electricity on the stage thanks to Aronofsky's DP Matthew Libatique and raw intimacy in the dramatic off-stage scenes thanks to two (or three if you count sam elliott) powerhouse performances you can definitely see the

I’m fairly confident after one viewing that It’s up not up to Whiplash, Chazelle’s breakout second feature, and I’m positive it doesn’t touch La La Land his stylistic sonic boom 2016 masterpiece Shot in 16mm

It’s peak Merchant/Ivory- A Room With a View is there, too Handsomely mounted by Ivory, Oscar-Winning script from Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, and the cast is phenomenal- Redgrave is great in her small role, Bonham Carter-

It’s a strong bounce-back for Merchant/Ivory after 1989’s Slaves of New York Features real life husband and wife Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward- Woodward is nominated here but they’re both superb Strong period piece study

It’s a tremendously flawed film but buoyed, and ultimately archiveable, because of the sheer entertainment factor-- and strong performances by an ensemble cast at the height of their powers in 1996. This isn’t peak McConaughey—that

Peter Travers said it best- Chazelle’s La La Land has a “passion for cinema that radiates every frame”. It’s a major achievement, one of the best films of the decade—Chazelle is throwing fastballs here and

It’s a fabulous film- I’m not dying to see what Runge directs next- but it’s a triumph of intelligent writing and top-notch acting. Glen Close is the show-stopper- she’s superb, but Jonathan Pryce is very

I’ve tried Chazelle debut, Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench, several times and it isn’t quite up to snuff for the archives—so this here- seems to be arrival of a true artist- everything is

Woody’s third black and white film- stunning- just like Manhattan and Stardust Memories There is such love and thought behind the lighting and set design- it’s a gorgeous film- a nod to German Expressionism- Murnau,

First Viewing June 2018 Aster has clearly studied masterpiece horror works from the past. Collette’s character seems inspired by (and it’s an equally great performance) Ellen Burstyn’s turn in The Exorcist, the entire occult read

One of Allen’s most serious films- like Match Point, Interiors. Apparently his least successful (or close) of all time at the box office. Based on Chekov’s “Uncle Vanya” Allen reshot the film in its entirety—he

It’s an impressive film- lively camera throughout without forgetting that Garbo is the star and to take advantage of her acting with plenty of close-ups on her From a genre standpoint it’s heavy melodrama— but