Keeping Track (December 15, 2011)
by HELEN GEIB
Last Week at the Movies
Puss in Boots- charming, delightful, whimsical, and witty Read more 
Two Lists, Ten Favorites: Films of John Carpenter
by HELEN GEIB and NIR SHALEV
An occasional feature where Helen and Nir compare their five favorite films by some of the greats of world cinema.
John Carpenter (b. 1948)
DVD of the Week – Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
by NIR SHALEV
When Kung Fu Panda (2008) first appeared, out of the blue it was a huge success. Fusing Kung Fu lore with a 3D animated family film was a terrific idea and it worked mainly due to its cinematography, fight choreography, and sheer amount of various colors. Now comes a rarity: a sequel that trumps its predecessor in virtually every department. Read more
Movie Review – Take Shelter (2011)
by NIR SHALEV
This taught, intense, and powerful film opens with grim shots of graying skies. Our hero, Curtis (Michael Shannon) stares at them in slight confusion. He’s wondering whether it’s going to start raining but he also feels something more, something sinister. When it does start to rain, Curtis rubs the rainwater on his hands and notes that it’s yellow and feels like motor oil. Curious…. Read more
Thinking Outside the Multiplex in Indiana (December 9, 2011)
by HELEN GEIB
Good variety this week, with three countries represented in the new releases and a number of foreign films and indies holding over. Plus, Christmas movies on the state’s repertory cinema screens. What looks good to you? Read more
Keeping Track (December 8, 2011)
by HELEN GEIB
Last Week at the Movies
The Muppets- the meta jokes got on my nerves
Last Week at Home
Big Trouble in Little China- research for an upcoming Carpenter favorites post
The Mummy- an old favorite is the perfect background for working on a jigsaw puzzle
In Theaters This Weekend
The wide releases are New Year’s Eve and The Sitter. I’ll be passing on those. Since work kept me from The Skin I Live In last Friday that’s still on my list, and this might be the week I finally get to Puss in Boots.
What have you been watching? What are you looking forward to?
A Few Good Blog Posts (December, 2011)
by HELEN GEIB
A monthly round-up of recent blog posts I enjoyed reading.
Silent Volume brings a new perspective to the Lumiere’s iconic Arrival of a Train
Beth Loves Bollywood processes her thoughts on Ra.One in a conversation with her SRK action figure Read more
DVD of the Week – Review of Diamond Men (2000)
by NIR SHALEV
Eddie Miller (Robert Forster) is a weathered traveling diamond salesman, but wouldn’t change that for the world. After his company begins downsizing and he suffers a mild heart attack, Eddie threatens to leave the company with all of his accounts. They come to an agreement that if he trains the “new kid,” for a month or six weeks, he can then have a better position in return for staying with the company. And, possibly, then some. Read more
Rewind: Films of the 60s, 70s, 80s – Apartment Zero (1988)
by RICHARD WINTERS
Adrian LeDuc (Colin Firth) is living in Buenos Aires, Argentina and owner of a cinema that specializes in showing classics from Hollywood’s golden era. Unfortunately it is not making enough money and he is having trouble paying for his apartment after his mother has a mental breakdown and is forced into an institution. He decides to rent out the empty bedroom to help defer costs. After going through several would-be candidates he decides to take in a handsome and mysterious man by the name of Jack Carter (Hart Bochner). Despite Adrian’s anti-social tendencies and extreme fixation on movies and movie trivia he takes an immediate liking to Jack, even though Jack has a totally opposite personality. As their relationship progresses different sides to their personalities come out and the two develop a very odd co-dependency. Things grow troubling as a serial killer is on the loose and Adrian begins to suspect that it might be Jack. Read more
Thinking Outside the Multiplex in Indiana (December 2, 2011)
by HELEN GEIB
Three new limited release films open in three different cities, none of them Indianapolis. A number of other new arthouse movies are holding over in the capital city, and there’s the usual good variety of repertory screenings both here and elsewhere around the state. Christmas movie aficionados in particular are in luck. Read more
