Blogs: Author Archive

The advance word on Sundance was that Park City temperatures hovered somewhere between McMurdo Station, Antarctica and Third Circle of Hell. Dire warnings were issued by friends and colleagues that anything less than Swedish military winter gear would result in the loss of toes, fingers or, perhaps, worse. Tales of wayward film critics wandering...
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So, as The Metro Times’ intrepid film critics Corey and I are part of the illustrious DFCS (Detroit Film Critic’s Society), which, like film critic societies across the country is far too male and far too white for my tastes. Nevertheless, as one of those said white males, I am loathe to give up...
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One thing’s for certain: Cloud Atlas doesn’t lack ambition. Or bad makeup. Threading together six disparate storylines set in six different time periods with an A-list cast juggling multiple roles, producer-directors Tom Tykwer (Run, Lola Run; Perfume), Andy Wachowski and Lana Wachowski (The Matrix movies) have concocted a cinematic experience that’s as lavish, intricate,...
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Attending a film festival as a critic, journalist, or member of the industry can be a bit like swimming in a fishbowl. Over the course of the fest you start seeing familiar faces at various screenings and events and, inevitably, engage in conversation. (Wayward coughing can also bring on suspicions that it’s all a...
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DAY THREE I’ve got miles to go and my energy is already lagging. I decided to keep the day light in order to ready myself for tomorrow’s marathon screening of six films (and an interview). I really wanted to start the day with the 8AM showing of The Place Beyond The Pines but couldn’t...
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              Last year my second favorite film of the festival was TAKE THIS WALTZ by actor-turned-director Sarah Polley (you can read my review here). I was excited to kick off Day Two this year with Polley’s documentary STORIES WE TELL, which not only elevates navel-gazing autobiography to something...
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It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Martin McDonagh’s work. I love his dark, twisted comedies, particularly his Inishman plays. His short “Six Shooter” well deserved it’s Oscar and “In Bruges” is wickedly funny yet poignantly tragic. Ralph Fiennes’ performance aside, I have tremendous respect for what McDonagh pulled off. So, to say...
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The Toronto Film Festival – Day One Is it okay to start off by complaining about the wi-fi? Probably not. But it’s the reason I haven’t been blogging in real-ish time and why my tweets (follow me at JephM)appear in erratic spurts. Even Starbucks has been unreliable. And so, as South Park encourages…. Blame...
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Day 7 – Wednesday Morgan Spurlock’s “Comic-Con: Episode IV – A Fan’s Hope,” turns out to be better than I expected. Far from a snarky smackdown on the geeks and freaks who descend on this San Diego festival every year, Spurlock offers an affectionate look at those who attend. From a young geek who...
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Despite my plan to post summaries of every film every day I am now beginning to realize that sleep and the need to eat precludes my ability to deliver a daily report. So, I’ve decided to instead mention the highlights of my last four days at the festival. Day 5 – Monday Kicked things...
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