The Attack: while the starting point for this drama is interesting, even strong, the way it unfolds leaves a bit to be desired, given the choice of trying to stir up a controversy instead of telling its story organically. While that’s part of the premise, the characters feel detached from their actions, making it harder to sympathize. It’s not particularly well shot or edited (jump cuts abound, for no particular reason) either.

Categories: Film reviews • Tags: drama

Barbary Coast: strong drama which is very frank in dealing with the realities of the time and place of its story. Characters are well-rounded and complex; not one is unblemished (even thought, of course, some are more than others). Such realism is refreshing. The cast is generally good, but the highlight is Walter Brennan. The film is well shot, making the fogginess almost a character.

Categories: Film reviews • Tags: drama

Unfinished Song: watching great actors at work is always an enormous pleasure; in this case, particularly Vanessa Redgrave (not many are greater, no matter the role) and Terence Stamp. When the story helps and allows the viewer to connect to the characters, so much the better. It’s easy to call this touching film manipulative (even if all films, perhaps all forms of art, are trying to tug the public one way or another), but it’s organically done (the real crime […]

Categories: Film reviews • Tags: drama