Any discussion of what women “should” do is fraught with sexism, classism, ageism and even “parent-ism.” It is impossible to examine women’s lives without wading through a complex web of judgments and opinion-riddled research. In “The Feminine Mistake,” Leslie Bennetts, a contributing editor for Vanity Fair, attempts to educate (and terrify) women about the dangers…
The key to a remake, particularly when the inspiration is a Hitchcock masterwork like “Rear Window,” is to pay just the right amount of homage to the original without replicating it frame by frame. “Disturbia,” which replaces a suffocating apartment complex with the lush dysfunction of suburbia, manages to do justice to the 1954 classic,…
In her vivid film adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri’s “The Namesake,” director Mira Nair returns to her country of origin for the first time since 2001’s “Monsoon Wedding.” As in her earlier works, Nair depicts the U.S. and India without glamorizing or giving in to exoticism, while still finding the beauty inherent in both cultures. Nair…
“Reign Over Me” is one of the first films to be able to examine the aftereffects of Sept. 11 without depicting the actual events or responding patriotically. Written and directed by Mike Binder, despite any associations attached to the usual frivolity of Adam Sandler, the film is nothing less than a portrait of the breadth…
“Bridge to Terabithia,” if the previews are to be believed, is a fantastical Narnia-esque tale of two young adventurers discovering uncharted lands inhabited by fierce and benevolent CGI creatures who take them away from their ordinary lives. Fortunately, previews lie. In reality, the film tells the story of a girl, Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb), who…
Though not the first film to examine a relationship made inappropriate by age, education, culture or class background, “Venus” may be the first to avoid settling on a single interpretation. The lustful fascination Maurice (Peter O’Toole) has with Jessie (Jodie Whittaker), an uncultured teenage urchin, is, from the outset, disturbing and creepy. The film approaches…
“Because I Said So” is a culminating film for director Michael Lehman. With “Heathers” he displayed knowledge of how to depict women addicted to drama. “My Giant” illustrated his willingness to put casting opportunities above plot plausibility. And from “The Truth About Cats and Dogs,” he learned that every relationship needs a little dishonesty. All…
There’s not really much to be added to the genre of “personal redemption via [insert art form here].” The key is showcasing the chosen art and illustrating its fresh and vital appeal within a well-established framework. “Stomp the Yard” hits this mark, doing for stepping what “Roll Bounce” tried to do for synchronized roller-skating. Here’s…
The truly shocking relationship in “Notes on a Scandal” is not the torrid affair between a teacher and her student, but rather the warped intimacy that binds an adulterer and her blackmailer. Art teacher Sheba Hart (Cate Blanchett) and 15-year-old Stephen Conolly (Andrew Simpson) are exploited by history teacher Barbara Covett (Judi Dench), who puts…
Dianne Lynch, dean of the Roy H. Park School of Communications, and Mead Loop, chair of the journalism department, met with students Dec. 21 to announce initiatives aimed to improve the quality of the journalism department in response to student unrest. In a Dec. 14 e-mail to journalism majors, Lynch acknowledged the department has been…
Zhang Yimou’s latest Chinese epic “Curse of the Golden Flower” is on an even greater scale than “House of Flying Daggers” and “Hero,” pitting imperial egos against internal family politics. As the impassive Emperor Ping (Chow Yun Fat) and his family prepare for the annual Chrysanthemum festival, conspiracies run rampant and treachery is more prevalent…
Darren Aronofsky’s “The Fountain” is a vast, insightful and weird drama. Aronofsky’s works (including “Pi” and “Requiem for a Dream”), like those of Michel Gondry (“The Science of Sleep”), linger and haunt the mind long after credits roll. “The Fountain” is no exception. With its constantly evolving characters, vivid settings and philosophy-meets-science-fiction tone, Aronofsky’s latest…
