Tag: Christian Bale

Reviews

KNIGHT OF CUPS

Michael J. Casey

“How do I begin?” Knight of Cups, the latest movie from writer/director Terrence Malick, follows Hollywood screenwriter Rick (Christian Bale) as he tries to understand what his life is now that his brother has died and his career is on the precipice of a momentous piece of work. True to Malickian form, none of this is spelled out, and the above quote does not come from a piece of dialogue snatched from a conversation, but from Rick’s inner thoughts. Or from a prayer. Or maybe just a simple voiceover. There is no real way of telling, but that doesn’t matter. … Continue reading KNIGHT OF CUPS

Reviews

THE BIG SHORT

Michael J. Casey

We’re mad as hell, and we’re not going to take it anymore. Well, maybe not. The Big Short is director and co-writer Adam McKay’s run at a All the President’s Men or Network, and though it comes up short *cough cough* in both cases, it is a compelling movie about a complicated subject. With a 150 minute running time, McKay manages to explore four outlying financial investor groups who managed to predict the housing collapse of 2008, and in one case, by a foresight of two years. How America found itself in the middle of such a colossal crisis is … Continue reading THE BIG SHORT

Movie Beat

Movie Beat – 12.13.13

Michael J. Casey

American Hustle – It’s all about the con, not the con-artist, but the con. Every business, every transaction, every dream levied is a con in one way or another, and director David O. Russell is out to show everyone how deep the con goes. Christian Bale and Amy Adams are the con artist, Jennifer Lawrence is his ex-wife, Bradley Cooper is the FBI agent needing a little help, Jeremy Renner is the politician who is conning everyone, and Eric Singer and David O. Russell are the writers who concocted this whole shebang. Out in limited release from Sony Pictures.   … Continue reading Movie Beat – 12.13.13

Movie Beat

Movie Beat – 12.06.13

Michael J. Casey

Breakfast With Curtis – Curtis is a shy young boy who lives next door to his complete opposite, Syd. Syd is a middle-aged bookseller, who spends most of his days drinking red wine and waxing poetically about this and that, but he needs some money, and that is where Curtis comes in. He manages to convince Curtis to shoot commercials for his book business, which he does, and Curtis is exposed to a whole new world through Syd. Free of cliches and irony, this small chamber piece is light and fun with an awful lot of heart. Starring Theo Green, … Continue reading Movie Beat – 12.06.13