The Crazy Career of David O. Russell

In the late '90s, David O. Russell was looked at as one of a crop of new American filmmakers (along with David Fincher, Wes Anderson, Qu...

Visiting 'The Loneliest Planet'

I saw The Loneliest Planet for the first time at the Toronto Film Festival in 2011. There was one problem: Because I rushed a public screen...

'Take This Waltz' Comes to DVD

I saw Take This Waltz at the Toronto Film Festival in 2011 and was impressed by its unpredictable, deeply affecting tone. Tomorrow, writer-...

Toronto 2012: 'Spring Breakers' Is Terrific

I'm fascinated by Harmony Korine's career, which I've discussed before . Even his Trash Humpers , which I couldn't stand, ha...

Stevie Wonder - "My Cherie Amour"

I'm back from the Toronto Film Festival. This week's Friday Video is in honor of a song that has an important role in one of the fil...

Toronto 2012: Sticking Up for 'To the Wonder'

I'm back in Los Angeles, but the articles about the Toronto Film Festival continue. For Deadspin , I wrote about Terrence Malick's T...

Toronto 2012: 'Twice Born' Review

Generally speaking, I'm willing to buy any two actors playing lovers in a movie. But with Twice Born , I found it nearly impossible to a...

Toronto 2012: 'Crimes of Mike Recket' Review

Every film festival has a stinker, and I'm sad to say that at this year's TIFF, that movie for me was Crimes of Mike Recket . It...

Toronto 2012: 'Song for Marion' Review

Fans of Young@Heart may be interested in Song for Marion , a drama about an old-age vocal group that recruits an unlikely new member in the...

Toronto 2012: 'Imagine' Review

Of the Toronto films I didn't like, one that was perhaps most intriguing was Imagine , a story about a blind man who instructs blind stu...

Toronto 2012: 'All That Matters Is Past' Review

All That Matters Is Past is both the title of a Norwegian drama and a big hint about its thematic content. A story of two brothers and the ...

Toronto 2012: 'Imogene' Review

Man, Kristen Wiig doesn't look too happy in that photo, huh? This is a still from Imogene , a comedy starring the ex- Saturday Night Liv...

Toronto 2012: 'Yellow' Review

Director Nick Cassavetes has had a unique film career. He's made The Notebook . He's made Alpha Dog . He does a little bit of everyt...

Toronto 2012: 'The Brass Teapot' Review

The Brass Teapot sets up a scenario I'm sure a lot of people wish would happen in their own lives: A broke married couple discover a ma...

Toronto 2012: 'What Maisie Knew' Review

It's been a few days since I've seen What Maisie Knew , but despite all the movies I've checked out in Toronto in subsequent day...

Toronto 2012: 'Thanks for Sharing' Review

As you may recall, I love Shame . So I was both concerned about and intrigued by Thanks for Sharing , a genial comedy-drama about a collecti...

Toronto 2012: 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' Review

The gentleman in the center there whooping it up is Ezra Miller, who was so terrific in last year's We Need to Talk About Kevin . He...

Toronto 2012: 'Writers' Review

If the Toronto Film Festival gave out a prize for Most Likable Characters, Writers would win in a walk. Everybody in this movie, which star...

Toronto 2012: 'Arthur Newman' Review

About maybe halfway through Arthur Newman , the new film starring Colin Firth and Emily Blunt, I was enjoying it, and I thought, "What ...

Toronto 2012: 'Silver Linings Playbook' Review

Now that David O. Russell has his Oscar-winning hit with The Fighter , would he stay in the same vein for his next movie, or would he return...