I’m not sure that The Circle ever had any bite. But it certainly doesn’t in 2022. Pretty much every major headline has undercut the film’s satire as not a world-gone-crazy fantasy, but everyday life.
Month: May 2022
My reaction to this film is somewhat muted in part, I admit, because the title, poster, and opening few minutes suggest something far trippier and more ambitious than what this really is
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Angels & Demons (2009)
The sequel to The Da Vinci Code is, confusingly, based off of the first book in the series, with a byproduct not common of genres sequels:
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Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011)
If a man smashes your kneecaps with a crowbar, can you really say he made you “feel something”?
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Captain Phillips (2013)
Captain Phillips’ biggest strength — beyond even its technical competence and almost unceasing tension — is the tightrope it walks with the Somali pirates.
There is something poignant about the central image of The Great Buck Howard: a washed up celebrity who finds the hidden money every night, as if by magic.
I am of the opinion that there’s a pretty high floor for a competently crafted conspiracy thriller. The genre naturally captures the imagination and builds tension and sets up big twists.
Aaron Sorkin has always played fast-and-loose with truth in the name of good drama. Typically, this is a strength of his: The Social Network and Steve Jobs are both improved by ignoring fidelity in favor of modern tech-mythology.
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The Terminal (2004)
After reading several contemporary reviews of The Terminal I’m surprised that critics at the time did not note the single most distinct trait of the film:
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The Polar Express (2004)
It’s one thing to be ugly. Plenty of decent movies aren’t all that great to look at.