Posts tagged Far From Heaven
MOVIE REVIEW: Carol
MOVIE REVIEW: Carol

51st Chicago International Film Festival OUT-Look Special Presentation

"Carol," among many other superlatives, is a film completely driven by the weight of reason and accountability within its female lead characters.  Played by Oscar winner Cate Blanchett and Oscar nominee Rooney Mara, we witness two women formulating the capacity to reason with the undeniable truths they find in their hearts while understanding the ramifications and accountability acting on those feelings would result in as women of the pre-feminist 1950s.  "Carol" is a fascinating and empowering love story, no matter what label you associate for your identity or disposition.

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2015, ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, MOVIE REVIEW, 5 STARSDon Shanahan51st Chicago International Film FestivalCarol, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Kyle Chandler, Todd Haynes, Safe, Far From Heaven, Mildred Pierce, Cannes Film Festival, Chicago Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival, 51st Chicago International Film Festival, OUT-Look, LGBT, LGBTQ+, 2015, film review, film commentary, movie commentary, movie review, 2015 Holiday Movies, 2015 Holiday Movie Preview, Nick Davis, Northwestern University, As Good as It GetsComment
MOVIE REVIEW: Still Alice
MOVIE REVIEW: Still Alice

If you haven't heard of "Still Alice," I advise you to trust this spoiler-free review and skip the trailer entirely.  It's a beautiful preview, but it skews context, tips its hand, and gives away far too much.  Based on the 2007 novel of the same name by neuroscientist and writer Lisa Genova, "Still Alice" was first adapted as a stage play at the Lookingglass Theatre in Chicago in 2013.  The directing and writing team of Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland crafted it into a feature film.  "Still Alice" premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September and has increased facial tissue sales ever since with a full release still to come.  Learn the gist from here and let the film unfold before you.

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2014, 4 STARS, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanStill Alice, Lisa Genova, Julianne Moore, Alec Baldwin, Kate Bosworth, Kristen Stewart, Hunter Parrish, Denis Lenoir, Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland, The Last Robin Hood, Lookingglass Theatre, Alzheimer's Disease, Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease, Memories of Tomorrow, Boogie Nights, The End of the Affair, Far From Heaven, The Hours, Safe, The Kids Are All Right, Marion Cotillard, Reese Witherspoon, Rosamund Pike, Oscar contenders, Oscar nominations, Oscars, Oscar bait, life lessons from movies, life lessons from films, life lessons from film, life lessons, movie commentary, film commentary, Don Shanahan, Donald Shanahan, Every Movie Has a Lesson, Movie review, film review, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Actress, 2014 Holiday FilmsComment