James Gray is the most underrated director in Hollywood and, in a just world, “Ad Astra” should make him huge. From the cinematography to the score to the special effects, “Ad Astra” is a jaw-droppingly gorgeous film. Gray conjures moments and images that will stay with me for the rest of my life. But the […]
Brad Pitt
Posted inCulture
Bread and Circuses
“The Big Short” entertains and enrages
“The Big Short” is a gripping movie from start to finish, populated with fascinating characters. Christian Bale plays Michael Burry, a hedge fund manager who figures out the U.S. housing market is unstable. He realizes he can make a massive profit if he creates a credit default swap market (basically betting that the housing market […]
Posted inCulture
Lust, Caution
Blood and regret in Ridley Scott and Cormac McCarthy's The Counselor
It’s perhaps best to think of the Counselor (Michael Fassbender) not as a lawyer but as an investor. An investor who has made a terrible investment. That isn't to say he's stupid. He's clever enough to know how handsome he is. He's clever enough to have fallen in love with the gorgeous Laura (Penélope Cruz), […]