Tabloid: entertaining portrait of an eccentric obsessive doesn’t delve deeply into media culture and social values
Errol Morris, “Tabloid” (2010) Errol Morris’s documentaries fall into two camps: a serious one (“Fog
Tag: Hollywood Films
French and French-language Films | North American Films
Birds of a feather, let’s flock together: four film shorts about birds illustrate something universal about human behaviour and social life
Pierre Coffin, “Pings” (2 shorts, 1997) Ralph Eggleston, “For the Birds” (2000) Dony Permedi, “Kiwi!”
The Matrix: film trapped in formula Hollywood action-thriller matrix of convoluted plot, trite message and flat characters
Larry and Andy Wachowski, “The Matrix” (1999) Strip “The Matrix” of its sci-fi trimmings, its
Psycho (dir. Gus van Sant): a decent remake with a different message from the original film
Gus van Sant, “Psycho” (1998) A shot-for-shot remake of the Hitchcock original with much the
Taxi Driver: good study of an alienated and traumatised individual groping for purpose in a lost society
Martin Scorsese, “Taxi Driver” (1976) As a character study of a lonely and alienated man
5 Days of War: as the movie admits, truth is the first casualty
Renny Harlin, “5 Days of War” aka “5 Days of August” (2011) Directed by Renny
Characters and plot are as flat and blank as snowscapes in “Fargo”
Joel Coen, “Fargo” (1996) A kidnap plot cooked up to save a car salesman’s hide
Klute: crime thriller / psychological character study about personal control, paranoia and saving face
Alan J Pakula, “Klute” (1971) Ostensibly a crime thriller about a prostitute who assists a
Midnight Cowboy: satirical character study of two men pursuing their particular American Dreams
John Schlesinger, “Midnight Cowboy” (1969) Over forty years ago when this movie was released, it
Marnie: rehash of many Hitchcock themes, ideas and methods showing the master in decline
Alfred Hitchcock, “Marnie” (1964) Not a bad psychological thriller / character study of a compulsive