Gilles Bruno Mingasson
MOVIE REVIEW
Last Days in the Desert (2015)
The weathered figure emerging from the wilderness after five weeks of contemplation and fasting in “Last Days in the Desert” is referred to either as Yeshua or by the all-purpose epithet of Holy Man; but there’s no ambiguity in Rodrigo Garcia’s film about who he actually is. And he’s also clearly Ewan McGregor, an actor whose skills at underplaying inner conflicts don’t get much of a run out these days but which potentially suit the son of God and his inklings of an appointment at Calvary pretty well. If you happen to think that a hyperbolic screen Jesus is the wrong approach, then Mr. Garcia’s sober and sedate film may be right up your aisle.
Continue reading “Holy Family Business” »
MOVIE REVIEW
The Tree of Life (2011)
Merie Wallace/
Fox Searchlight Pictures
It’s the new Terrence Malick! It’s the Palme d’or winner! It’s Harmony Korine-meets-Stanley Kubrick! It’s the entire “Lost” series pared down to two hours and 18 minutes! Or — as some loudmouth overheard at another press screening put it — it’s two hours and 18 minutes of computer screen saver! Granted, the said loudmouth also believed Dominique Strauss-Kahn was set up. All joking aside, it’s interesting to see that even after his heirs apparent — namely, Mr. Korine and David Gordon Green — have respectively moved on to experimental video and Hollywood trash in the time span between two Malick projects, the old maestro continues to bear his own torch.
Continue reading “As the New World Turns” »