Promised Land, 2012 Directed by Gus Van Sant Screenplay by John Krasinski, Matt Damon; Story by Dave Eggers Starring Matt Damon, Frances McDormand, Hal Holbrook, Rosemarie DeWitt Promised Land opens in an opulent five-star restaurant, where Steve Butler (Matt Damon) is a young man realizing his lifelong ambition. He’s being vetted for an executive … Continue reading
(Jane Alexander Stewart is on vacation for January. True Shields, Berkeley Lit Grad ’12 and movie buff, keeps Cinemashrink’s Oscar lights burning with a mythic overview of Zero Dark Thirty.) Zero Dark Thirty, 2013 Directed by Kathryn Bigelow Screenplay by Mark Boal Starring Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Joel Edgerton Synopsis: A dramatization … Continue reading
Argo, 2012 Director, Ben Affleck Screenplay, Chris Terrio Starring Ben Affleck, John Goodman, Alan Arkin Synopsis: A dramatization of the true story of CIA agent Tony Mendez’s miraculous rescue of six American diplomats during the famous 1979 Iranian hostage crisis — a feat made possible by disguising them as Canadian filmmakers. What was I thinking? … Continue reading
If you’d like to discover a film anew, treat yourself to a gem. See a classic, an offbeat treat or an on-beat documentary. Because each film reveals aspects of ourselves and deepens our knowledge of what it is to be human. Days of Heaven, 1978 Written and directed by Terence Malick (also director of Tree … Continue reading
Queen to Play, 2011 (French) Writer/Director — Caroline Bottaro Actors — Sandrine Bonnaire as Helene, Kevin Kline as Kroger Cinemashrink says: If you’re afraid to make a commitment to what gives you pleasure See Queen to Play and feel inspired to get in the game Because if you don’t risk, you lose – and for … Continue reading
Catfish, 2011 Documentary Filmmakers: Ariel Schulman, Nev Schulman and Henry Joost CinemaShrink Says: If you’re nervous about the future of internet relationships See Catfish for a romp with creative minds at work Because fake takes on new meaning when multiples become norm Three young men – two filmmakers and a photographer – catch the progression … Continue reading
Poetry, 2010 Best Screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival, 2010 Writer and director – Lee Chang-dong Starring: Yoon Jeong-hee – Mija CinemaShrink Says: If you’re wondering how to make sense of the senseless See Poetry where a quiet older woman reforms ugliness Because you’ll find your own poet within A film is a film is … Continue reading
The Hedgehog, 2009 Writer and Director — Mona Achache Starring — Garance Le Guillermic, Josiane Balasko and Togo Igawa CinemaShrink Says: “If you’re drawn to the elegance of mystery and surprise, See The Hedgehog, a film made faithfully if not as fully to the book. Because art is provocative, secrets delicious, death prickly.” What a … Continue reading
Buck, 2011 Documentary Director – Cindy Meehl Cast – Buck Brannaman and Robert Redford play themselves CinemaShrink Says: “If you’re interested in how to discipline with a cool hand See Buck put rowdy horses and frustrated horse owners in sync Because the soul heals when dancing.” Buck is not just an extraordinary man – which … Continue reading
