D.C. MOVIE GUYS

Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins,) the main protagonist of screenwriter/director Tom McCarthy’s new film, “The Visitor,” is a man on a treadmill.  An economics professor at a college in Connecticut, he’s been teaching one class-the same class-for the last several years.  He has also been research and writing a book on his specific area of knowledge for a while as well.  Since the death of his pianist wife, both time and life have moved at a snail’s pace for Walter.  He is comfortably numb inside the cocoon of day to day drabness he has woven for himself.  An unexpected trip to New York City for a conference is the axis on which this gentle and affecting film turns. (more…)

Citizens rarely think deeply about the amount of trust we place in the men and women who protect us. Policing takes a terrible emotional toll, not to mention the physical risk the job requires. Over the years, the emotional strain of dealing with the worst behavior humans can display while trying to keep your own sanity and humanity intact has informed and enriched thousands of novels and movies. James Elroy has be acclaimed as a master of the genre, in books and movies such as “L.A. Confidential” and “Blood On The Moon.” Based on an original story by Elroy, the new film “Street Kings” takes us down the sun washed streets of Los Angeles on a dark and dangerous journey into the heart of a troubled city and its “blue knights.” (more…)

            Two of the more important figures in documentary filmmaking get together in our area next weekend when Errol Morris previews his new film, Standard Operating Procedure, at the American Film Institute’s Silver Theater on April 13, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. In this movie Morris, a recent Oscar winner for The Fog of War, examines how the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay has come to define U.S. foreign policy.

            The AFI Silver is the permanent home of SilverDocs film festival and this preview and post-screening discussion are part of their ongoing commitment to the exhibition of film documentaries throughout the year. This is a terrific chance both to talk to Morris and get a first look at what is expected to be one of this year’s most significant documentary features.

Reviews of The Ruins, Shine a Light, Girls Rock!, Nim’s Island, and Errol Morris at the AFI Silver

Two summers ago, Stephen King was in the process of going ape-shit (most notably in his Entertainment Weekly column) over the new novel by Scott Smith, The Ruins. Having previously praised Smith’s A Simple Plan which was then turned into a very good movie by the pre-Spider-Man Sam Raimi, King’s praise led to elevated book sales and that propelled the movie adaptation down the past track.

What could possibly go wrong?

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Reviews of Stop-Loss, 21, and Praying With Lior at the Avalon

This week’s entry in the category of superior movies due to be ignored by audiences is Kimberly Peirce’s Stop-Loss (3.5* in nationwide release). Following in the building tradition of The Situation, The Road to Guantanamo, The Ground Truth, No End in Sight, and In the Valley of Elah, exceptional film work is being pushed on an audience increasingly dedicated to proving that it does not want to dwell on the wretchedness of our current government… at least while it is still ongoing.

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