“One of the most important parts of growing up is realizing what a pain in the ass you were as a kid. The prickly protagonist of Lady Bird doesn’t quite get there until the film’s final moments, but Greta Gerwig’s screamingly funny semi-autobiography looks back with clear-eyed compassion and great warmth. As soon as it was over, I wanted to watch it again.” – WBUR’s The ARTery, 11/09/2017
“I’m seeing a shot of Jane sort of being composed looking out somewhere. And then at end of the shot, before it flares out, I see her look over to the camera and start smiling. I instantly recognize what’s happening, in that she’s breaking down that fourth wall and we’re going to be able to tell this love story in a rather unique manner.” – WBUR’s The ARTery, 11/03/2017
“An oddball two-and-a-half hour provocation, the film begins ostensibly as a satire of Sweden’s modern art scene before expanding outward to reveal larger, wobblier aims. Östlund’s Force Majeure gleefully dismantled its protagonist’s unearned machismo, and The Square similarly takes a wrecking ball to our hero’s blithe delusions of noblesse oblige.” – WBUR’s The ARTery, 11/02/2017
THOR: RAGNAROK * * 1 / 2
Starring Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Hiddleston, Tessa Thompson and Cate Blanchett. Screenplay by Craig Kyle, Christopher Yost and Eric Pearson. Directed by Taika Waititi.
WONDERSTRUCK * *
Starring Oakes Fegley, Millicent Simmonds, Julianne Moore, Jaden Michael and Michelle Williams. Screenplay by Brian Selznick. Directed by Todd Haynes.
“Lacks the snap of the Coens’ other crime contraptions, which at their best go off like harshly moral Rube Goldberg devices. This early effort is missing that sense of cosmic escalation, it takes forever for things to fall apart and then they all collapse almost instantly. Clooney paces the film like a molasses drip, every shot at least twice as long as it needs to be.” – WBUR’s The ARTery, 10/26/2017
ONLY THE BRAVE * * * 1 / 2
Starring Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Taylor Kitsch and Jeff Bridges. Screenplay by Ken Nolan and Eric Warren Singer. Directed by Joseph Kosinski.
“This year’s opening night belongs to Lady Bird, the solo directorial debut of actress Greta Gerwig. It’s a sort of homecoming, as Gerwig has been an IFFBoston staple for as long as she’s been onscreen. Her debut feature LOL played here back in 2006, followed by her first lead performance in Hannah Takes the Stairs the following year.” – WBUR’s The ARTery, 10/20/2017
MARSHALL * * *
Starring Chadwick Boseman, Josh Gad, Sterling K. Brown, Kate Hudson and James Cromwell. Screenplay by Jacob Koskoff and Michael Koskoff. Directed by Reginald Hudlin.
“A modern day Our Gang set in a tacky welfare motel on the outskirts of Orlando, this boisterously funny heartbreaker follows three little rascals making mischief and wreaking havoc during a poverty-stricken summer in the shadow of the happiest place on Earth. I laughed and I laughed until all of the sudden I couldn’t stop crying.” – WBUR’s The ARTery, 10/12/2017
SPLICED PERSONALITY 