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Leonard Maltin
Alexander Payne, Silent Film Aficionado
- By Leonard Maltin
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- January 30, 2012 1:00 AM
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- 11 Comments
Alexander Payne is once again an Oscar-nominated director, for his wonderful film 'The Descendants' (still my favorite picture of 2011), but you may not be aware that his love of cinema runs deep. When he agreed to introduce Lon Chaney in 'He Who Gets Slapped' at last year’s San Francisco Silent Film Festival, he talked about his lifelong passion, and his love of silent film, with such eloquence that I later asked if he would allow me to reprint his speech. This seems as good a time as any.
The Grey—movie review
- By Leonard Maltin
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- January 27, 2012 1:21 AM
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- 134 Comments
Liam Neeson is one of those actors who validates a film by his mere presence in it. Sure enough, he brings gravitas and credibility to this survival thriller set in the snowy wilderness of Alaska. I wish he’d also brought along a better script.
Man On A Ledge—movie review
- By Leonard Maltin
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- January 27, 2012 1:00 AM
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- 3 Comments
Try this on for size: an ex-cop who wants to prove he was innocent of a crime that sent him “up the river” for 25 years decides that the best way to do so is to step out onto the ledge of a midtown Manhattan hotel—and create a distraction for an even wilder scheme he’s trying to cover up. As it happens, the leading actors play their parts with conviction, and director Asger Leth orchestrates the action and visual effects with considerable skill.
Albert Nobbs—movie review
- By Leonard Maltin
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- January 27, 2012 1:00 AM
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- 6 Comments
I’m delighted that Glenn Close and Janet McTeer have earned Oscar nominations for their work in this striking and memorable film, but it would be a shame if all people talked about were their performances, great as they are. Albert Nobbs is a first-rate film in every respect. This should come as no surprise to anyone who has followed the work of director Rodrigo Garcia, one of the most talented—and underrated—filmmakers working today. (I wish more people had seen his last feature, the 2010 release Mother and Child, which like all his films puts the spotlight on interesting women.)
‘Wings’ Takes Flight—On DVD
- By Leonard Maltin
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- January 25, 2012 2:51 PM
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- 22 Comments
While it’s fitting that Paramount Pictures should unveil its masterful restoration of Wings on the studio’s 100th birthday, it’s a shame we had to wait this long. It is, in fact, the last Academy Award-winning Best Picture to be released on DVD and Blu-ray—an unintended irony, since it was the first film to receive that honor. (Fox’s Cavalcade was the other longtime holdout, and even now it can only be obtained as part of a big, expensive Fox tribute package.)
Oscar Welcomes Newcomers
- By Leonard Maltin
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- January 24, 2012 1:54 PM
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- 7 Comments
Oscar voters always have some surprises up their collective sleeve, and today was no exception. The actors’ branch is especially welcoming to new talent, as witness the nominations of first-timers Demián Bichir, Rooney Mara, Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, Octavia Spencer, Jessica Chastain, and Melissa McCarthy. That such relative newcomers are standing toe to toe with the likes of George Clooney and Meryl Streep is a tremendous achievement—and honor.
Red Tails—movie review
- By Leonard Maltin
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- January 20, 2012 11:52 AM
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- 25 Comments
The story of the Tuskegee Airmen is one that every American should know, and deserving of a great film; unfortunately, this isn’t it. If one were scoring good intentions it would get an A for effort, simply for bringing a portion of this vast saga to theater screens. But the screenplay resembles an earnest junior high school play; that isn’t worthy of the subject or the people behind this endeavor.
Coriolanus—movie review
- By Leonard Maltin
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- January 20, 2012 1:05 AM
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- 4 Comments
I don’t know what Shakespeare purists will make of Coriolanus, but as cinematic storytelling it’s awfully impressive: a muscular, contemporary reading of the play, deftly abridged and adapted by the prolific John Logan, who also wrote Hugo and Rango this year. The primary hero, on screen and off, is Ralph Fiennes, who not only makes a formidable directing debut but delivers a ferocious (and commanding) performance in the leading role.
Haywire—movie review
- By Leonard Maltin
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- January 20, 2012 1:00 AM
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- 12 Comments
In the old days a film like this would have been called a “programmer” and fulfilled its modest ambitions as the second feature on a double bill. Alas, we don’t have double features or programmers anymore; every movie carries weight, and expectations, with it. Steven Soderbergh’s Haywire has all the trappings of an “A” movie, including a big-name cast and impressive international locations, but it never rises above the level of a “B.”
We Need To Talk About Kevin—movie review
- By Leonard Maltin
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- January 20, 2012 12:30 AM
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- 13 Comments
To say that this is not an easy film to watch is putting it mildly. No one would deny Tilda Swinton’s superior performance, but people were sharply divided when We Need to Talk About Kevin screened at the Telluride Film Festival last fall. Some folks I spoke to were downright angry. When I finally caught up with the film, I could barely stand to sit through it.
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