Haiku Review: Waste Land (2010)

Starring: Vik Muniz
Directed by Lucy Walker, Karen Harley & João Jardim

This documentary follows Brazilian artist Vik Muniz as he builds a large-scale modern art project that involves several of the catadores who make a living scavenging for recyclable materials at Jardim Gramacho, one of the world’s largest landfills, located near Rio de Janeiro.


Pick through trash pickers
Wade through the refuse and filth
Find value, find art

Grade: B+


c2011
By Daniel J. Hoag
Waste Land is now playing in select cities.
It is a 2011 Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1268204/

Haiku Review: Blue Valentine (2010)

Starring: Ryan Gosling & Michelle Williams
Written by Derek Cianfrance, Joey Curtis and Cami Delavigne
Directed by Derek Cianfrance

A young married couple’s relationship is depicted from its romantic beginnings to its painful disintegration.


the cycle of love
beautiful and horrible
spark flame ember snuff

Grade: A


c2011
By Daniel J. Hoag
Blue Valentine is now showing in select cities.
It is a 2011 Academy Award nominee for Best Actress (Michelle Williams).
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1120985/

(Blu) Haiku Review: Never Let Me Go (2010)

By Daniel J. Hoag


Clones without organs,
a little cold and lifeless.
Pretty, hollow shells.

Grade: B-




c2011
Never Let Me Go is available on Blu-ray and DVD on 2/1/11.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1334260/

Haiku Review: The Tempest (2010)

By Daniel J. Hoag


Taymor conjures up
a Bard’s tale that’s trippy, trite
and light on magic.

Grade: C+




c2011
The Tempest is now playing in select cities.
It is a 2011 Academy Award nominee for Costume Design.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1274300/

(Blu) Haiku Review: The Tillman Story (2010)

By Daniel J. Hoag


Well, if I gunned down
a sports hero buddy, I’d
lie about it, too.

Grade: B+



c2011
The Tillman Story is available on Blu-ray and DVD on 2/1/10.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1568334/

(Blu) Haiku Review: Conviction (2010)

By Daniel J. Hoag


Strong performances
buoy this crusader-for-
justice biopic.

Grade: B+




c2010
Conviction is available on Blu-ray and DVD on 2/1/11.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1244754/

Haiku Review: Rabbit Hole (2010)

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart & Dianne Wiest
Screenplay by David Lindsay-Abaire
Directed by John Cameron Mitchell

A husband and wife struggle with the death of their young son.


A symphony of
sadness, beautiful in its
bleakness. Note-perfect.

Grade: A


c2011
By Daniel J. Hoag
Rabbit Hole is now playing in select cities.
It is an Academy Award nominee for Best Actress (Nicole Kidman), 2010.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0935075/

Haiku Review: The Way Back (2010)

Starring: Ed Harris, Jim Sturgess, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell & Mark Strong
Screenplay by Peter Weir & Keith Clarke
Directed by Peter Weir

Based on an alleged true story from the 1940s, seven prisoners escape from a Siberian gulag and endure a brutal 4,500-mile trek to freedom across the world’s most treacherous landscapes.


A beautifully shot
but oddly impersonal
trek (of “iffy” truth).

Grade: B-


c2011
By Daniel J. Hoag
The Way Back is now playing in select cities.
It is an Academy Award nominee for Best Makeup, 2010.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1023114/

The Haiku Review and the 2011 Academy Award nominations

By Daniel J. Hoag

The 83rd Academy Award nominations have been announced, which means Oscar season is in full bloom. Dozens of folks in Hollywood have been recognized for their artistic achievements and, as usual, a few of them have been noticeably omitted. Forthwith, the Haiku Review presents to you some Oscar commentary.

(Blu) Haiku Review: Saw: The Final Chapter (2010)

By Daniel J. Hoag


Ugh…again? Let’s beat
the deadest of horses; such
convoluted tripe.

Grade: D




c2011
Saw: The Final Chapter is available on Blu-ray and DVD today.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1477076/