Posts tagged Dev Patel
MOVIE REVIEW: Monkey Man

Most will come away from Monkey Man going on and on like that last paragraph to praise the carnality of this movie, and rightfully so. That strapping and blood-soaked athleticism is what is going to draw the hoots and hollers at public screenings and fire up future YouTube fight breakdowns. Sometimes action for action’s sake can come up empty for greater meaning and audience investment. Without anchors to care about, the fun of it all can be meaningless. This movie does not make that mistake. That’s why Monkey Man’s passionate heart should be praised as highly as its physicality.

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MOVIE REVIEW: Lion

In a tonal shift from the trumpeted and showy norm of Oscar bait, “Lion” is yet another performance-driven dramatic film of 2016 entering this holiday season favoring prudence over theatrics.  The feature film debut of award-winning commercial director Garth Davis, is a love letter instead of a power ballad that delivers genuine emotional heft all on its own, without the need to manufacture it for the sake of a movie.

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CAPSULE REVIEWS: The 52nd Chicago International Film Festival

For the third year in a row, this website has been granted press credentials to cover the many facets of the 52nd CIFF.  I am targeting the U.S. Indies slate and will add selections from the Special Presentations, Black Perspectives, and World Cinema programs.  Most of these films are appearing either before or without distribution dates, meaning my reviews here will stay brief capsule form.  Come back to this page often and I will add films as I go!

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MOVIE REVIEW: Chappie

The title robot at the center of "Chappie," the latest science fiction film from Neill Blomkamp ("District 9" and "Elysium") lacks the qualities to become anywhere close to one of the best movie robots of all time.  Both the film and the robot lack impact, presence, purpose, distinction, and, worst of all, uniqueness.  It's a shame too because there were some intriguing "big ideas" floating around in "Chappie" that could have developed into something that had the chance to be impactful, purposeful, distinct, unique, and resonating.  

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