexandria has badly broken her arm and meets an injured silent film stuntman in this incredibly original fantasy adventure set in Los Angeles in the 1920s. With unbelievable sets, very imaginative cinematography, and a thoroughly engrossing story, this superb film delivers a unique juxtaposition between reality and […]

Sweet Land (2005)

Feb 13, 2010 by Mr. Nau When his bride finally arrives to his farm in Minnesota in the 1920s, Olaf and his community are shocked to find out she’s German and not Norwegian. This beautifully sparse character piece tells the story of the couple struggling with social disapproval and their backbreaking effort to build a […]

Strictly Sexual (2008)

Feb 07, 2010 by Mr. Nau When two successful young friends decide they’ve had enough with the battle of the sexes, they arrange to keep a pair of blue collar guys for sexual purposes. This predictable feel-good romantic comedy strains credibility frequently, especially when feelings start to develop and other successful people meet the boys. […]

Three Colors: White (1994)

Feb 05, 2010 by Mr. Nau In this second installment of Kieślowski’s phenomenal cinematic trilogy, Zbigniew Zamachowski stars as a depressed, impotent man whose sexually unfulfilled wife, played by Julie Delpy, is leaving him. His convoluted scheme to win her back is engrossing. The look, sound, script, and characters in this gorgeous film are completely […]

Three Colors: Blue (1993)

Feb 04, 2010 by Mr. Nau Krzysztof Kieślowski wrote and directed this stunning first installment of his virtuoso trilogy named for the colors of the French flag. Juliette Binoche delivers an unforgettable performance as Julie, the young widow of a famous composer who is trying to deal with the tragedy of losing her husband and […]

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