Josh Reviews Ender’s Game
I read Orscon Scott Card’s novel Ender’s Game when I was in college, and I loved it. I was intrigued by the character of Ender, and captured by the tough, brutal world Mr. Card had created. I of course kept reading and, though I know I am in the minority on this one, I l
Josh Reviews Joss Whedon’s Much Ado About Nothing
After making The Avengers, Joss Whedon got a bunch of his friends and frequent collaborators together and, over 12 days and working in and around his own house, shot a black-and-white adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. I missed this when it was very br
Josh Reviews Thor: The Dark World
The sprawling cinematic epic that Marvel Studios has been crafting, ever since 2008’s Iron Man, rolls on with the very strong installment Thor: The Dark World. One might have been forgiven for thinking that perhaps, after the unprecedented movie super-hero crossover that was T
From the DVD Shelf: The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
I am endlessly fascinated by coming-of-age stories, and I don’t think I’m alone. I adore this sub-genre of movies, and when done right, I find these sorts of movies to be emotionally gripping. I have seen a number of great coming-of-age films recently, as it happens, i
From the DVD Shelf: The Place Beyond the Pines
I didn’t see director Derek Cianfrance’s 2010 film, Blue Valentine, though I certainly read about it when it came out. (The film got a lot of acclaim, and also a lot of ink due to its NC-17 rating.) It’s a film I am interested in seeing one of these days, but for
Josh Reviews Machete Kills
First of all, let me put your mind at ease. I know you were all worried, but even though Machete Kills represents a dramatic expansion of the Machete mythos, I promise that you will be able to understand all of the film’s complexities even if you haven’t seen the first f
Josh Reviews Gravity
I had seen and enjoyed director Alfonso Cuaron’s 2001 film Y Tu Mama Tambien and 2004’s Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, but it was 2006’s extraordinary Children of Men that made me a fan of Mr. Cuaron’s for life. Like so many, I have been eagerly a
Josh Reviews The Spectacular Now
I am a sucker for a good coming of age story, and this season has seen a couple of excellent ones. I was over the moon about The Way Way Back (click here for my review) and I was equally smitten by James Ponsoldt’s new film The Spectacular Now. It’s a beautiful, powerf
Josh Reviews Don Jon
Don Jon is written, directed by, and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. It’s a great film and I love watching something that feels like a unique, singular voice (as opposed to the movie-by-committee sameness found in so much Hollywood product). This has been a great season for d
From the DVD Shelf: Drive (2011)
I missed Drive when it was released in 2011, but I was intrigued by everything I read about it and it’s a film that I’ve been hoping for some time to catch up to. Ryan Gosling plays the enigmatic driver at the center of the film. (His character is never named in the movi