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Zero Dark Thirty: Depiction as Endorsement (?), or: When Movies Get Partisan -

Kathryn Bigelow has been widely criticised for the depiction of torture in her latest war film, Zero Dark Thirty — in interviews she has insisted that “depiction is not endorsement”, but many critics, if not audiences, aren’t so sure. Waleed Aly, a fine and intelligent journalist who until now I did not know had [...]
Bottom 5 of 2012 -

Tim Hoar and I sat down the other week and recorded two podcasts (first ones in three months!). The first was an outline of our least favourite movies of 2012, and the second was a discussion of our favourite movies of the last year. You can access the podcast on iTunes here. Or alternatively [...]
REVIEW — Les Misérables -

The Verdict 2 out of 5– With all the subtlety of a hammer, Les Misérables does little to bring us into its world of post-revolutionary France. The songs are overly sombre and self-serious, the lyrics simplistic and often plain nonsensical, and the actors chosen, for the most part, cannot sing. At 140 minutes in [...]
REVIEW — Into the Abyss -

Guest review by Tim Hoar The Verdict 4.5 out of 5: Into the Abyss is an exceptionally good portrait of one crime, as well as the societal background to that crime and the broader concept of the death penalty as being something ‘good’. It is incredible that a documentary about the darkest corners of humanity, [...]
REVIEW — The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey -

The Verdict 3 out of 5 – An Unexpected Journey is a bit of a nostalgic trip back to the time when The Lord of the Rings was cool. As a film on its own merits, it’s a partial success, with sections of inspired and inventive fantasy interrupted by overly long exposition that could easily [...]
REVIEW – The Chaser -

Guest review by Tim Hoar, creator of Now Now, I’m Drinking a Beer and Watching a Movie. The Verdict 4 out of 5 – An excellent, creepy and chilling serial killer flick that slowly evolves from thriller to detective story. Not for the faint of heart, The Chaser is extremely clever, managing to be both action [...]
Tuesday Trailer: IRON MAN 3 -

As if the insipid Iron Man 2, in addition to Tony Stark getting all the juicy lines in The Avengers weren’t enough, here comes Iron Man 3. The latest trailer is just a teaser that gives away little of the film’s plot, but it certainly hints at the movie’s feel — the star of this one looks [...]
Tuesday Trailer: CARRIE -

Chloë Grace Moretz (KickAss, Hugo, Let Me In, Dark Shadows) stars in this adaptation of the Stephen King novel Carrie, which was also filmed in 1976 by Brian de Palma. The story is about a young girl with a telekinesis who unleashes her considerable powers on those around her after being bullied in high school. This [...]