A pocketful of reviews, part 2

April showers bring may flowers… After a frigid Chicago winter, the weather has begun to finally shift and my life continues to be hectic after getting married last month.

In terms of film watching, winter was an opportunity to continue to catch up with the best-received films from 2018 and start to give a look at the 2019 crop.

Academy Awards preview: best films released in 2018

In anticipation of the ceremony for the Academy Awards, I thought it would be as good a time as any to share my impressions on the 2018 crop of movie making.

The thoughts I am about to share are an ever-shifting compendium that may look different in a week, a month, or a year from now.

Months in review: March, April & May (part II)

Continued from last post.
Below a list of short reviews of films, books and videogames watched, read or played in the last couple of months. Due to unexpected delays, I had to add films that I’ve watched in May. Hopefully I can catch up by next month.

FILM: (cont.)

AMERICAN HUSTLE (2013) [4/5]

 

Probably the wildest and funniest film by director David O. Russell up to this point. Find my full review here.

Films watched: January & February mini reviews

Now that we’ve arrived to the end of February, I thought it was as good time as any to share some of my thoughts on the films I’ve seen and haven’t had a chance to review since the turn of the year.

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (2012)

An emotional drama with a touch of comedy punctuated by a very strong cast. Silver Linings offers just enough to think about and some to laugh at. A bit less transcendental than the awards season have made it out to be, but powerful enough to merit some recognition.

Highlight: the performance by Jennifer Lawrence + the return to form of Robert De Niro

Downside: it has its share of cliches and some sequences feel forced.