SCREENSCREEN
Doug Howell's Movie Review Weblog
screen |skr_n| |skrin| |skri_n| noun • a blank, typically white or silver surface on which a photographic image is projected : the world's largest movie screen • movies or television; the motion-picture industry : she's a star of the stage as well as the screen. verb [ trans. ] • protect (someone) from something dangerous or unpleasant • evaluate or analyze (something) for its suitability for a particular purpose or application
Saturday, March 29, 2025
Death of a Unicorn
Sunday, March 16, 2025
Inside Out 2
Friday, March 14, 2025
Black Bag
Sunday, March 09, 2025
The Monkey
Thursday, February 27, 2025
The Wild Robot
Monday, February 24, 2025
Captain America: Brave New World
Sunday, February 23, 2025
Venom: Let There Be Carnage
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Anora
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
The Substance
A Real Pain
Sunday, February 16, 2025
The Gorge
Friday, February 07, 2025
Becoming Led Zeppelin
Friday, January 24, 2025
The Brutalist
In my imagination, the schematic of how this movie was made starts with the filmmakers wondering why "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay" hadn’t been adapted into a movie yet. And when they learn the rights are all tied up and it’s in development hell, they make an end run – lifting many of the themes and concepts, but making it about an architect instead of a comic book artist. I’m surprised more critics and culture nerds haven’t pointed out the similarities, because there are many. There are also similarities (not in a bad way) to the various sagas about tycoons and money. There Will Be Blood. The Wolf of Wall Street. Citizen Kane. The Getty movies. The list goes on, and the thesis being demonstrated is billionaires are creeps. The serious approach to the subject allows for heavy acting and situations, and not much room for levity. All the technical aspects are strong and the acting by the leads is exceptional. But upon walking out of the theater, instead of feeling satisfied by this beautiful epic, I felt a little icky and empty. Like the architecture too, I suppose. The negative is as important as the positive space. It’s all very skillful and deliberate, which means there’s a LOT to admire. Even the credits are interesting. But you won’t be humming a happy little tune as you leave the theater. It ain’t Barbie.