tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151936032009-11-06T17:24:37.912-05:00Fluxing Philosophicwith Steve SnartStephen Snarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272375787743042926noreply@blogger.comBlogger143125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193603.post-20338257170100203782009-11-06T17:22:00.002-05:002009-11-06T17:24:37.918-05:00It's All In Your Mind: A Review of The Fourth Kind"Everything we've read about digital technology and studio greed suggests we should greet any movie proclaiming to be “real” with an armor of disbelief. But in the heat of the moment, it's actually pretty convincing and really quite creepy. Wherever its truths and fictions really lie, The Fourth Kind — like Paranormal Activity — is an effective experiment/event rather than a film to be heralded. Stephen Snarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272375787743042926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193603.post-77211056317764829722009-10-22T17:08:00.005-04:002009-10-22T17:13:03.409-04:00This Could Be Heaven: A Review of The Devil's Advocate"The Devil’s Advocate isn’t as evenly paced as the classic horror titles mentioned above but it does strive to be more than a special effects extravaganza. While the film occasionally succumbs to overwrought melodrama and the sheer lunacy of its proposition (like in Angel Heart, the Devil sure seems to do a lot of micro-managing), it’s hard to begrudge the film’s questionable moments given the Stephen Snarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272375787743042926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193603.post-58669205957514646182009-10-11T10:31:00.002-04:002009-10-11T10:34:16.054-04:00Polygamy in Africa: A Review of Min Ye"Malian filmmaker Souleymane Cissé’s reputation precedes him, and for a director that can be both a blessing and a curse. It may help open doors and smooth over the pre-production process but it can also set unrealistic expectation upon the finished product. Cissé returns to the cinema after 14 years with Min Ye (Tell Me Who You Are), his third film to play the New York Film Festival. Best known Stephen Snarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272375787743042926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193603.post-49726357466738266432009-10-06T08:00:00.004-04:002009-10-06T08:03:16.451-04:00The Trigger Effect: A Review of Lebanon"Lebanon isn’t quite the pivotal war document or riveting suspense narrative it could have been, but it is confidently made with piercing sound design and arresting visuals that aid in the effective illustration of the range of people directly affected by war."Click here to read my review at Not Coming to a Theater Near You as part of their New York Film Festival coverageStephen Snarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272375787743042926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193603.post-49719822220564333152009-09-25T14:52:00.004-04:002009-09-25T14:56:26.353-04:00Independent Woman Pt. 1: A Review of Coco Before Chanel"...without a clear plot trajectory, the film struggles to maintain momentum, relying on the tired period-piece mainstays of sweeping landscape shots accompanied by swelling orchestral music before concluding with little impact."Click here to read my review in VIVmagStephen Snarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272375787743042926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193603.post-51356440033340316522009-09-09T20:24:00.004-04:002009-09-10T08:35:51.504-04:00Skiptracers
<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Stephen Snarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272375787743042926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193603.post-57218276246431040972009-09-04T08:28:00.005-04:002009-09-04T08:32:36.897-04:00Inside Baseball: A DVD Review of Sugar"Melancholic and pragmatic, Sugar is not a rousing Saturday night sports movie. But it is a brilliantly executed film that provides insight into a world most viewers rarely think about. As far as sobering sports movies go, Sugar would make a strong double-feature with last year’s The Wrestler, as both films are dedicated to examining the psychology of minor league athletes just outside the Stephen Snarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272375787743042926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193603.post-63425817705250397452009-09-02T14:20:00.005-04:002009-09-02T14:23:25.256-04:00My Summer of Love: A Review of Adventureland"Unassuming and naturalistic, Adventureland has a remarkable sense of pathos for a young adult comedy. But its appealing ensemble, pitch-perfect soundtrack, and controlled filmmaking help the tougher moments go down smoothly. It’s a hugely enjoyable blend of humor and agony that captures the confused, painful, but open-ended state of late adolescence. "Click here to read my DVD review at Stephen Snarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272375787743042926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193603.post-89044419473282354232009-08-18T10:37:00.004-04:002009-08-18T10:40:09.808-04:00Animal Husbandry: A DVD Review of HusbandsThere is still a lot to appreciate about the film: the open-minded camerawork (so much happens outside of the frame), the long, expressive close-ups, the natural dialogue and the very funny moments that it creates and its general unpredictability. But truthfully, these pleasures are on display in Cassavetes’ other films too. And they don’t come with the same self-involvement and frustrating Stephen Snarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272375787743042926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193603.post-72569923112331532332009-08-12T07:19:00.004-04:002009-08-12T07:23:47.024-04:00The Unexamined Body is Not Worth Living: A Review of Cloud 9"The film's strengths lie in the natural performances and Dresden's minimalist direction. The locations feel lived-in and the performers do so much with just their eyes. But what will inevitably leave the longest lasting impression on viewers is the frankness of the love scenes which are energetic, starkly shot and — believe it or not — sexy."Click here to read my review of Cloud 9 in The L Stephen Snarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272375787743042926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193603.post-57578242030404992742009-08-04T14:53:00.005-04:002009-08-04T15:02:53.246-04:00Postcards from the Edge: A review of Doc Martin: Series 2"Fans of British television – and British scenery – should be perfectly satiated by the 464-minutes of Doc Martin contained in this package. Like a good doctor, it’s dependable, easily accessible and comfortingly familiar."Click here to read my DVD review on PopMattersStephen Snarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272375787743042926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193603.post-50196738196969599922009-07-05T07:27:00.006-04:002009-07-05T07:36:33.910-04:00Action Movie Essentials: Mission: ImpossibleNot Coming to a Theater Near You is currently running a very entertaining feature on action movies. The inspired collection of films being covered includes the entire Rambo series, obscure Chuck Norris movies and even a Buster Keaton silent classic. I chose to contribute a piece on Mission: Impossible, of my favorite summer blockbusters directed by one of my favorite directors, Brian De Palma. Stephen Snarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272375787743042926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193603.post-8802531434606197722009-06-16T16:48:00.006-04:002009-06-16T16:54:22.667-04:00Death Every Afternoon: A DVD review of The Hit"...despite its generic title and the professions of its central characters, The Hit bears little resemblance to the gangster film in the traditional sense. It’s closer in nature to Nicolas Roeg and Donald Cammell’s Performance, a film that opens as a full-on gritty gangster film but radically shifts gears to become a psychedelic head trip about questioning self-identity. The Hit is a less Stephen Snarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272375787743042926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193603.post-87257246061420499632009-06-12T14:25:00.006-04:002009-06-12T14:34:14.787-04:00One Night with the Boss: A DVD Review of Bruce Springsteen On the Road"Bruce Springsteen On the Road: 40 Years with the Boss is the definition of a mixed bag; and also a misnomer – these two discs neither show tour footage nor cover the promised 40-year span of Bruce’s career. The second disc might be too technical for casual fans of Springsteen and the first disc is so shoddily constructed that it can’t even serve as a primer for new recruits. Nevertheless, strongStephen Snarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272375787743042926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193603.post-42097260482622147782009-06-11T08:42:00.007-04:002009-06-11T08:58:29.157-04:00Under the Harvest Moon: A Review of Food, Inc."Kenner appeals to enlightenment rather than condemnation, and the text-based conclusion offers specific practices for viewers to consider. Even if they're only micro compared to the policy reform that the film essentially bids for, it at least offers tangible suggestions (scored to Bruce Springsteen no less). Participant Media also published a paperback companion that further explores issues Stephen Snarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272375787743042926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193603.post-54509321432424066242009-06-07T13:19:00.004-04:002009-06-07T13:24:43.314-04:00You’ve Got a Friend in Me: An Appreciation of Quantum of SolaceWhen Quantum of Solace hit theaters this past November, it was met with a fierce critical drubbing for being too frenetic, too downbeat, too un-Bond. All salient points that deserve attention; in many ways it feels like an indie Bond made on the quick to let out some aggression in between grander, more satisfying efforts. And I concede that the first twenty minutes borders on the unwatchable withStephen Snarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272375787743042926noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193603.post-65287491161911511382009-05-31T17:54:00.010-04:002009-06-03T08:23:43.099-04:00Are Gross-Out Gags Invading Family Films?<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Stephen Snarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272375787743042926noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193603.post-70838163624459839912009-05-08T07:38:00.004-04:002009-05-08T07:43:21.434-04:00Time for Me to Fly: A Review of Wings: The Final Season"It would be easy to say that by its eighth and final year, Wings was coasting on fumes but the fact of the matter is Wings never really soared that high to begin with. The pleasures on offer here are modest but dependable. The final season of Wings isn’t its best but it gets the job done."Click here to read my DVD review at PopMattersStephen Snarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272375787743042926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193603.post-87594263014220487752009-05-04T17:11:00.005-04:002009-05-04T19:20:30.071-04:00London Calling: A Review of Last Chance Harvey"Last Chance Harvey isn’t particularly ambitious, and its minimal storytelling scope indicates it wasn’t designed for more than home video viewing (or perhaps in-flight entertainment), but it does offer a few certain charms. It’s the equivalent of a competently written paperback or a leftover helping of Ma’s comfort food. With the right expectations there’s nothing to be disappointed by – Stephen Snarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272375787743042926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193603.post-85759897209359595342009-05-02T08:36:00.009-04:002009-05-04T07:22:05.930-04:00Together They Make Average Music: A Review of The Soloist
<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Stephen Snarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272375787743042926noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193603.post-58832682681138726022009-03-25T10:06:00.007-04:002009-03-25T10:13:31.550-04:001999 Retrospective: American PiePopMatters is currently running a retrospective on the most memorable films of 1999 (both a banner year for movies and the year of the site's inauguration). Gross-out comedy being my forte, I submitted a short piece on American Pie."Ten years down the road and we can thank American Pie for giving us the screen debut of Seann William Scott, popularizing the comic styling of Eugene Levy (which Stephen Snarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272375787743042926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193603.post-77042931010929990352009-03-06T08:31:00.003-05:002009-03-06T08:34:38.449-05:00Magic Eye: A review of Henry Poole Is Here"Ultimately, the film isn’t religious enough to be shown in Sunday school, but has enough of a Christian bent that if it were a book it would be shelved in the Christian Inspiration section. "Click here to read my DVD review of Henry Poole Is Here at PopMattersStephen Snarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272375787743042926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193603.post-26574744009849109072009-02-19T09:25:00.003-05:002009-02-19T09:32:32.924-05:00Love's Labors Lost: A DVD review of Changeling"Wading through the plethora of characters in the film’s many subplots gets to be pretty tiring, especially when the film is so clear about how it wants you to feel about each character. Amidst all these plot strands, the film chooses to ignore one of the most intriguing situations, the boy incorrectly returned to Christine."Click here to read my DVD review at PopMattersStephen Snarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272375787743042926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193603.post-61497997391749929332009-02-03T21:26:00.004-05:002009-02-03T21:28:21.270-05:00Take the Good with the Bad: A DVD review of Michael Powell Double Feature"Age of Consent is, sadly, a rather unfortunate swan song for Powell and it’s unfortunate that this release has to remind viewers of that fact. But at any rate, the occasion for A Matter of Life and Death’s overdue arrival on region one DVD just about makes up for its inclusion in this package." Click here to read my DVD review at PopMattersStephen Snarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272375787743042926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193603.post-84000877097306545222009-01-14T21:12:00.006-05:002009-01-14T21:23:55.533-05:00Top 10 of 20081. Happy-Go-Lucky2. In Bruges3. Forgetting Sarah Marshall4. The Class5. Man on Wire6. Snow Angels7. The Dark Knight8. Redbelt9. Paranoid Park10. The WrestlerHonorable Mentions: Beauty in Trouble, Burn After Reading, Revolutionary Road, Shotgun Stories, Vicky Cristina BarcelonaStephen Snarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272375787743042926noreply@blogger.com1