Tag Archives: Cate Blanchett

Review: Tár

Posted on May 10, 2023 by philipbrasor

Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett) isn’t the first cinematic protagonist whose entire being seems designed to be disagreeable, but it’s difficult to tell if writer-director Todd Field, making his first movie in almost two decades, wants the viewer to pick up … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Review: Nightmare Alley

Posted on March 26, 2022 by philipbrasor

The Hollywood melodramas of the late 40s and early 50s had a discomfiting story-telling quality that seems exclusive to that particular era, meaning right after a war that many deemed “good” but which nevertheless haunted those who had seen it … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Review: The House with a Clock in Its Walls

Posted on October 12, 2018 by philipbrasor

Though based on a best-selling kids’ story written in 1973, The House with a Clock in Its Walls feels overly determined as a film, as if it were conceived and developed from scratch by a bunch of Hollywood executives. Some … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

August 2016 movies

Posted on July 31, 2016 by philipbrasor

Here are the movie reviews I wrote for the August issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo on July 25. Amy Since the late Amy Winehouse’s career dovetailed with the social media era, her life was thoroughly documented, … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

March 2016 movies

Posted on March 2, 2016 by philipbrasor

Here are the movie reviews I wrote for the March-April issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo last week. The Big Short At the moment there is no more timely piece of entertainment than Adam McKay’s black comedy … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

May 2014 movies

Posted on April 28, 2014 by philipbrasor

Here are the movie reviews I wrote for the May issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo last week. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 The only justification for making an entirely new franchise of the Spider-Man saga so soon … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

August 2011 movies

Posted on August 2, 2011 by philipbrasor

Here are the movie reviews I wrote for the Aug. issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo last week. The movies are opening here between late July and mid-August. Edge of Darkness Mel Gibson’s first lead role in … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Needs more blue: Russell Crowe in Tokyo

Posted on November 25, 2010 by philipbrasor

The last time Russell Crowe came to Japan, eight years ago to promote A Beautiful Mind, he was dressed like a slumming indie rocker (he was still fronting that band, Thirty Odd Foot Of Grunts) and chain-smoking on the dais. … Continue reading →

Posted in Media, Movies | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment