Blog — Reflections on a Silver Screen

Review: the blissful spiral of Triangle of Sadness

Ruben Östlund’s latest satire is a deliciously dismal take-down of wealth inequality, stretching from catwalks to luxury yachts to a rocky beach strewn with life vests and pretzel sticks.

Review: dirty deeds Where the Crawdads Sing

Based upon Delia Owens’ bestseller, the latest from producer Reese Witherspoon is part of an ongoing trend in movies about women who exact revenge on abusive men.

Review: the flash and sparkle of Elvis

The King of Rock-n-Roll is positioned as an exploited cultural dissident in director Baz Luhrmann’s sweeping new biopic.

Film review, Movie review, ReviewBen RendichJune 29, 2022Elvis, Baz Luhrmann, Elvis Presley, biopic, Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, racism, music

Review: trying to have Everything Everywhere All At Once

From kung fu action scenes to hot dog finger fights, the Daniels’ latest foray into a character’s splintered psyche is as audacious as it is contrived.

Review: The Northman goes south

A Viking epic directed by Robert Eggers,The Northman disappoints with its rapacious and meaningless violence.

Film review, Movie review, ReviewBen RendichApril 30, 2022The Northman, Roger Eggers, Ethan Hawke, Nicole Kidman, Historical, violenceComment

“You’ll have to tell us how you did it:” the bloated prestige of Steve Jobs

With the mismatched writer-director team of Aaron Sorkin and Danny Boyle at its helm, Steve Jobs is an example of how rushing to tell a story can isolate a subject from its proper artistic realization.

“It’s not a war:” the romantic alienations of Closer

Adapted from Patrick Marber’s play, Closer is a fascinating and stylish microcosm of post-9/11 cultural dysphoria.

Hollywood RevisitedBen RendichApril 5, 2022Closer, Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Drama, adaptation, Mike Nichols, Post-9/11Comment

“…even when I’m surrounded by other people:” the lazy ennui of Lost in Translation

Despite tender direction from Sofia Coppola, Lost in Translation bolsters its May-November romance with feeble stereotyping of Japanese people and culture.

“All a woman has to hang on to…:” the middling yet murderous Dolores Claiborne

Based on a Stephen King novel about an abused housewife, director Taylor Hackford's film lags due to procedural storytelling and on-the-nose flashbacks.

Review: The Godfather and its lineage

Returning to theaters for its fiftieth anniversary, Francis Ford Coppola’s gratuitous masterpiece maintains a strong influence on American cinema.

“The trick is not minding:” Lawrence of Arabia and the uses of war

David Lean’s epic masterpiece testifies that invasion, regardless of motive, is always a demonstration of innate cruelty.

Hollywood RevisitedBen RendichMarch 1, 2022Lawrence of Arabia, war, David Lean, Russia, UkraineComment

Review: Uncharted treads familiar terrain

Based on the popular video game series, this Tom Holland-Mark Wahlberg vehicle plays like Romancing the Stone for the “no homo” set.

Film review, Movie reviewBen RendichFebruary 26, 2022Uncharted, Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg, Adventure, Action, Post-colonialism, LGBTQ+Comment

“For we are not who we are told we are…:” three interpretations of Marilyn Monroe

A meditation on the legendary star, filtered through The Misfits (1961), My Week with Marilyn (2011), and Joyce Carol Oates’ Blonde (2000).

Hollywood RevisitedBen RendichFebruary 22, 2022Comment

Review: love is Death on the Nile

A silky if ill-fitting fabrication, Death on the Nile benefits from sensitive direction by Kenneth Branagh and a charismatic cast — especially the combustible Emma Mackey.

Spotlight and The Post: two movies about the press

Todd McCarthy’s Oscar-winning drama affirms the ethos of Obama-era institutional consistency, while Steven Spielberg’s film is an anti-Trump call to action against abusive leadership.