Film Review Podcast: “Shame” & “A Dangerous Method”

Michael Fassbender would appear to be January’s Flavor of the Month.

He had a secondary role in the eminently forgettable “Haywire,” which I mentioned in passing either last week or the week before.

Ah, but this weekend, it vas all Fassbender all zuh time. He was intense and compelling as Brandon in the psychological study “Shame.” And he played Carl Jung in the dialog-heavy “A Dangerous Method.”

Here’s a more clinical analysis of these two mature films.

Film Review Podcast: “The Artist” & “Haywire”

How coincidental is it that on the day the Academy Award nominees are announced, I review “The Artist?”

Which film, as you probably know, has already garnered any number of awards, including three from the new major playah in Hollywoodland, the Foreign Movie Press. A/K/A the Golden Globes.

So I guess it’s kinda neat but, well, not that big of a deal. Besides all this introductory blather is really of little consequence, since I also review a movie, which has almost totally slipped from my memory already, and I just saw it yesterday. That would be Steven Soderbergh’s “Haywire.” Yawn.

Anyhow, as I opine in the soon to be linked radio review of “The Artist,” the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences likes nothing better than to honor itself. Thus, “The Artist” and my previously reviewed “Hugo,” both of which are love letters to the movies, are going to go home with some statuettes.

Anyhow, here’s the link. Listen for yourself, or forever hold your peace.

Film Review Podcast: The Ladies of 2011

When receiving her Golden Globe Sunday Night (For her bioflick portrayal of Margaret Thatcher), Best Actress Forever Meryl Streep mentioned how very many great cinematic portrayals by women they’re were last year.

Who am I to disagree?

Actually it was the singular theme in film last year, about which I’ve been harping for awhile.

So, today, on my weekly radio film review gig, instead of milking five minutes worth of shtick about Marky Mark in “Contraband” — which both the Film Babe and I liked — I decided to visit once again those worthy performances referenced by Ms. Streep.

Listen up

Film Review Podcast: “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” & “War Horse”

Actually the title is a bit of a tease.

I mention the Steven Spielberg schmaltzfest only in passing. It is the latest film proving that unlimited resources, sterling production values and a worthy track record are not always a sign that a film will be good. “War Horse” is not good. But it does provide counterpoint.

Ah, but the WWII spy potboiler, “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” is wünderbar, featuring one of the year’s great acting performances.

Check it out:

Film Review Podcast: “We Bought A Zoo” & “Dick”

Given the vast and inordinate number of darker films that have been released this holiday season, the Film Babe and I decided to check out a feel good flick.

Actually, according to the ads, we chose a “feel great movie” — “We Bought A Zoo.”

And, in this film which in fact does make one feel good without being too saccharine or cloying, is the absolutely cutest young girl in the history of the world. Listen up for further info.

And, I’ve been thinking about the amazing performances by Michelle Williams in “My Week With Marilyn” and Kirsten Dunst in “Melancholia.” Which reminded me of an old comedy the duo starred in together. “Dick” in a very funny way explains the mysteries of the Watergate scandal.

So I rented the flick, watched it with the Film Babe, enjoyed it a lot again and give a quick re-review for you.

Check it all out here:

Film Review Podcast: “My Week With Marilyn,” “Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol,” & “Girl With The Dragon Tattoo”

Duke and I chat about our Christmas gifts. Oh yeah, it’s twu it’s twu.

And, if that’s not enough for ya, that ain’t all, kiddos.

In my reviews I reveal who takes his/her shirts off and who doesn’t? Truth.

And if all that doesn’t sate your soul and satisfy your cinematic curiosity, I actually give in depth analysis of three flicks.

“The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo,” during which critique I opine as to who plays the best Lisbeth Salander, Noomi Rapace or Rooney Mara?

“Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol,” during which I advise whether you see more groovy gizmos or more of Cousin Tommy Cruise’s bare chest?

“My Week With Marilyn,” during which I analyze Michele Williams transcendent take on filmdom’s most endearing and lasting icon, MM, which is, one guy’s opinion, the best performance by an actor this year.

Check it out.

Film Review Podcast: “Young Adult” & “Sherlock Holmes”

I would have been much more positive about the latest Sherlock Holmes action adventure romp featuring Robert Downey Jr. aa the now pumped up sleuth, and Jude Law as his partner in crime solving, if . . . it wasn’t a Sherlock Holmes movie.

Guns, fights, explosions, chases, romantic trysts . . . they’re all to be found here. The only problem is none of that has anything to do with Arthur Conan Doyle’s brilliant creation.

So, I came with the thunder. I’m sure Basil Rathbone is smiling at my take on the affair.

“Young Adult” is a slyly cynical film, ostensibly about a gal who was Queen of the Hop in high school, and has gone on to seeming fame and fortune in the big city. She returns to the homestead to steal away her old prep beau. He happens to be happily married with a new baby he adores. Nothing happens as you expect it to, a good thing indeed.

The film is a brilliant if disturbing character study.

Listen up to hear why I find the movie and Charlize Theron’s performance among the best of the year.

Film Review Podcast: “Like Crazy” & “Take Shelter”

I knew the Michael Shannon film — “Take Shelter” — was going to be some heavy eggplant.

Is he a paranoid schizophrenic? Or does he know something nobody else in his rural Ohio town knows?

So, after experiencing that intensity just weeks after seeing “Melancholia” and “The Descendents,” the Film Babe and I were looking for something, let us say, lighter. Froth would have been a good thing. But we weren’t going to devolve as far as that New Year’s Eve flick. (After all, we do have some standards.)

So we took in the “romance,” that was all the rave at Sundance, “Like Crazy.”

Listen up to discover the results.

Film Review Podcast: “Melancholia” & “The Muppets”

Mmmmmmms the word — actually the letter — this week.

The movies: “Melancholia” and “The Muppets.”

Each is worthy of your time, though, as I talk about in the podcast, they come from opposite ends of the spectrum.

“The Muppets” remain as charming and disarming and fun as ever. Intelligent entertainment for the whole family. Great to have them back.

“Melancholia” is hard, mature moviemaking. Lars Van Trier, ever the provocateur, continues to push the emotive envelope. This film is not easy, but it is his best since “Breaking the Waves.”

Listen up.

Film Review Podcast: “Hugo”

This time around there is actually meaningful edification in addition to my film review.

Martin Scorcese’s mesmerizing “Hugo” is my favorite movie of the year.

Listen and discover why.

Plus, in answering a question from my host Duke, I explain why it is that I’ve liked so many films in the last several weeks. It has to do with short memories and Hollywoodland’s culture of paranoia.

Film Review Podcast: “Mozart’s Daughter”

What a podcast this one is.

First you get Kyle Meredith reporting in on the Bob Seger After Party. Admit it, you’ve been waiting for that.

I give my take on that concert, from which the Film Babe and I exited at halftime.

Kyle issues a demurral.

Then I review a most intriguing film about the older sister of one famous composer.

Check it out.

Film Review Podcast: “Tower Heist” & “Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas”

The eagle eyed among you will surely already have noticed that for the third consecutive week, there’s a slightly different twist to how I title this deal. And, so you can rest more easily, I believe this to be the final iteration.

Film Review Podcast, it shall be for now and forever more . . . or until I change my mind again, whichever comes first.

Fortunately, since it happened during Kyle Meredith’s “Daily Feed” shtick that immediately precedes my weekly review, you won’t have to listen to his infantile carping about the sartorial choices I made while dressing for work this morning.

But you shall be treated to some righteous banter with Duke, a correction of said Mr. Meredith regarding the derivation of the band he played during his stint, and two boffo reviews, of “Tower Heist” & “Harold & Kumar’s Excellent 3D Christmas Escapade” or whatever the film is called. I call it funny.

Listen up, ya’ll.