Film & TV

Spike Jonze’s ‘Her’: Love in a Future Age

Melinda Parks

In an age where cell phones are our constant companions, where an operating system can respond to voice-activated prompts and mobile Internet access provides us with instant information at any given moment, our relationships with technology and with each other are rapidly evolving. Writer-director Spike Jonze’s latest film, “Her,” an original and surprisingly emotional story about a lonely writer who develops feelings for his cell phone operating system, serves as a commentary on our society’s increasing reliance on technology.

‘Don Jon,’ ‘CBGB’ Arrive on Home Video

Forrest Hartman

In recent years, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has proven himself to be one of the film industry’s most talented young actors. With “Don Jon” he demonstrates that his skills extend beyond performance. Gordon-Levitt wrote and directed the movie, and he also plays the title role, proving capable in every capacity. The picture focuses on Jon Martello (Gordon-Levitt), a good-hearted, New Jersey player whose friends call him Don Jon as a nod to the legendary Spanish libertine Don Juan. 

‘Insidious: Chapter 2’ Arrives on Home Video

Forrest Hartman

Writer-director James Wan may have made his name with the ultra-gory “Saw” franchise, but he is just as comfortable with old-fashioned suspense. In fact, it seems that Wan now favors movies that are built on slow-burning psychological horror. Wan’s first film of 2013, “The Conjuring,” was the best horror movie of the year. His second, “Insidious: Chapter 2,” is less striking, but still intense and entertaining. 

‘Prisoners,’ ‘The Lone Ranger’ Arrive on Home Video

Forrest Hartman

Director Dennis Villeneuve moves the 153-minute film with precision, leading viewers through a thriller that bolsters its clever, surface-level twists with deep thematic roots that force viewers to identify with multiple characters. This should stimulate debate about everything from vigilantism to torture, and it allows the movie to live in one’s mind long after it has played out. “Prisoners” could have been even better if Villeneuve had addressed a few underplayed plot points, but focusing on minor flaws in an otherwise masterful film is neither fair nor productive. 

‘Despicable Me 2,’ ‘Fast and Furious 6’ Arrive on Home Video

Forrest Hartman

“Despicable Me 2” is the rare sequel that actually bests its inspiration. That may be because the entire creative team from the first movie is back. Directors Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud are, once again, working from a screenplay by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio, and the story is fully developed and exciting. Too often, sequels feel like little more than a rushed attempt to cash in on previous success, but “Despicable Me 2” actually furthers the story of Gru, his orphan girls and those adorable, little minions. 

‘The End of Time’: The Cosmos of Peter Mettler

Sandra Bertrand

Watching a Peter Mettler film is no ordinary experience.  You may as well be strapping yourself in place for a ride to through the Milky Way, plunging into the core of a live volcano or simply winessing the inexorable march of an ant colony with their grasshopper prey. The End of Time, the latest in a trilogy by this Canadian filmmaker, is part of a mid-career retrospective, presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center.  The trilogy began with Picture of Light (1996), followed by Gambling, Gods & LSD (2002).  

‘Wolverine,’ ‘Mortal Instruments’ Arrive on DVD, Blu-ray

Forrest Hartman

Superhero films have more clout than ever before, and Marvel Entertainment has a lot to do with that. The media giant has done a remarkable job transitioning its comic book characters to the screen with movies that balance keen storytelling and astonishing visuals. The company’s latest success is “The Wolverine,” a new chapter in the ongoing saga of Logan (Hugh Jackman), a nearly immortal mutant armed with razor-sharp, retractable claws and an indestructible metal-plated skeleton.   

‘The World’s End,’ ‘We’re the Millers’ Arrive on DVD, Blu-ray

Forrest Hartman

In “World’s End,” Pegg stars as Gary King, a substance-abusing, middle-aged man whose adult life has not lived up to his teenage dreams. One of Gary’s greatest regrets is that he and his pals failed to complete the Golden Mile pub crawl in their hometown of Newton Haven. Although Gary’s old friends, who are now largely estranged, have settled into typical adult lives, he convinces them that they should relive their glory days and attempt to complete the crawl. 

Wherefore Art Thou, Golden Age of Hollywood?

John McGovern

 The Graduate established that the old generation of Hollywood been had usurped by a new generation, Apocalypse Now served as a harsh reminder that the freedoms and economic prosperity of the ‘60s had started to fade away. Soon, Reagan would dismiss public pessimism brought about by the war in Vietnam as the “Vietnam Syndrome.” Coppola’s film was one of the last great reminders (in mainstream movies) that all good things must come to an end. During the past three-plus decades since the release of the latter film, U.S. cinema has not seen such a prolific time period, as the existence of original directors post-1980 has been more of an exception than a rule. 

‘Frances Ha,’ ‘Man of Steel’ Arrive on DVD, Blu-ray

Forrest Hartman

Baumbach co-wrote the screenplay with Gerwig, and the latter – an underused actress – does a fine job in the title role. It, no doubt, helps that Gerwig had such intimate familiarity with the material because the film is more concerned with the things going on in Frances’ head than those taking place in her life. Baumbach opted to shoot the movie digitally and release it in black and white, a move that results in a classic, arty feel, even though the characters and events are decidedly contemporary. 

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