28 Up (1985)

Apr 04, 2009 by Mr. Nau This British documentary, the fourth in a series, somehow garnered an ISA nomination while following around a group of utterly ordinary people as they grow into adulthood and deal with life, relationships, and work. Sadly, the idea delivers far more than the film itself and this beast trudges on […]

Half Nelson (2006)

Apr 01, 2009 by Mr. Nau Ryan Gosling delivers an unforgettable performance as Mr. Dunne, an 8th grade history teacher in an inner city school, who befriends one of his students, wonderfully played by picture-perfect newcomer Shareeka Epps. As she struggles against criminal influences in her neighborhood, he must deal with his own drug habit. […]

A Scanner Darkly (2006)

Mar 18, 2009 by Mr. Nau Keanu Reeves, Wynona Ryder, Robert Downey, Jr., and Woody Harrelson star in this Richard Linklater rotoscoped featured, based on the Philip K. Dick novel. While the animation is sometimes distracting, strong acting performances leave the audience feeling as crazy as the characters, thanks to a solid script and good […]

Sweet Dreams (1985)

Mar 16, 2009 by Mr. Nau Jessica Lange nails her role as country music superstar, Patsy Cline, in this extraordinary biopic about one of the most important artists of the twentieth century. Ed Harris costars as her husband, Charlie, a hard drinker trying to deal with her success. As musical biographies go, this gem is […]

1776 (1972)

Mar 08, 2009 by Mr. Nau This film adaptation of a Broadway musical about the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence is ambitiously written, lavishly costumed, and wincingly silly most of the time. There’s even a scene where John Adams and Benjamin Franklin dance while Thomas Jefferson beds his wife […]

10 (1979)

Mar 08, 2009 by Mr. Nau Dudley Moore plays George Webber, a dissatisfied songwriter, who crashes the wedding of a woman, played by Bo Derek, he saw in a passing car. Somehow, this creepy stalker comedy garnered two Oscar nominations, but it does feature a healthy amount of nudity — the only real reason to […]

1941 (1979)

Mar 04, 2009 by Mr. Nau In 1941, after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, the entire West Coast mobilized defenses for the inevitable invasion. In this slapstick comedy, directed by Steven Spielberg, an inept group of soldiers, a drunken pilot, a feisty dancer, a lost Japanese submarine, and a crazed tree farmer collaborate to destroy Hollywood […]

The Dark Knight (2008)

Mar 02, 2009 by Mr. Nau In the greatest of the Batman pictures to date, Christian Bale’s Caped Crusader perfectly balances the surprisingly creepy and very believable Joker, portrayed by the late Heath Ledger. With a star-studded supporting cast, an amazing script, eye-popping visual effects, and thrilling fight sequences, this blockbuster is a masterpiece. Grade: […]

Babylon AD (2008)

Feb 28, 2009 by Mr. Nau Vin Diesel leads a surprisingly star-filled cast in this science fiction action flick. Diesel is a mercenary hired to smuggle a young woman into America, accompanied by her guardian, played by Michelle Yeoh. With huge scope and amazing action and effects sequences, this is most entertaining with suspended disbelief. […]

Dead Like Me: Life After Death (2009)

Feb 28, 2009 by Mr. Nau Ellen Muth returns to Dead Like Me in this straight-to-DVD movie, featuring most of the cast of the cancelled TV show. This picture is a fun diversion—an extended length episode that gives the series closure. Fans of the show will love this, but it might lose newcomers. Grade: A-. […]

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