No Country for Old Men: a solid, grim film. It has no-frills, simple story which is made special by a great gallery of characters. The cast is, therefore, of great importance, and they deliver in spades; while Javier Bardem has the meatier role, Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin are both equally good. While it’s the darkness that dominates, there’s also a great sense of irony that is present; it’s a serious film made by people who have a sense […]

Categories: Film reviews • Tags: crime, drama

American Hustle: this story, particulars aside, has been told many times before (sometimes even better); what sets this film apart and puts it (quite) above the average heist movie is the rich, well-written and, above all, entertaining gallery of characters and their relationships. Indeed, the bonds, rivalries, romances turn out to be more relevant than the plot itself. The whole cast is making the best of the material; Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper stand out because their characters are flashier, […]

Categories: Film reviews • Tags: crime, drama

Charley Varrick: Walter Matthau is surprisingly good (for those used to his grumpy comedic roles) as the title character in this solid, taut film. The plot is not novel, but it unfurls in such a way that the characters have time to be showcased, even if a bit; it’s also very earnest with the brutality of the world they live in. Don Siegel was economical, also, in the way he had the movie shot; the long takes aren’t there to call […]

Categories: Film reviews • Tags: crime, drama