David Cronenberg Allows His Actors’ Methods to Shine Rating: R Grade: A By T.T. Stern-Enzi Danger has been a factor in the recent films of David Cronenberg, but the tension and anxiety has been focused on the physical, the threat of bodily harm and the need to determine where said harm would originate. Would the […]
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Carnage
Roman Polanski’s stage-to-screen adaptation loses its destructive power By T.T. Stern-Enzi Carnage, the new film from Roman Polanski, is an adaptation based on Yasmina Reza’s play Le Dieu du carnage, which translates in English to God of Carnage. Reza penned the screenplay and much attention was paid to the omission of the “God of” as […]
Top 10 of 2011
DCP’s film critic picks 2011’s best of the best By T.T. Stern-Enzi I have to let you in on a little secret that helps me to define just how special a year in film has been. If a narrative or thematic thread emerges, in particular, one that laces through the films that end up earning […]
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
David Fincher’s Dragon Tattoo leaves a truly indelible mark By T.T. Stern-Enzi The Swedish translation of the first book in Stieg Larsson’s Millenium trilogy is “Men Who Hate Women” and the 2009 Niels Arden Oplev adaptation made sure to lay that hatred bare, introducing audiences to the Vanger clan, a Swedish industrial family of the […]
Melancholia
Lars von Trier artfully presents the end of the world By T.T. Stern-Enzi Jonathan Demme gave audiences Rachel Getting Married with its melodramatic depiction of the pre-wedding battle royale between two sisters and complex relationship matrix that weaves among the larger clan and nearly derails the celebration. There would be blood drawn, but there would […]
The Skin I Live In
Pedro Almodovar and Antonio Banderas reunite for an obsessive skin-crawling affair By T.T. Stern-Enzi Rating: R Grade: B+ An obsessively driven plastic surgeon named Robert Ledgard (Antonio Banderas) painstakingly works on a secret project within his home laboratory. His aim is to develop synthetic skin that is impervious to basic diseases and offers a degree […]
Hugo
The perfect not-for-children children’s film By T.T. Stern-Enzi Consider this review the disclaimer that should run before any and all screenings of Martin Scorsese’s Hugo. This film is, first and foremost, not for children. It does not cater to a fast-fast digital generation of young viewers weaned on Japanese anime, shooter-style videogame perspectives or teen […]
The Descendants
Alexander Payne looks ready to finally seize the acclaim and the gold that eluded him earlier By T.T. Stern-Enzi Matt King (George Clooney) comes from a distinct lineage. In terms of his own narrative, that of the new Alexander Payne film The Descendants, he is a modern-day land baron, the trustee of a family that […]
Martha Marcy May Marlene
A star, by any name, is born By T.T. Stern-Enzi Rating: R Grade: A- Writer-director Sean Durkin introduces Martha (Elizabeth Olsen) as a member of a commune, one of the compliant women who have surrendered to the domestic duties, the listless routine, the second-class status, and the waiting to share the bed of Patrick (John […]
Gazing into the unknown
Handicapping the awards season with many unseen films on the horizon By T.T. Stern-Enzi Prepare ye, screen gazers, for the precious time is nigh! It will come in a fast and furious assault, between now and the end of the year, a rush of releases will vie for the attentions of holiday audiences for box […]
