As Ordinary Sinner opens, Peter (Brendan P. Hines), a seminary student, is suffering a crisis of faith after a boy he’s been mentoring is arrested for murder. Unsure if priesthood is his true calling, Peter sets out in search of a “quiet place” to sort his thoughts, ultimately moving into a tiny, tin-roofed shack near … Continue reading
It’s hard to say whether Minnie Driver’s oversized, Tootsie-style glasses or her over-the-top Canadian accent is more distracting in Owning Mahoney, but both pale in comparison to the dreadful, blonde polyester wig she’s saddled with throughout the entire film. I know I’ve joked about hideous hairpieces before, but I think I’ve reached my boiling point: … Continue reading
“Without giving us a glimpse at what lay underneath the garish costumes, this Party never even gets started.” Monster’s Ball Club Kid pic has style to spare but no substance From the beginning, Party Monster has faced an unenviable challenge here in New York. True, giddy glamsters have created a mildly feverish pre-opening buzz around this dramatized … Continue reading
Based on writer-director Rebecca Miller’s acclaimed book of stories, this trio of exceedingly intimate short films concerns three vastly dissimilar women facing decisions of life-altering importance. In Delia, a battered wife (Kyra Sedgwick) struggles to summon the courage to leave her violent husband. In Greta, an ambitious cookbook editor (Parker Posey) contemplates an extramarital affair. … Continue reading
At a time when “indie” means million-dollar budgets and A-list stars, Personal Velocity takes the genre back to its modest origins. Small, delicate and deeply incisive, it eschews the flashy self-awareness typical of independent fare these days and draws viewers in the old-fashioned way – with a well-crafted story and exceptional performances. To be precise, … Continue reading
It’s hard to believe the grungy goth chick with the tattoos and combat boots at the center of Pieces of April is actually former Dawson’s Creek cutie-pie Katie Holmes. Made over here as a very credible East Village hipster, Holmes delivers a fantastic performance that all but erases any lingering memories of her girl-next-door TV … Continue reading
“Porn Theatre is an erotically charged film, but also a thoughtful one. The sex within it is not sensationalized; if anything, it’s downright dismal. Are gay audiences really so single-minded that they’ll only go to a movie if it offers the possibility of full-frontal nudity? Apparently, Strand is counting on it.” Much twittering has occurred … Continue reading
“Part Nancy Drew mystery, part Indiana Jones swashbuckler, part Merchant-Ivory bodice ripper, this latest film from LaBute seems, at first glance, about as different from his previous films as it possibly could be. But closer inspection reveals that beneath the corsets and carriages and Harlequin romances, Possession centers around sexual politics, just as his other … Continue reading
“We’re always waiting for Ricci’s trademark sneer to materialize, but it never does. Too bad; it might have given Pumpkin a much-needed edge…” First-time directors often struggle to find the right tone for their films. And directing teams – even experienced ones – most likely have a harder time agreeing on a singular voice for … Continue reading
Although it stars funnyman Adam Sandler, this subversive romantic comedy from writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson is no Happy Gilmore. In a riveting performance, Sandler plays Barry, a doleful entrepreneur who falls for Lena (Emily Watson), a straight-shooting divorcee. As the two fragile loners form a hesitant bond, Barry’s numerous idiosyncrasies – including a tendency toward … Continue reading
Mike Rucker Writes 