Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)

Drama Rated NR

Wow. What was the thermostat set at during production of this Tennessee Williams adaptation? The way the actors go from limp to irate and back again – all while dripping with sweat – you would think that director Richard Brooks had it set at 98 degrees. The performances are sweltering. This isn’t a good thing.

Rabbit Hole (2010)

Drama Rated PG-13

“…avoids exploitation at all costs.

Top Ten Films of 2011 (2011)

Drama Rated NR

The best of a very good movie year.

Company Men, The (2010)

Drama Rated R

“Despite being intensely topical, The Company Men is deadly dull.

Meek’s Cutoff (2011)

Drama Rated PG

Meek’s Cutoff represents a significant step forward for director Kelly Reichardt, a critical darling whose work to this point (Old Joy, Wendy and Lucy) I’ve faintly admired. Reichardt’s previous films were small-scale indie doodles – slight exercises in atmosphere and introspection. This is an ambitious period piece that nonetheless retains Reichardt’s talent for capturing human

True Grit (2010)

Drama Rated R

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Illusionist, The (2010)

Drama Rated PG

"If 2-D animated films soon become relics, The Illusionist will be one of the final treasures of the art form."

Leopard, The (1963)

Drama Rated PG

Now playing at Chicago’s Siskel Film Center, The Leopard is an indulgent bubble bath – albeit one in which the fragrance from the soap is overwhelming.

Solitary Man (2010)

Drama Rated R

A walking, talking screenplay. There isn’t a moment in Solitary Man that doesn’t feel like a conveniently arranged plot point. None of it feels lived-in or real. Instead, this is a collection of scenes that seem to have been spit out by some sort of screenwriting workshop. Michael Douglas earned accolades for his portrayal of

127 Hours (2010)

Drama Rated R

“Gripping, but those of us who were hoping Boyle might turn this into something extraordinary will be disappointed.