Category Archives: Newer films

The Tree of Life, Part Two

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Mark DuPré

I’m doing the second part to a review of The Tree of Life because I want to address some issues separately, and I don’t want my thoughts and criticisms to be folded into a review that reflects my utmost admiration … Continue reading →

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The Tree of Life, Part One

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Mark DuPré

Why so late? Well, I don’t live in a big city, I’m very busy outside of my life of seeing films, and films don’t play very long anymore before being pulled. If I want to catch them in the theater, … Continue reading →

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The Descendants

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Mark DuPré

Alexander Payne, director of The Descendants, simply has to make more films. Off all the takeaways from this wonderful film, this is the probably the biggest. The Descendants is not a perfect film, but an intelligent, insightful film on a … Continue reading →

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Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Mark DuPré

First of all, don’t see this until you’ve seen Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes, AKA “the first one.” You’ll understand this one better and enjoy it a lot more. As before, the banter and relationship between Holmes (Robert Downey, Jr.) and … Continue reading →

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Young Adult

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Mark DuPré

Alternatively darkly funny and acrid, Young Adult functions most strongly as a vehicle for a performance by a beautiful movie star who’s not afraid to be ugly on every level. Of course, Charlize Theron going ugly physically is what most … Continue reading →

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Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Posted on December 25, 2011 by Mark DuPré

As sleek and shiny as the surfaces of the world’s tallest building and the suits worn by Tom Cruise (Ethan Hunt) and Jeremy Renner (Brandt). One great action sequence after another, with just enough quiet moments to catch your breath. … Continue reading →

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Take Shelter

Posted on December 22, 2011 by Mark DuPré

Take Shelter is a horror film. Or an end-of-the-world film. Or a family drama. Or a study of the ravages of mental illness on a man and his family. Or all four. Or not. If it weren’t for that ending, … Continue reading →

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50/50

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Mark DuPré

A well-acted, beautifully written small picture. It’s a dramatic comedy about a young man who has a 50/50 chance of beating cancer—based on the real-life journey of screenwriter Will Reiser. It’s on the scale of a Woody Allen movie, and … Continue reading →

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Hugo

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Mark DuPré

Entrancing, enthralling, visually stunning. A cinematic paean to the magic of movies. A film history lesson and a cry for preservation from film’s most famous preservation advocate. There is nothing out there quite like it. What’s good: the look. It … Continue reading →

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Courageous

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Mark DuPré

I have to completely let go of my professor/film critic hat when I talk about this movie. That’s OK, and it’s not just because I am a Christian or that I have a little (tiny, actually) connection with one of … Continue reading →

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