‘Notes on a Scandal’
Richard Eyres brilliant study of a friendship gone awry, Notes on a Scandal features two of the years greatest performances.
Douglas Strassler
‘Dreamgirls’
Despite some problems there are many pleasures to be found in the screen adaptation of Dreamgirls.
‘The Good German’
Soderbergh tries so hard to make The Good German feel like an old-style film, that he forgets to make it a good one.
‘Letters From Iwo Jima’
Clint Eastwood’s second look at Iwo Jima this year is a must-see.
Oscars 2005
Im pleased to say that Oscar in all his rather finite wisdom has done a pretty good job in reflecting the last year in film.
Jane Fonda’s 1977 film ‘Julia’ is not a perfect film, but it certainly captures some perfect performances
This political drama and pseud-biopic offers plenty of excellent performances.
1982 gay love story ‘Making Love’ had high hopes, but made little impact
It’s hard to say whether Making Love was groundbreaking or merely sensational when it was released 24 years ago, but the slight soap opera certainly made little impact either way. Arthur Hiller, director of the sob-fest Love Story a decade earlier directs this predictable story of homosexuality … Read more
‘Separate Lies’ asks a lot of hard questions, but only answers some of them
Julian Fellowes’ adultery mystery features Tom Wilkinson in one of the year’s finest performances.
Jack Nicholson and Michael Caine are electric in ‘Blood and Wine’
Sometimes an actor can save a weakly-made film. In Bob Rafelson’s 1996 dud Blood and Wine, though, two of the greatest actors of all time, Michael Caine and Jack Nicholson, are left to work overtime. And the results still disappoint.
Going for the Gold: This year’s major Oscar picks
Win lose or draw it was a decidedly average year for Hollywood. Heres why.