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“Everything I learned I learned from the movies.” 
― Audrey Hepburn

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  • Paul Carlson
Escape Into Film
'The Hateful Eight' review: Excessive, even by Tarantino standards
Dec 25

Dec 25 'The Hateful Eight' review: Excessive, even by Tarantino standards

Paul Carlson
film reviews

While this is a worthy entry into the Quentin Tarantino library, it retreads territory the filmmaker has already explored -- in terms of tone, style and even premise.

'The Big Short' review: Drama finds comedy, tragedy in the financial crisis
Dec 23

Dec 23 'The Big Short' review: Drama finds comedy, tragedy in the financial crisis

Paul Carlson
film reviews, film festivals

The adage "comedy is tragedy plus time" absolutely captures the tone and tenor of this masterful comedy-drama.

'Joy' movie review: Vibrant J-Law saves unfocused, tonally inconsistent film
Dec 23

Dec 23 'Joy' movie review: Vibrant J-Law saves unfocused, tonally inconsistent film

Paul Carlson
film reviews

This biopic - that is part dreamy drama and part ruthless business story - is still an entertaining journey ... despite several tonal and story missteps.

'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' film review (spoiler-free)
Dec 16

Dec 16 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' film review (spoiler-free)

Paul Carlson
film reviews

"The Force Awakens" represents the start of something exciting rooted in something familiar.

'The Revenant' review: Visceral, brutal & harrowing epic of survival, revenge
Dec 4

Dec 4 'The Revenant' review: Visceral, brutal & harrowing epic of survival, revenge

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The latest film from director Alejandro G. Iñárritu is a bruising, brutal and emotionally exhausting tale of survival and revenge. 

'The Ridiculous 6' Netflix review: Adam Sandler, Happy Madison must be stopped
Dec 1

Dec 1 'The Ridiculous 6' Netflix review: Adam Sandler, Happy Madison must be stopped

Paul Carlson
film reviews

This atrocity of alleged "comedy" should unite all movie lovers in one unified voice: Sandler - and all his Happy Madison lackeys - must be run out of show business.

'Creed' movie review: Best entry in the franchise since the first 'Rocky'
Nov 25

Nov 25 'Creed' movie review: Best entry in the franchise since the first 'Rocky'

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Every bit the worthy successor to the "Rocky" franchise, "Creed" is an elegant passing of the torch and a rousing flick that inspires.

'The Good Dinosaur' review: A good, not great, Pixar flick
Nov 25

Nov 25 'The Good Dinosaur' review: A good, not great, Pixar flick

Paul Carlson
film reviews

This is a good animated adventure in its own right, but it does not stand shoulder-to-shoulder among the Pixar greats.

'Where to Invade Next' review: Funniest, least substantial Moore documentary yet
Nov 19

Nov 19 'Where to Invade Next' review: Funniest, least substantial Moore documentary yet

Paul Carlson
film reviews, film festivals

Michael Moore's latest documentary is the filmmaker's most comprehensive, pro-American and rousing film to date -- yet it offers in terms of 'solutions' it lacks in depth.

'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2' review: Series limps to a violent end
Nov 19

Nov 19 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2' review: Series limps to a violent end

Paul Carlson
film reviews

A serviceable end to the "Hunger Games" series - but not one that can be called satisfying or very entertaining.

'Spotlight' review: Brilliant, tightly-focused celebration of solid journalism
Nov 13

Nov 13 'Spotlight' review: Brilliant, tightly-focused celebration of solid journalism

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The gravity of the real-life Catholic Church scandal makes this drama compelling, but this film's complex and intricate layers of conflict make this film a must-see of 2015.

'Macbeth' review: Fassbender's brilliance highlights bold, brooding update
Nov 7

Nov 7 'Macbeth' review: Fassbender's brilliance highlights bold, brooding update

Paul Carlson
film reviews, film festivals

This realization of "Macbeth" earns its place among the greatest film adaptations of any of Shakespeare's work.

'The Lobster' film review: Bizarre, thrilling, hilarious & heartbreaking all at once
Nov 7

Nov 7 'The Lobster' film review: Bizarre, thrilling, hilarious & heartbreaking all at once

Paul Carlson
film reviews, film festivals

This wonderfully odd movie is equal parts thriller, drama, romance, comedy and science fiction.

'Spectre' film review: Bond's latest is too long, too cluttered & too shallow
Nov 6

Nov 6 'Spectre' film review: Bond's latest is too long, too cluttered & too shallow

Paul Carlson
film reviews

This latest 007-flick feels like a throwback to the old Bond movies -- but not in a good way.

'Suffragette' review: Formulaic, clichéd film is a disservice to its vital topic
Nov 6

Nov 6 'Suffragette' review: Formulaic, clichéd film is a disservice to its vital topic

Paul Carlson
film reviews

This historical drama is a serviceable period piece movie whose heavy-handed storytelling fails to equal the importance of its subject matter.

'Brooklyn' film review: Heart-wrenching, touching tale is one of the best of 2015
Nov 4

Nov 4 'Brooklyn' film review: Heart-wrenching, touching tale is one of the best of 2015

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Saoirse Ronan's touching, nuanced and sweet performance establishes the period drama as one of the very best films of 2015.

'Room' movie review: Larson shines in a heartbreaking, tender must-see drama
Oct 30

Oct 30 'Room' movie review: Larson shines in a heartbreaking, tender must-see drama

Paul Carlson
film reviews

This is surely one of the best acting duos of 2015 - and arguably the very best of the year.

'Rock the Kasbah' review: Bill Murray comedy hits all the wrong notes
Oct 22

Oct 22 'Rock the Kasbah' review: Bill Murray comedy hits all the wrong notes

Paul Carlson
film reviews

It's pretty unfair to call this a "comedy." 

AFI FEST 2015 announces full program of feature-length, short films
Oct 21

Oct 21 AFI FEST 2015 announces full program of feature-length, short films

Paul Carlson
film festivals

Several Award Season contenders will headline the 2015 AFI FEST next month, as the American Film Institute announced the festival's entire list of films today.

'Steve Jobs' review: Great script, performances create impressionistic portrait
Oct 16

Oct 16 'Steve Jobs' review: Great script, performances create impressionistic portrait

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The Academy might as well just hand screenwriter Aaron Sorkin the 'Best Adapted Screenplay' award right now. 

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““No subject is terrible if the story is true, if the prose is clean and honest, and if it affirms courage and grace under pressure.””
— "Midnight in Paris"

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