Seeing Chastain's Molly push on through each ceiling she's presented with is enjoyable. Her ability to show confidence and compassion simultaneously is astounding. Of course she is beautiful, but to stop there would be akin to think the biggest part of the iceberg is above the water.
Crimson Peak - 2015 Director Guillermo Del Toro Starring Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Hunnam, Jim Beaver Screenplay Guillermo del Toro, Matthew Robbins, Lucinda Coxson Full disclosure: I am a fan of Del Toro. I will give him the kinds of breaks that I would not grant others. For this reason, my reviews of his films should be viewed as … Continue reading Crimson Peak (**1/2): Feeding on Butterflies
A Most Violent Year - 2014 Written and Directed by J.C. Chandor Starring Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain, David Oyelowo, Alessandro Nivola, Albert Brooks A Most Violent Year is a fascinatingly simple story that underlines the strength of a man and all the things that contribute and detract from it. Oscar Isaac is Abel Morales, the owner of the small but thriving … Continue reading A Most Violent Year (****1/2) is a good story excellently told
Interstellar - 2014 Director Christopher Nolan Starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Bill Irwin, Ellen Burstyn, Michael Caine, Josh Stewart, Wes Bentley, David Gyasi Written Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan There are lots of interesting ideas presented with Interstellar. Of all things, the film starts with a future that echoes our perilous past. Crops are set afire, the air filled with swirling … Continue reading Interstellar (****) is cautiously ambitious, and laden with love
Mama - 2013 Directed by Andy Muschietti Starring Jessica Chastain, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Megan Carpentier, Isabelle Nélisse, Daniel Kash Screenplay by Muschietti, Bárbara Muschietti and Neil Cross There is a point in most films where the viewer recognizes the patterns they are seeing in the story they are watching are familiar and well-worn. This happens early on in Mama. The difference, … Continue reading Mama chills despite familiar turns
Zero Dark Thirty - 2012 Director Katheryn Bigelow Starring Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Ehle, Joel Edgerton, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Mark Strong, Harold Perrineau, Chris Pratt, Édgar Ramírez, Mark Duplass, James Gandolfini Screenplay Mark Boal I spent much of the Bush administration reading books about the wars in the middle east after 9/11. Most of it was read in disgust … Continue reading Zero Dark Thirty or Forty, Whatever it Takes.
I have to admit it. Once I found out it wasn't happening, I wasn't interested, The list of nominees arrived on January 10 and Samuel L. Jackson's name was not among them. There is no good reason for it, either. Within the list of nominees, even the guy from his own movie, Christoph Waltz, didn't … Continue reading I Don’t Have A Vote: Cool Papa E thinks the 85th Oscars Suck
Lawless - 2012 Director John Hillcoat Starring Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Jessica Chastain, Gary Oldman, Guy Pearce, Mia Wasikowska, Jason Clarke, Lew Temple, Dane DeHan Screenplay Nick Cave based on The Wettest County in the World by Matt Bondurant Lawless is one very rare movie indeed. I can't recall seeing a film where there are so many high-caliber actors who are doing … Continue reading Lawless shows everyone at the top of their game
Coriolanus - 2012 Director Ralph Fiennes Starring Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Vanessa Redgrave, Brian Cox, Jessica Chastain, Paul Jesson, John Kani Screenplay John Logan based on the play by William Shakespeare Before I say anything else, I must say this: Coriolanus is nonsense. Out of context and out of its time, it is the square peg trying stubbornly to fit within … Continue reading Coriolanus: Shakespeare works best in its original Klingon
2012 Academy Awards Please don't let this be the year that the gimmicky French film wins. I would prefer that the real masterpiece that took place in Paris, France take home the gold. The rush to crown The Artist as Best Picture feels a little like the time we anointed Brokeback Mountain the movie of our times. If it … Continue reading I Don’t Have A Vote: Cool Papa E Picks The 84th Oscars
