“If you weren’t a dad before seeing Power Ballad, you’d likely be transformed into one by the movie’s end.”

“Scorsese pulls out a handful of stylistic flourishes…”

“… can only be described as botanical: slow, serene, sensuous.”

“Kurosawa nudged Japan both politically and aesthetically into a new era.”

“… demonstrates how the past always seems to elude us, no matter what tools we bring to bear on it.”

“… takes its time getting interesting.”

“… a ‘let them eat cake’ distraction for the multiplex crowd.”

“Streep is as loose as she’s ever been…”

“A collage of religio-goth gestures…”

“Streep has what can only be called a commanding fragility.”